The Q is for Quality

More Stupid People

2008-09-01T09:23:00.001-04:00

Seems the closer we get to the election the more the ridiculous people are getting. Last week it was Madonna showing her true ignorance and this week it is the extreme web site "The DailyKos" and Alan Colmes. Both are showing how extreme their partisans views are. It did not take long after Sarah Palin was named John McCains running mate that they were out trying to destroy her and her family.
The DailyKos is out running stories about Palins son who was born in April of this year is really her teenage daughters son. If you do not know Palins son Trig was born in April with Down Syndrome. This shows to me just how far this web site will go to push their extreme agenda. Nothing is off limits to them. The sad part is that people actually read this site and believe what is on it, and think that they speak the truth. These are the same people who will criticize web site who do the same thing on the far right and then will call sites like this the truth. The people who read and believe this site are just as bad as the people on the extreme far right. Then that brings us to Alan Colmes. In a post on his web site he came out and questioned is Palin had done enough prenatal care and was she responsible for her sons down syndrome. This was Palin's fifth child, I am pretty sure she was aware on what prenatal care is needed, how many kids had Colmes had? This to me is a very low acusations and Colmes should be ashamed of himself, but of course he isn't. If the tables had been reversed and Hilary Clinton had a child with down syndrome and Sean Hannity wrote such garbage there would be people calling for his head and calling him an out of control right wing hack, and these people would be correct. So where are the people saying the same thing about Colmes? To me this is not only an insult on Palin and her family it is also an insult to all mothers of a child with down syndrome. It is basically blaming the mother for this condition. We have come along way in fighting this, but there is no 100% way to prevent it, maybe someone should tell Colmes this.

When Celebrities shoud shut up.

2008-09-01T09:22:00.001-04:00

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080825004450.1xh64lbc&show_article=1
This article is about the blow hard Madonna recent concert and her stupid video she showed during it and having Sen. John McCain and Hitler's picture next to each other to try to compare the two. This shows no class, intelligence or common decency by Madonna. I am all for free speech, but this is just one of the stupidest things I have seen. This show how little she and lots of people know. There is no comparison between a man who has fought for his country, a man who spend 5 years in a prison camp in Vietnam and would not take the freedom that was offered him because it was not offered to others in the prison. This is a man who has dedicated his life to public service. To compare him to a man who was responsible for killing millions of people is just absurd. No matter what you think of McCain politics every American, or any human being with common sense should find this comparison outrageous. This is just an attempt by Madonna to get some attention on herself and her tour.
I have heard other people compare President Bush and other such as Foxnews to Hitler or the Nazi party. To me this shows that these people are so closed and narrow minded. There are very few things that can compare to Hitler or the Nazi's. These are people who are so set in their views on things that anything or anyone that might be different then their views must be evil. Its people like this, from both set of the aisle that are dividing this country. There are many different views on things, if you can not accept another's view and have to belittle people or call them the most outrageous names you can think of shows more about them, then the person they are talking about.

When Celebrities shoud shut up.

2008-09-01T09:22:00.000-04:00

Who would have thunk it? The Q!!

2008-09-01T09:21:00.000-04:00

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080821/D92MIVOO2.html
This article is about the negotiations between the US and Iraq about moving US troops out of Iraq. It looks like US troops will be moving out of the cities next year with a goal of being out of Iraq by 2011.
The one thing that is not mentioned in this article, or many other articles is why now? Well the simple answer is one word success. There has been major success by the US and Iraqi military in the last year and half. They have done tremendous job ..ting done secular violence. At the beginning of 2007 all you heard was how there was a Civil War going on with in Iraq. Well you don't hear that now. Why? Because of success. The first being the success of the surge implemented last year. The added troops and a better definition of what they are to do, and actually holding safe areas instead of cleaning them out of insurgents then leaving was a major goal and lead to other success, like the Iraqi's stepping up themselves to stand up against the insurgents. Of course many criticized the surge before it even began. The wonderful Senate leader Harry Reid called it a failure before an extra troop was even send to Iraq, why so quite now Harry? Others like Nancy Pelosi and Barrack Obama were against the surge to. Neither has stepped up to admit they were wrong about it, great leadership there. Maybe they don't want to admit President Bush did something right, though it did take a couple of years to get it right, or the fact that Sen. John McCain was one of the ones pushing for this surge. But then again these are probably the same people who will call be stupid because I support John McCain, I know heaven forbid someone have a different view then you, if they do they must be stupid.
Another reason for success is that the Iraqi's have stepped up for themselves, there military and police is 1000% better then they were a couple of years ago. Also there has been major improvements in the political fields in Iraq. There has been great movement in the benchmarks set up for the Iraqi government. There has been more and more cooperation between Sunni and Shiite within the country.
So we are at this great moment not because Barrack Obama said he wants US troops out of Iraq, or because we are cutting and running. But because of the great sacrifices made by the US troops, and by the Iraqi people. These sacrifices have seemed to be over looked the last couple of months as Iraq has turned to a 3rd page story when things started go well. I for one am thankful for the hard work all parties involved have done to reach this moment. I will also give credit where its due, to the all the soldiers who are in Iraq and have been in Iraq, to General David Petreaus and his commanders, to the Iraqi government, the Iraqi Military, The Iraqi Police, The Iraqi people, and to President Bush. I know things are not 100% but they are closer to it then they were 18 months ago. Things could still go wrong, but the chances of that are getting slimmer every day. I know there are those who will criticize this success or try to deflect why we are successful and try to but a negative spin on it and not give credit where its due, I say let them keep their negativity and hate. This is one proud US citizen who believed we could get the job and very proud to see the job getting done.

The Greatest Player ESPN doesn’t care about

2008-06-09T21:20:00.001-04:00

Since ESPN doesn't to cover anything in baseball outside of the Red Sox or Yankees I thought I would throw my congratulations out to who I feel as been the best baseball player I have seen in my life. That would be Ken Griffey JR. Today Griffey did something only 5 other men in the history of Major League Baseball has done, he hit his 600th homerun. With the last 10 years known as the steroid era in baseball Griffey has never been once accused of taking steroids, unlike other 600 homerun hitters Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa. So if you take those 2 out of the 600 club that leaves Griffey, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays, not to bad of company to be in. In his prime Griffey was not only a great homerun hitter, he was also one of, if not the, best outfielder in the game. Some of his catches are some of the top in the history of baseball. Griffey was truly a 5 tool player. Unfortunately Griffey's career has been mired by injuries that have cost him a couple of seasons in his prime. His Griffey has been healthy his entire career he would probably be approaching 700 at this point, and the argument would be is Griffey the best player of all time? Another thing that has gone against Griffey is that he has played his entire career in Seattle and Cincinnati. If he has been playing in Boston or New York ESPN would have made him a huge star. When Manny Ramirez was going after 500 ESPN would cut into program for every bat and talk about it for hours. Tonight Griffey hit 600 and still no highlight of the homerun. I for one hope Griffey does get traded so he can get the chance to play in a World Series, I know I for one will be rooting for him. So congratulations to Griffey to a record well deserve to man who did it the right way

The Greatest Player ESPN doesn’t care about

2008-06-09T21:20:00.000-04:00

In Memorial, everyday

2008-05-26T22:19:00.002-04:00

As I sit here at the end of a beautiful Memorial day I have to sit back and think about what this day actually stands for. For to many people it stands for a long weekend, the beginning of summer, or day to go by a car on sale.
But that is not what this day is about. This day is for honoring the brave men and women who given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. In this time of deep partisan bickering from both sides of aisle it is always important to honor all those who have laid down their lives so we have right and freedom to have these arguments. There are to many times when we are to deeply focused in our arguments and finding someone to blame for everything to realize that we do live in the greatest country on Earth. The reason we do have such a great country to live in is because of the men and women in the armed services who day in and day out risk their lives so we can live with such freedom. Many who lost their lives fighting for out freedom. These exceptional men and women never asked for an recognition or honors, they would tell you they were just doing their job. So that is why we take this one day a year to honor those who have sacrificed so we have long weekends, enjoy summer, or even go out and buy a new car. I hope everyone has taken time today to think of and honor those who have died for our freedom.
As I sat down in Prescott Park this afternoon I did take some time to think of those who have made that sacrifice for us. Dating back the Revolutionary War and fighting for our independence from tyranny. Then again fighting England again in the War of 1812. Then the Civil War, fighting to keep the Union together. Then in the 20th century fighting against oppression around the world during World War 1 and 2, and again in Korea. Then the war that is more known for the bitter political battles, that being Vietnam. To many times the Vietnam War is remember for who was right and who was wrong. Many call this time one of the darkest in American history, I agree with them. But not for all the political bickering but for the way our brave soldiers were treated when they returned. To many times we forget the over 50,000 who lied down their lives in Vietnam. The same can be said for the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To much is made of what can be made out of these politically, and to few is made of the men and women who are fighting these wars, have fought them, and who have died during them. We must always remember them, and remember their families who worry every day about them, after all war is usually harder on the families who don't know what is going on, then the person who is fighting it.
I consider myself lucky that I have not lost any one close to me because of war. I have had two grandfathers who fought in World War 2 and made it home safely. I had an uncle who served in Vietnam and made it home, even though some men in his unit were captured and were POW's that were never found. My father served in the Army in Germany when he is younger and retuned home safely. My close friend Ernie has also been deployed a couple time in the Mid-East during the wars, and has returned each time safe. I am deeply grateful for all the safe return of all them. But I am also reminded of Navy Seal Dan Healy whose helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan in 2005 killing him and 15 others. Until I was 7 I lived in Hampton, and Dan and his family lived down the street from us. I have very few memories of Dan, as he was 4 years older then me and was more friends with my older brother. But I do know when I read about his death I did cry and felt great sadness for his family. I have seen his mother over the last couple years on different TV news shows speaking with such great pride about her son, and all who served with him. She has been very outspoken is her support of the troops and all they are fighting for. Every time I do see her speak I have a great sense of pride. She has shown to be a very strong women, and that rubbed off on Dan who with out an hesitation joined the Navy and made it all the way to a Navy Seal. I just ask everyone to take some time every now and then to remember people like Dan Healy, who have give everything and ask for nothing. I also ask to think of the family they have left behind. Nothing can every replace a son, daughter, husband, wife, brother or sister who had been lost defending this country. We should honor and remember these heroes more then just one day a year.

The future starts Saturday.

2008-05-26T22:19:00.001-04:00

As anyone who knows anything about hockey knows the NHL has been done since the lock out a few years ago. The NHL itself has not done much to help bring the game back, their TV deal would be example 1. Well the NHL has a chance to start their comeback on Saturday night in Detroit. How you might ask, well 3 little words can change the NHL's future, Sid the Kid. The Stanley Cup finals start in Detroit with the Penguins and Red Wings facing off. The ratings for this year's playoff have been a drastic improvement over the last couple of years, mostly in Penguins game with Sydney Crosby. Crosby is the best young star the game has had since Mario LeMieux, current owner of the Penguins. So this gives the NHL a great venue to show off their great young superstar. The NHL should be dumping a ton of money on advertising the Cup finals. With every game after game 2 being on NBC they should be commercials on every show on NBC for the next week, and they should be featuring Crosby. Will the NHL do that? Well that is a good question, the NHL's marketing dept is not always the best. This series has everything the NHL needs to become a player again on the national sports scene. Has 2 great markets in Pittsburgh and Detroit, has a proven veteran team, Detroit, against the up and coming young team in Pittsburgh. So it's the old vs. the new, and Pittsburgh with the superstar in waiting in Crosby, can also add Eyvegen Malkin in there for the Pens. If the NHL is lucky this series will go 7 games, with Pittsburgh winning in the end in a very tight hard fought series. This series reminds me a lot of 1984 when Wayne Gretzgy led his young Oilers against the NY Islanders, the 3 time defending Stanley Cup Champs, the Islanders eventually won the series, but the Oilers came back in 1985 to win the cup and start the Gretzgy era in the NHL. So the next couple of weeks can kick off the Crosby era in the NHL. So tune into Versus on Saturday night to watch the future, now

When a dream is not a dream.

2008-05-26T22:18:00.000-04:00

So the talk now in the never ending quest in the democrat party is the so called "dream ticket" of Obama/Clinton. Not sure why this would be a Dream Ticket, and whose dream is it? At this point it is a forgone conclusion that Barrack Obama will be the Democratic Nomination. So the question is will and if Obama should pick Clinton to be his VP. Not sure on the will part, but on the if part, I would say no. To me it does not make much sense to add Hillary to the tickets. There are more reasons to not have her on the ticket then to have her.
The first one in my humble opinion is by adding her it makes Obama looks like a hypocrite. His whole focus of his campaign has been one word, "Change", by adding Clinton it is sign on going back to and not looking forward. He has been on the attack since Oct about Clinton being a sign of the past and he is the future. That turn of focus will be a major attack point for republicans.
There will also be point made that he can not win with out the Clinton machine and that he is a puppet of it. He will also of course have Bill looking over his shoulder at ever turn and be a focus of the media. As we know that can be a bad thing. The question of the comments Bill made after South Carolina will come up all the time, and be played over and over in the South.
Hillary is also a very polarizing figure. I do not see how she will bring in independents, and they will be a major factor in the election. Both Obama and McCain draw independents pretty well, I think adding Hillary will drive people on the fence towards McCain.
I do not see what votes Hillary will bring in. First of all she will not be a factor in NY, because Obama will win that by 30 points. NY is a Democratic state. There is the out cry that by not having her on the ticket that will drive the women who voted for her away. I do not see that happening. If they voted for her in the primaries I feel pretty confident that they will go towards Obama after she endorsees him at the Convention. She will not draw in anyone who did vote in the Democratic Primaries. I think she would draw more people away then draws in.
She does not help him in biggest weakness, foreign policy, no living in abroad when your 8 is not foreign policy experience. Also being first lady does not give you that, sorry Hillary. There is no way that the 2 of then combined can add up to McCain on that front.
So is it worth the circus that would be a Obama/Clinton ticket? For Obama's sake I don't think so. If Obama was smart he would stay away from that. To me the smart choice for Obama would be Former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn. He has the foreign policy experience that Obama, and Hillary, lacks. He also brings Georgia into play. He is also pretty moderate and can draw in those independents on the fence, and he does not draw people away, which might be his biggest asset.
But as we have seen anything can happen this election year.

When 2.5 Million equal 0

2008-05-26T22:17:00.000-04:00

Well it's been awhile since I wrote anything, so figured I would share some of my thoughts about the on going election, because I know everyone has been waiting to hear what I think, so you can get a good laugh. Of course will be honest and let everyone know that I am supporting John McCain, so my views might be a little skewed.
I do believe Sen. McCain is the best option, and not the scary person that MSNBC and others try to make him out to be. Of course these are the same people who will always say negative things about any Republican and have nothing but kiss Obama's ass for the last 6 months. They have treated him like he walks on water. I will agree that Obama is a great speaker and can motivate people. But when you break it down, what is he saying? What is he standing for? You can only say Change so many times before you have to back it up. What change have you brought? Who will you get these changes you want done? What bi-partisan think can you point to in your past and say I have worked with the other side and made a real change? Of course everyone is so mesmerized by his speaking skills that they really don't care about any of that. There are plenty of very smart people who are falling for this to. I know people will point out McCain's fault to, and I recognize them. I do not think he is perfect and disagree with him on many issues. But I think he has shown he can work to get things done, has Obama? I have tried to figure the great love affair by MSNBC and other with Obama. I know there are so many people who feel disillusioned by President Bush, and Congress. But Obama is not running against President Bush. Though listening to Obama and Sen. Clinton talk you would never know that. Sen. McCain is not Pres. Bush. McCain disagree with the President on many issues, and would be a different President, no matter what The Democrats and the yahoos on MSNBS and other blogs think.
Then there is the taboo issue of race. I know you are not supposed to bring race or even gender in to the conversation. Of course that won't stop me. Are their people who won't vote for Sen. Obama because he is black? Of course there are ignorant people who will, and the same can be said for Sen. Clinton because she is a woman. But I think that number is getting smaller every day. I think to use that issue for either one, or anyone else is wrong. It is implied by many that if you disagree with either it is because you are racist or sexist, then they are the same people who will trash Condoleezza Rice, so are they sexist and racist? I know many like to pigeon hole black and women and believe that if they are not a Democrat then they are "sell outs". Which is this person showing their true ignorance. Of course there are people who will vote for either because they are black or a woman. To me this is just as wrong as voting for someone because of there color or sex. This is ignorance, you are not voting for who the are, you are voting for what they are. Then there are the people who feel so guilty if they vote against a minority that they have to vote for them because of this. Then again I am sure these people would find a reason to vote against Sec. Rice, because they truly believe she is not a "true black". Now wouldn't that be these people showing their stereo type feelings? If you believe a black person has to be a democrat then you have a stereo typical feeling to all blacks. Of course some people will read my thoughts and think I am a racist or sexist. I don't care what a person is, I care who they are. Is the person I am supporting a white guy? Yes. Is that why I am voting for him? Hell no, go back to some of my old blogs to read my reasons why.
Now we have this lovely issue of 2.5 millions voters being disenfranchised. The word made some famous by Democrats in 2000. The big uproar in 2000 was that the person with the most popular votes did not win. But they seem to be very quiet when their own party is not counting the 2.5 million people who voted in Florida and Michigan. If you count those votes it makes it a much closer race. So there is a possibility that the person with the most votes in the Democrat party might not get the nomination. But according to their rules this is ok. But in 2000, when both parties played by the same rules, this was not ok. Does the word hypocrite mean anything here?
If you made it this far into my ramblings, I say I am sorry. Just something's I wanted to get off my chest as we head into the general election. I am sure, ok I know, I will have plenty more to say as we get closer to November. I know who I will be voting for. I encourage everyone to look at all options and vote for the person they feel will be our best leader for the next 4 year, weather you agree with my choice or not. I just beg everyone to vote in Nov and let your voice be heard. No matter what anyone says your vote does count. The best thing about this country is that every change of power we have had has been a peaceful one. That is something to be proud of, and no matter what anyone might think this is a great country and together we can make it even a greater country.

Can you smell that? That is a game 7!!!

2008-04-20T20:46:00.000-04:00

Monday night is the night for game 7 between The Bruins and Canadians. What has turned out to be one hell of series, with each game better then the last, will come to a conclusion in Montreal on Monday night. The B’s have fought back from being 3-1 down in the series to tie it up at 3 games a piece. Game 6 might go down as one of, if not the, best games of this years playoffs. The B’s showed that they are full of hear and character to get a 5-4 victory. As usual the B’s fell behind but came back, with 6 goals scored in the third to cap an amazing game. Phil Kessel who was benched for 2 games earlier in the series, after playing every game in the regular season, had 2 goal Saturday and 3 since his benching.
With all the pressure on the Canadians in game 7 the B’s have a very good chance of pulling a major upset and doing something no other Bruins team has ever done, win a series after being down 3-1. Win or lose this team has shown me and others a lot, and gives all Bruins hope for the future.
So I encourage everyone to watch the best thing in sports, a game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. So be there 7pm on NESN.GO BRUINS!!!!!!!

John McCain, true family values.

2008-04-07T21:29:00.001-04:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/us/politics/06mccain.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=sloginWell this article is for the people who call John McCain a warmonger and will get us into another war as fast as her can. This shows unlike anyone else left running for President he has a real dog in the current war in Iraq, he has had 1 son already serve in Iraq, but a good chance he might have another. I think this should show he does not take his stance on Iraq lightly, he takes with entire heart, he does not take it as 1 of 100 Senators, or possibly the next President, he takes it as father. Iraq is not just a political stance for him hit his a family issue. Going up to Iraq many people criticizes President Bush that he really didn’t have a dog in the fight that he made the excruciating decision of going to war with out any real emotion. Well this can not be sad about Sen. McCain. This also shows the kind of men he has raised. It shows the character and commitment he has installed into them, the same character and commitment he has shown over the last 40 years.

The Good, the Bad and the Fighting Irish.

2008-04-07T20:28:00.000-04:00

Well its been over a week since UNH lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, a 7-3 lost to Notre Dame. It was a hard lost, hence the long time before I commented on it. First I have to give all due credit to Notre Dame, they played a great game and really took to the Cats. All the hype going into the game was that ND could not score, well they proved that wrong. They came in and controlled the game and had their way the Cats. Should UNH have won this game? Yes they should have. On paper they were by far the better team, but as we know the game is not played on paper. ND has lost 9 out of their last 13, their top scorer was out and they hadn’t scored more then 2 goals in a game a in awhile. Heck the only reason they made the tournament was by losing 2 games the weekend before, its that NCAA math. But the Irish came out with a lot of heart and desire and played a great game and took advantage of UNH mistakes. UNH took some stupid penalties in the first and ND took advantage with 2 power play goals, on basically the same play. UNH did play well the first 17 minutes of the game, but then well still not sure what happened then. They were back on their heal and ND dominated the 2nd period. UNH did have a golden opportunity with a 5 on 3, but got nothing, actually ND scored just as the 2nd penalty was ending, and that was the back breaker.
So what went wrong? I have been trying to figure that out for the last 10 days, and still have no ideas. Many people are blaming coach Umile, I can not do that. He had them up all season, and playing above their heads in some games. Many are taking shots at him for the last couple of years in the NCAA, which I think is unfair. After all he got the team to the final game 5 years ago. The next year he lost a close game in the regional finals to the eventual champs Denver. Since them it has been 1 and done all 3 years. But this year was the one that hurt the most. The first one was to a 1 seed Michigan State, and they only lost 1-0 in a great game both ways that could have gone either way. Last year they lost by 1 goal to Miami, where UNH outplayed them most of the game but Miami’s goal was the difference in a 2-1 game. So I can not say it is Umile’s fault. So maybe it was the players were to confident going into the game, or maybe they just got no puck luck. What ever it was, it is over now. Up until that game it was a very successful season, with a very heartbreaking ending. I do feel bad for the seniors who had a really good year, and a good 4 years. All of them will be missed and have added a great deal to the program. Wish all the best to Regan, Radja, Fornataro, Flashins and Switzer, you have left big shoes to fill.
So now on to the 09 season to see what that will bring, we will find out soon enough the first game in Oct 11 home against Wisconsin

On to Colorado

2008-03-25T21:54:00.001-04:00

Well its been awhile since I posted anything about the UNH hockey team. The last time I posted anything was when they wrapped up the regular season title. Well since then the Cats lost in the Hockey Semi-Finals 5-4 in 3 overtimes to Boston College who went on to win Hockey East Championship.
The Cats looked very good in their quarterfinal 2 game sweep over UMass, except for the first 5 minutes of game 1 the Cats were by far the better team. Game would have 2 UNH players (Fornataro and Pollostrone) scoring hat tricks, with Pollostrone getting 5 goals in the series.
The Cats were justly rewarded at the Hockey East playoffs banquet the night before the semi-finals. Kevin Regan unanimously won the leagues player of the year. He would be a first team all star, with fellow Cats Brad Flashins and Mike Radja, while Craig Switzer and Mike Fornataro were names to the second team. Joe Charblios went on to win the best defensive defenseman of the year award. Coach Umile would be runner up for Coach of the Year, and James Vanreinsdyke was the runner up for Rookie of the Year and names to the all rookie team.
Friday against BC started off good for the Cats, they played very well in the 1st period and would end the period up 2-0. The 2nd period was a totally different games. BC controlled mush of the play and outplayed the Cats big time in that period. But the Cats would leave that period up 4-2. But the 3rd saw the Eagles make the comeback complete and force OT. The Cats did start to play better in the 3rd, but took some stupid penalties that help lead to BC’s comeback. The first 2 overtimes was some very good back and forth hockey with both teams getting their chances. The Eagles would actually have a goal call back when Kevin Regan’s helmet came off before the goal went in. But a penalties by Dany Dries would give BC a power play going into the 3rd. A shot from the blue line would be tipped in by one of UNH defenseman and give BC the victory. Much has been said about the game since Friday. The Cats did play a really bad 30 minutes through out the 2nd period and going into the 3rd. But they did pull it together and played better in the last half of the 3rd and the OT’s, and as most people know anything can happen in OT. I know the Cats are really disappointed in the way they played, but have a chance to get that sour taste out of their mouth in the NCAA tourney.
The lost did push them down a spot in the power rankings. With the #4 seed in the ranking this matched the Cats with Colorado College who were #5, and put in the same regional. With CC hosting this year this forced the Cats to have to go out to Colorado and play in their arena. The Cats will get Notre Dame in the first round. Many people have said this is unfair to UNH. But it is what it is, and as UNH fans know just because you are hosting in front out your own fans does not give you automatics wins. The Cats need to do one thing and focus on ND. Norte Dame was the last team to get in the tourney, actually got in because they lost in the CCHA consolation game. Notre Dame, is a defensive first team, in the mold of UMass or Vermont. But they do lack scoring, and their top scoring is out for the rest of the year. I am sure the Cats will come out flying and put a lot of pressure on ND. The key for ND is to get through the first 10-15 minutes. If UNH can get up 2-0 I see the UNH opening up the game as ND will be forced to try to get some offense going. The game will also be played on an Olympic size ice, which of course UNH is use to playing on at the Whitt, and ND is not use to. This should also help open up the Cats offense. A 2 goal lead would be much safer then it was against a very offensive minded team like BC. Then again I am sure UNH knows now that the game is not over till the final buzzer, and will play hard the entire game. Don’t get me wrong I think ND will give the Cats a tough game, and could pull the upset if it’s a low scoring game. But if the Cats come out and play their game I see no reason why they can not win. They just have to make sure they are focused on Notre Dame, unlike last year where some on the team were thinking about playing BC the next night. Right now its all about Friday.

On to Colorado

2008-03-25T21:54:00.000-04:00

ESPN SUCKS!!!

2008-03-25T21:18:00.001-04:00

Well I have been saying it for many years, but it is now official ESPN just plain old sucks. They have been over hyping stories for years now then turn around and blame an athlete for doing something stupid, even though they will spend half an hour giving them TV now. But now they have but me over the edge with them. ESPN has had the NCAA hockey tourney for the awhile now. What they usually do it put it out for the highest bidders to pick up the games, which has been fine. The games have always been picked up, actually last year every game from every region was covered in NH. But this year they have changed it up. They are offering some games to local channels to buy, but not letting other games to be picked up and only shown on their own ESPNU. This is network that is only available in 8 million homes in the US, it is not on the biggest cable carrier, Comcast. More people get the Game Show Network channel then ESPNU. So what does this mean to UNH fans? Well Friday nights game against Notre Dame will be picked up locally on CH9 out of Manchester. But if they win and move on to the regional finals on Saturday night that game will be only available on ESPNU or online at ESPN360.com. This is not good for college hockey or its fans. Well hopefully UNH can advance and I will be looking for a place to watch the game Saturday night.

1 Down, 2 To Go!!!

2008-02-25T21:20:00.001-05:00

On Saturday night the UNH hockey team completed the first of 3 major goals for the season. The Wildcats clinched the Hockey East regular season championship. This was the Cats 2nd title in a row. The Cats did it in a convincing matter over the weekend. The Cats won at BC Friday night 2-0. The Cats played probably their best game of the year on Friday. Defensively it was easily the best game the Cats have played in a very long time and it came against no slouch of a team in BC , they are the 2nd rated offense in the country. The Cats limited BC scoring opportunities, and held most of BC shots to outside and cleared out any rebounds Kevin Regan left. When called upon Regan made some great saves. The Cats offense wasn’t clicking all night, they did have many shots go wide, and hit 3 post. But they did take advantage of opportunities when they needed to. John Muse did play a solid game in net for BC. With out him the game could have been 4 or 5 to 0.
So that win set up Saturday night, with a win UNH could win the regular season title. BC did come out playing more aggressive Saturday night, but the Cats matched their intensity, and kept up there solid defense. The Cats offense did show up more on Saturday and lead them to a 5-1 victory. The big difference was the Cats power play that went 4 for 8. That is a huge improvement from where the Cats power play was 6 weeks ago. The Cats power play was floundering, but have really improved with every game. The Cats penalty killing was also huge all weekend, they killed off all 7 chances BC has Saturday night, and limited BC to only 2 chances on Friday. 4 of the 5 goals Saturday night were from Freshman (2 from Dries, 1 from Desimonne and JVR) this goes to show how the entire team has been moving in the right direction and getting better with every game, and ever shift. This is why they have won the title.
So with 4 games left in the regular season where do the Cats go next? The Cats have 2 games this weekend against Merrimack and 2 next weekend against Vermont. Both of these teams still have a lot to play for. Merrimack is fighting for the last playoff spot and Vermont is playing for home ice, and maybe the #2 seed in the Hockey East Playoffs. So both teams will be fired up and give the Cats a real battle. Which will be a good thing for them. The Cats need to keep getting better every game. The need to keep up the intensity they played with last weekend, and keep the hot streak Regan is on. Right now he is probably the best goalie in the country. The can not afford to rest on what they have achieved so far. I think this team learned from last years end of the season down turn that they need to treat the next 2 weekend as if they were the playoffs, it is also important in the power rankings that set up the NCAA tournament, right now the Cats are #2 overall in the country in the power ranking. They also need to make sure they are healthy going into the playoffs. Right now the only injury is to JVR with a hand injury that has slowed him down a little, thought did get a goal and assist last weekend. Also think they will want to get Brain Foster a game in net, be good to get him some time just in case you need him in the playoffs. I think the senior leadership on the team will keep the team focused and ready to go for there next goal. Of course that goal is the Hockey East Championship, which the Cats lost last year after winning the regular season title. I have more faith in this year team then last. This team is taking it one step at a time, and I am sure they are not looking past Merrimack this weekend. There focus is getting prepared for the Hockey East playoffs, and worry about what is after that after the Hockey East playoffs, with hopefully another trophy in the trophy case, then prepare to go after the last trophy.

And then there were 8

2008-02-10T19:13:00.001-05:00

Well its been awhile since I have posted anything about the UNH hockey team. Well all is good in Wildcat country. With 8 games left in the regular season UNH has a 5 point lead over Boston College. The Cats have won their last 9 straight Hockey East games to take the lead in conference. The Cats are also #3 in the country in the power rankings, which help decide the seeding for the NCAA tournament.
So what makes this team better then last years team that won Hockey East. Well last years team start off hot, and started to fizzle in late Jan. This years team start off inconstant but has really started to play their best hockey as the season as gone along. It was not until mid Jan. that the team had its lines set. The first part of the season there was a lot of mixing up the lines to try to find something that clicked. But starting with the 2 games in North Dakota things started to slowly come together. Freshman Danny Dries was moved to the first line, and has really started to click with Radja and Fornataro. After missing 5 games, while playing for the USA in the Junior World Championships, James Van Reinsdyke has really fit in well on the 2nd line with Bobby Butler and Jerry Pollastrone. The third line has been pretty much together all year with Thomas Fortney, Greg Collins and Mike Sislo making up a strong defensive checking line. Peter Lablanc has been moved to the 4th line, but it has not discouraged him as he has played well in that role along side Paul Thompson and Phil Desimone. Greg Manz, Danny Vranek, and Danny Rossman have stepped into the line up when needed and have added a spark, with Vranek getting first career goal in the first game and Manz getting a goal stepping in when Lablanc had to sit out for a 1 game suspension. All of this had lead to a very deep offense that on any night can get scoring from anywhere. On defense the team has really started to step it up the last month. With some very inconsistent play early in the season, I and many other fans really worried about the defense. But they have proved me wrong. Greg Switzer comes to mine as one I and others criticized early in the year. But he has really turned it up. The others on the blue line have really stepped into their role. Joe Charlebois has turned into a very solid hitting defenseman. Kevin Kapstad has all add a lot of physical play recently and shown a good knack at finding the back of the net. Brad Flashins has turned into one of the top scorers from the blue line in Hockey East. Jamie Fritsch and Nick Krates have played solid D to fill out a very good defensive core.
In nets there is only one word that needs to be said, Regan! Kevin Regan has been one of the best goalies in the country the last 6 weeks, and is playing better and better every game. In the last month he has become the all time UNH leader in saves and wins. Now that he has those records he has been a man possessed. He seems ready for a good playoff push this year.
So what can we expect in the last 8 regular season games? Well the next 2 weekend bring in 2 huge series, both are home and home series. First up will be Providence who sit in 3rd right now 6 games behind UNH. These will be 2 tough games for the Cats, but will be a great test to see how they match up against a very solid team. A sweep of the 2 games would be great for the Cats, but a split would be good to. The Friars need both games. A sweep by Providence wouldn’t be the end of the world, but would not be good for the momentum they have right now. The weekend after is 2 games against BC. Depending on what happens next week, that could be the weekend that helps decides who wins Hockey East, but can’t look past Providence next weekend. I am sure the boys aren’t looking further then Friday night down in Rhode Island. With 8 games left before the playoffs the Cats are in better shape this year then they were last year, and the last couple of years. Unlike previous years the Cats are playing their best hockey at the right time. The Freshman have really stepped it up and have been playing great, lead by JVR and Dries. The upperclassmen have also played better every game. Mike Radja has stepped up and shown to be one of the better scores in the country. This years defense is one of the better defenses they have had in a couple of years. Of course Kevin Regan has shown to be one of, if not the, best goalies in UNH history, and the country this year. The Hockey East playoffs will be very tough this year, as its has been shown many times this year any Hockey East team can beat another. Then will come the NCAA playoffs, and they will be very tough. Right now Michigan and Miami (Ohio) are probably the 2 best teams in the country, also have some great teams from the WCHA, lead by North Dakota and Colorado College. Who ever they match up against will be tough. But this years team has shown they are not afraid of anyone, and are not afraid to work hard to get what they want. This years team has shown to be a very blue collar working team that might not win pretty, but will fight to win.

Q’s Thoughts on Hillary Clinton

2008-02-06T21:28:00.000-05:00

Well I am sure if you have read anything I wrote before you can figure out I am not a big Hillary Clinton fan and have plan on voting for her, most of that has to do with her record and her views on things. But there is something that really drives me crazy about her. The fact that I have to hear from her supports that she is this strong woman who has had many challenges in her life and she should be commended for standing by Bill through everything. I find this total BS. She has shown herself to be an opportunist. She ran for the Senate while still being first lady, and from a state she was not from. She claims she knows how working moms feel as she raised Chelsea while in the White House, of course with all the benefits that go with that. This does not make her a strong woman or a one that should be a role model. I’m sorry I was raised by a single mother who raised 2 kids on her own, while working 10 hours a day in a factory. Hillary couldn’t hold a candle to my mother in what a strong woman or role model should be. So for anyone who is voting for her because they feel she is a role model, please look deeper and you will see there are millions of woman who are true role models, women like my mother, and Hillary is not in the same class as these people. Also if she was a strong woman she wouldn’t have stood by Bill all those times he was cheating on her, if she had the nerve to leave him at that time, I would have a hell of lot more respect for her, but by continues standing by him she showed how much of an opportunist she is.

Random Super Tuesday and other Political thoughts

2008-02-06T21:09:00.000-05:00

Not sure what the media is looking at, but the Democrat elections on Super Tuesday turn out to be a wash. If you listen to the media today, would think Obama walked away with everything. This one has a long ways to go and is either’s nominations to win.
On that note, Obama will have a good next 10 days with caucuses and primaries that are very favorable to him. But this race will come down to who can come up big in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania.

For all the whining the democrats did in 2000 about disenfranchised voters, they are doing the same things to members of their own party. First they take away the delegates from Florida and Michigan because they decided to move their primaries before Super Tuesday. So its only 48 states that are nominating the Democrat Nominee for President, yeah that sounds far. Then on top of that about 40% are “Super Delegates” these are elected officials and higher ups in the party. So these peoples votes count a whole lot more then the average voter. For a party that likes to claim to be the party of the people, they sure know how not make them count.

If the Super Delegates are the deciding factor at the Democrat Convention, I see it making things ugly. If Obama has more Delegates, but not enough to win, and the Super Delegates go with Clinton, that will be the downfall and be the cause of the Democrats losing in the general election. This will turn off a large number of people and turn them off to voting in November.

Why is Clinton/Obama a “Dream Ticket” Who’s dream is that? Seems to be CNN’s. But CNN has no favorites?

In that note, why would Obama decide to be VP? I don’t think that is smart move politically. First he would be hidden for 4 or 8 years, losing any power or sway he might have now. This would also put him under the Clinton umbrella, something he prides himself on not being under.

On the Republican side, I am very pleased with the outcome, but I am sure anyone who has read this before could figure that out. John McCain did very well, and looks to be on his way to the nomination.

I am sure this will not shut up the talk radio guys who keep blasting McCain, I am sure they will continue on their mean spirited attacks. Of course these are the same people that would rather lose so they can sit on the radio 3 hours a day and spew there hatred towards anyone who does not walk in lock step with them. The more and more McCain wins, the more it proves that they might had a ton of listeners but no very little influence over them.

Don’t be surprised to see Mitt Romney drop out after next Tuesday if he loses big in Virginia, which is a good possibility since it is open to independents.

I can honestly say I was surprised on how well Mike Huckabee did, with very little money and little media exposure he is keeping in the race with a strong southern strategy. He wont win the nomination but he will get something out of it. Many are saying maybe a VP slot, but I don’t see that, but I could see a Cabinet coming out of it. The same can be said for Rudy Giuliani, I could see him getting Attorney General out of this.

Shut Up!!

2008-02-06T21:08:00.001-05:00

First people that need to shut up are the Berkley (CA) City Council who voted 6-3 to tell the Marines that their recruiting office is not welcomed in there city (http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8120433?source=rss) The city sided, actually encouraged code pink, a anti war group, to protest the side. They gave code pink a free parking space and noise permit. What little respects the 6 members of the City Council showed towards the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect them day and night. There are thousands of recruiting stations around the country and they cause no harm. This is place for young men and women who want to serve with honor and protect us to get information and to do the ultimate duty that can be done. But these nut jobs in Code Pink are so opposed with their own little narrow view of how things are they do not see the stupity in there stance against the military. Do they understand if it was not for the military they would not have the right to protest. So to The Berkley City Council and Code Pink, shut up and get off your freaking high horse.
Next up is the town of ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Brattleboro Vermont. They are set to vote on weather they should indict President Bush and Vice President Cheney war crimes, perjury or obstruction of justice(http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080126/NEWS04/801260359/1003/NEWS02). This has to be one of the stupidest things I have ever hear, and I have heard many stupid things. Please Brattleboro get over yourself. You are a town in F'ing Vermont. What power do you thing you have? ..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
As have mentioned before, Rush Limbaugh and all other radio talk show host such as Sean Hannity for their continues attacks on John McCain. I think everyone gets it you don't agree with the Senator on a lot of issues. But I think its time you realize that you are not as powerful as you once were, and you do not represent the majority of voters. The republican party has moved on and is a more open party then you want to believe. You represent the old party of the party and your voices have gotten smaller, but as we know not quieter. Of course I have not heard of any of these guys actually coming out and supporting someone else, what's the problem do scared to actually support someone? You know you might actually get some more respect if you had the balls to back someone instead of just coming out and spewing your hate towards McCain. Until you actually have something of use to say, please shut up.
Speaking of spewing nothing but hate we go the other end of the spectrum, Keith Olbermann. For the 3 people who actually watch MSNBC get to see this guy nightly speak his hatred towards anyone or anything that has to do with the republican party. This is a guy who will never admit he is wrong. During the whole CIA leak situation he would come on nightly and blast Karl Rove and others and say they did it. But has he come out and apologized when Richard Armatige was exposed to be the one? Of course not that would not fit into his agenda of hate. I still wonder how did this guy get this political show when he comes from ESPN, where he wasn't that good. The only thing he is good at is getting people all riled up but has nothing of use to add to a civilized conversation, he makes the problems worst then better. It is people like him who make us more divided then united. So please Keith stick to sports where you have a little clue, and shut up about everything else.
Mitt Romney for whining and crying about John McCain criticizing him and going on the attack on him. Please get over yourself. I remember a few short weeks ago when all I say on TV here in NH were your attacks ads on McCain and misrepresenting his views on things such as immigration. You and your hair need to get over yourself and stop acting like you are this big victim. You are coming of like a little baby, if you cant handle the big leagues maybe you should go back to buying companies when they are vulnerable and weak. Please Mitt, and who can trust a guy name Mitt?, please shut up and grow a pair.
No I did not vote for Barak Obama or Hillary Clinton, and no I am not racist or a sexist. So to those who say that if you don't vote for them you are a racist or sexist please shut up and get a clue. Not everyone who doesn't vote for them are voting against them because of their race or sex. I vote for McCain because of his views and record and not for Obama or Hillary because of their views and records. I take my vote seriously and don't vote for or against someone because of their race, sex or even religion. To the people who do vote for someone because of these reason they need to be slapped, you should vote for the person for who they are, not what they are. The same goes for people who wont vote for someone because of their race, sex or religion, don't vote for someone for who they are, not what they are.
To the bandwagon Patriot fans, shut up you are making the life long serious fans look bad. I know many life long fans who are great fans. They know anything can happen in a game and don't things for granted. But it's these bandwagon fans who do nothing but talk trash and think there is no way the Pats can lose, but these are the same fans who will cry and whine if 1 person comes out think the Giants can give them a game, or used the no one respects us in the past, well no you are the same as those people. So to the bandwagon fans shut up and stop making the real fans look bad.
To the people who wear shorts outside during winter in New England. Please you don't look cool you look like an idiot! I know you are trying to look tough, hey look at me I can a tough guy who doesn't get cold. Please you look like a jackass. I don't know anyone who is impressed with you, they actually laugh at you. Are you that desperate for attention? To the parents who let there kids do this; well you just need a slap aside the head. You and your kids need to shut and get over yourself, your not tough you a

Tonight, Tonight!!

2008-01-03T18:47:00.000-05:00

Well the best part of America starts in about an hour. That part being the open democratic process in which we decide on our next President. No matter what your part affiliation is, or if you even have one, we all get a say on who our next President will be. Many people like to criticize the process in which we elect a President, they say that is only open to a select few and those with the power all ready. But when you break it down my vote counts just as much as the person who spends millions to support a candidate. The process that will come to ahead in November starts in a cold state of Iowa. In a few short hours we will have a true front runner, we will not be looking at polls, but looking at actual votes. I for one find the entire process fascinating, ever since I was a little kid I have a great interest in the entire political process. The first election I remember watching was the election of 1980 with Ronald Regan, Jimmy Carter and John Anderson, ever since then I have been hooked on the process. If anyone has read my blog they know I am supporting John McCain in the election. But the biggest winner is not the person who gets the most votes, it’s the American people who get to come together and have an equal say in who will be out next President. So I urge everyone to take a strong look at each candidates and make your own choice who you believe should be out next leader. So anyone in New Hampshire, take a look this weekend and get out and vote next Tuesday, make your voice heard. To me the next month will be a fascinating time in America.

Count to Jan 8th!!! Vote for McCain.

2008-01-01T19:34:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to throw some copies of some editorials that have endorsed John McCain for the Republican nomination. Some good reading, hopefully will encourage some to vote for him on Jan 8th in NH
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/NewsReleases/ba2e72c6-01d9-4546-832d-3b7db76524b7.htm
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/NewsReleases/ed4c93c9-3a9c-4b26-9457-e257aebd8e2a.htm
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/NewsReleases/6827db3f-b6a3-47a2-9322-a1f62f09fd21.htm
http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/OPINION/712290311/1027/OPINION01

Q’s Letter to the Editor-Vote for McCain

2008-01-01T19:33:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to post a link to the Sunday Dec. 30th Portsmouth Hearld with my letter to the editor for Sen. John McCain
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071230/OPINION/712300338&sfad=1

Q’s Person of the Year

2008-01-01T19:33:00.001-05:00

Well the calendar has turned to 2008, putting 2007 in the rearview mirror. So like most magazines do I thought I would name the first annual Q Person of the Year. Time Magazine is probably the most famous for this, and this year they named Russian President Vladimir Putin as their person of they year, I have to say that Time got this one wrong. Sure Putin has made changes in Russia, by using ruthless force in most cases. But he is not the person of the year. Their first runner up was Al Gore, once again, wrong on their part. For what putting together a failure of a concert that was suppose to, well still not sure of that one. Winning a Nobel Peace Prize, from the same organization that gave a Peace Prize to Yassar Arafat. Maybe he got the runner up for his open mind, no wait he doesn’t have one, well I am sure they have their good reasons for their decisions. After all this is a magazine that names “you” as their person of the year, so really how much weight should be put in to their decision.
But the Q Person of the year is a group effort, its is a group that is lead by General David Petraeus. It is the fighting men and women of the US military in Iraq. I wanted to give it to the General himself, but I know he would reflect all his success on the men and women he leads. General Petraeus came up with the surge strategy that was put into effect in 07 in Iraq. He recommended this strategy even though most of the Joint Chiefs disagreed with him, and mostly everyone else did to. He convinced President Bush into implementing this new strategy. He was unanimously approved by the Senate to become the new leader of the troops in Iraq. His new strategy has been so far successful, the troops are holding the territory they have gained and secular violence is down and so are the casualties. The people of Iraq are safer today and are standing up to the insurgence who have invaded their country. This has been the major first step that should have taken place a couple of years ago. Of course none of this has been easy, this new strategy has a great many naysayers, many of so-call leaders in congress were saying the surge was a failure, even before it has started. But the General and his troops stood their ground and have made great strides in a place were many said they could have no success. The General came back to Washington in September to give a progress report. Of course there were still many in congress who were not opened minded enough to listen to this brave man. They put their own political agenda ahead of what is in the best interest of the troops and to acknowledge the surge has been a positive thing. Some member questioned the Generals integrity and his honesty. To me this was a disguising act by people who claim to be leaders. He also faced an full page ad taken out by the coward at Moveon.Org, they showed what they are in that cowardly ad. But the good General took it in stride and continues to do what he believes is the best thing to in Iraq, no matter what people in the Washington and the Press have to say. Of course the men and women who serve under him share in this. They are the ones that do when 99% of others will not do, they put their lives on the line every day to give 25 million Iraqi people a little bit of the freedom we take for granted in this country. They do this with out asking for a thanks or any acknowledgment. They have also done things in 2007 that many people said they could not to, or wanted them to do. Here is hoping their success continues in 2008, even in the face of those who doubt and question them
These are just some of the reasons why General David Petraeus and the brave fighting men and women in Iraq are my Persons of the Year.

Random Q Thoughts

2007-12-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

· Hey Patriots fans, the world is not out to get you. So please shut and saying everyone is a hater against you. Loving in New England I keep hearing this and keep hearing people in New England bring up Spygate. I also listen to national people and they don’t bring it up as much an Pats fans. Did Bill Bellicheck get caught doing something he was told not to? Yes. Did he pay the price? Yes, no do like he has and move on. He is a great coach, one of the top 5 of all time in my opinion. But seems like New England fans need something to whine about so have to keep brining it up. Sit back and enjoy one of the greatest teams ever in football. Not everyone is against you, sit and watch ESPN, and the Fox and CBS pre game shows they praise the Pats, sure one or two guys here there might say something negative, but the vast majority praise the Pats. I know this wont happen as most people have to jump all over the one guy who says something stupid. This is once and lifetime thing the Pats are doing, so why can’t you enjoy it?
· I am sitting here watching the release the release of the “Mitchell report” about steroids use in baseball. To me this report is so full of holes and is really not the substantial. There is a lot of hearsay and information received third hand. Of course a lot of this has to go back on the players who refused to talk to Mitchell. The man source was a weight trainer who worked for the Blue Jays and Yankees, well of course you are going to get more players from his clients. Most teams did not have this against them so some of there players did not get named. The Players Union should be ashamed of itself for telling its players not to cooperate. So they need to take a lot of the blame for anyone who might be on the list who is not a steroids user.
· I know everyone in Boston is focused on the Pats and Celtics, and with good reason. But need to take a look at the Bruins. They have the second best record in the Eastern Conference right now, pretty impressive after last years debacle of a season.
· Bobby Petrino is a huge scumbag. He quit as the Atlanta Falcons head coach 13 games into his first season, and then did not have the guts to face the team to tell them. He also lied to the owner of the team less then 24 hours before he quit, to take a job in college. He told Arthur Blank on Monday he was not talking to Arkansas. Then that night he took the job. If I had a son looking at schools I would be very weary of him looking at Arkansas, I would not trust anything Petrino says, and would not feel comfortable having this scumbag of a so called man leading my child.
· Another reason Joe Paterno is the man in college football came out last week. After a half century, yes that is correct, at Penn State his salary was finally made public. To this point it never was. It came out that is making a little over 500 thousand as coach for the Nittany Lions. Sure that is a lot of money, but when you look at scumbag like Bobby Petrino making over 3 million to coach Arkansas, and he never won anything. Peterno should be making a hell of lot more then that. But he doesn’t and does not complain about it. He actually gives a good amount of that money back to the school and actually lives in the same small 2 bedroom house he has for over the last 40 years. Papa Joe will always be the man.
· I have been watching the Celtics a lot so far this year, and have to say I have been highly impressed with them. Of course everyone points to Pierce, Allen and Garenett as the reason why they are 18-2, and they would be correct for the most part. But the other members of the team has stepped up when needed to. The knock on them going into the year was that after the big 3 they had no depth, well that has been proven wrong so far.
When did boxing become so irrelevant? It use to be that a heavyweight championship fight meant something. Well now I cant even tell you who the heavyweight champions are, that is one of the problems there are to many champions. Also paying $50 to see it on pay per view cant help

The Q's vote goes to...............

2007-12-13T16:26:00.001-05:00

Well today is Dec 13th and the New Hampshire primary is and the New Hampshire primary that is only 26 days away. After over 7 months of hard and sometimes over the top campaigning from the all of the Presidential candidates, I have finally decided on who I am voting for in the primary. I have gone back and forth between many of the candidates this process started before most even put their hat in the ring. There were some candidates that did intrigued me going into the process, and later turned me off to them. On the Democrat side I looked at a couple of different options. One of them was Bill Richardson the Governor of New Mexico. I was interested in his experience as governor, Secretary of Energy and Ambassador to the UN. I did some paper in school about the lead up to the Iraq war and read many statements by Richardson from when he was at the UN criticizing Iraq and claims they had a WMD program. But now he has changed all that and tried to hard to get the left wing part of the party and calls for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, so he lost me there, Which is a shame he does have the credentials for hold the office. I still have a feeling he will be a strong contender for the VP slot on the Democratic side. I also took a look at John Edwards, the more and more I looked at him the more I was turned off to him, he comes off to me as what he is, a slimy lawyer. He is great at telling you what is wrong and who to blame, but I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him, and as I get older that isn’t to far. Like everyone else I looked at Barak Obama. I will be the first to admit he is very charismatic and does great on the stump. But to me he seems high on style and low on substance. He seems like the popular kid in school, everyone likes him and he great to talk to. But his he the one you want to do your homework or you can trust to get the job done, most of the time no. He might be a great candidate in a 4 or 8 years, but to me its not his time. He needs to get more substance to him.
On the republican side I went back and forth between many people. Would have to say none really grabbed my attention. Looked at Rudy Giuliani hard, I do agree with him on some issues and think he would be a tough man to beat, he did do a good job as NY mayor, but he didn’t sell me on himself. The same could be said of Mitt Romney, he has a good background, but there seems to be something missing there. Both Rudy and Mitt came off bad in a few debates to me, they came off as childish and not well behaved. I was also intrigued when Fred Thompson entered the race. But he has probably run the worst campaign ever. He came in with so much fanfare and potential but fell flat very quick. He seems like he thinks the job should just be given to him and he doesn’t have to go out and work for it. Well being a lifetime resident of New Hampshire and seeing many Presidential elections in my life, that does not fly here. Found it funny when I was talking to friend about the election and he said he was looking at Thompson but since he wasn’t running anymore he wasn’t sure who he was voting for, I had to tell him he was still running. That should say a lot right there.
So after about of year of going back and forth I have finally decided who gets the all important vote of the Q. That person will be John McCain. I will admit I was not a big fan of John McCain the last couple of years. To me he has seemed like a one trick pony since 2000 with campaign reform. To me that is not that high of an issue. But watching him over the last couple of months I have really turned on that. He seems to be a man of high principle. He has high values and sticks to them, but will also listen to others and will admit when he is wrong. He came off bad in May over the whole debate in congress over illegal immigration. His side came out on the negative side of the vote and public opinion. He has since came out and admitted he has listened to the people and will change his approach to the issue. He also stuck by his guns over Iraq, he was one of the first to call for the surge strategy while most criticized him over and said we should withdraw troops and not add more. Now McCain is being shown that he has the right idea along time ago, the surge is working. If President Bush would have listened to Senator McCain back then we would be further along in Iraq. For the last 17 years there has been a lot of partisan politics. When Bill Clinton was President the republicans were after him, and for the last 7 years the Democrats have been nothing but nasty towards President Bush. Some of the criticize on both Presidents was justified but a lot of it for both of them wasn’t, and was just petty stuff and just mean spirited by petty people. I believe John McCain has shown he can work in a bi-partisan way and would be the best agent to help bring most of the people together. Sure not everyone will agree with some of stance on stuff, I know I don’t agree 100% with him but there has never been a politician I agree 100% with. But I believe John McCain would demand the respect of the people who disagree with him, and will listen to him, and he will listen to them. Now is the perfect time for John McCain to be President. My heart is telling me to vote for McCain, Unfortunately my head is telling me the 08 election will be business as usual and he will not be given the nomination. The nomination will probably go who ever yells at the other side the loudest and is able to call the other side the most names. But I will vote with my heart and will cast my ballot on Jan 8th to John McCain, and hope that he can somehow get the nomination so I can continue my support for him. I would suggest that is anyone out there is sick of politics as usual and want a true decent man to be President take a look at John McCain, I don’t think you will be sorry you did.

25 reasons Q had decided to vote for John McCain

2007-12-11T20:46:00.001-05:00

Well I have been going back and for over the last year on who I was going to vote for in the NH primaries, well found this and it just might have made up my mind :)
1. Dick Cheney's "secret, undisclosed location"? Crouching behind John McCain.
2. North Korea's nuke program began afer Kim Jong-Il bought one of John McCain's toenail clippings on eBay and accidentally dropped it into a nuclear reactor.
3. Nostradamus tried to predict the rise of John McCain, but the thought alone killed him
4. Teddy Roosevelt actually said, "Speak softly and carry picture of John McCain."
5. Rudy Giuliani once invited John McCain to New York City, and all crime instantly ceased.
6. Chuck Norris is John McCain's decoy.
7. Mitt Romney's secret of success: On day one, warn all managers: "Perform, or I'll give you to John McCain."
8. The original pirate flag was a drawing of John McCain's face, but it was so terrifying the crew lept overboard every time it was raised. The skull and crossbones was created as a less frightening alternative.
9. Hillary Clinton's opposition research paper on John McCain is only five words long: "If he is nominated, quit."
10. John McCain was once bitten by a cobra. It died instantly.
11. Ninjas wear black so John McCain won't see them.
12. Women wear pink so he will.
13. Santa Claus has three lists: Naugty. Nice. John McCain.
14. The Vietnamese word for "tough" is "McCain."
15. John McCain's plan for U.S. energy independence is to plug himself into the power grid for one minute a day.
16. Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence read, ". . . all men are created equal, except John McCain."
17. The commander of the U.S.S. Intrepid's plan in case his ship ran out of ammo was to put John McCain in a cannon and fire him at the enemy.
18. The devil went down to Georgia because John McCain was in Arizona.19. Nails think of themselves as "tough as John McCain."
20. Instead of waterboarding terror suspects, John McCain plans to stare at them until they talk.
21. John Edwards brushes his hair each morning so he'll look great in case he runs into John McCain.
22. When John McCain was a baby, he dug a hole in his backyard. Today we call it the Panama Canal.
23. Aircraft carriers are so big because they need to be able to carry John McCain.
24. Ken Burns was going to make a film about John McCain's life, but he realized the story was so incredible no one would believe it.
25. If John McCain thinks about you, you'll experience total happiness all day long.

The return of Rock!!

2007-12-11T20:45:00.001-05:00

Well last night (12/10) there were 20,000 lucky people in London who got to experience true rock music. Those 20,000 people were the lucky ones out of 11 million who put in for Led Zeppelin tickets. This was the first time in over 25 years that Zeppelin played a full concert together, of course minus the great late John Bonham. Bonham’s son Jason filled in for his father and from everything I read did an outstanding job. With the huge void in rock music it to, it is great to see the legendary band playing together. Most bands are gone before you even know their name or know the song they are playing. Here is hoping the rumors of a tour are true. I know I will do my best t o catch one of their concerts. There are two bands I would have loved to seen, that is Zeppelin and the original Queen, and with the great Freddie Mercury gone that will never happen. So here is hoping I can get to see at least one. I know it would not be the same as in their heyday, but would beat anything out there now. Here are a few clips I found of the show, enjoy
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3G_JTMuHOQk
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ztCR6n5UrUI

UNH Update

2007-11-22T20:41:00.001-05:00

Well its been a couple of weeks since I did a blog entry about the UNH hockey team. The last time I wrote was after an ugly lost at home to Northeastern. Since then the Cats have been up and down. They are 2-1-1 since then. They had another ugly home lost to Northeastern, a tie to Lowell, a good home win against Boston College, and a overtime win at Providence. The tie against Lowell was a hard fought game that Lowell was able to pull the tie out with some great goaltending by Lowell goalie Carter Hutton. The Cats came out flying but got bogged in the second and third, and were lucky to walk out with a point. The next night was a 5-2 home win against BC, have to say I did not get to see any of this game, but did read the Cats did play a solid all around game. Then another lost to Northeastern last Friday night, that was just an ugly game for the Cats, who came out good, but after the first 10 minutes it was pretty much all the Huskies, the low life would be the short handed goal scored by NU in the last minute of the 2nd period. The Cats did bounce back with a solid 5-4 OT winner down in Providence last Saturday. I did listen to this game on the radio and did like what I hear. Except for a few break downs in the 3rd this game would have been a walk for the Cats. Coach Umile did change up the lines for the first time this year for this game. The big winner was the new line of James Van Reinsdykde- Thomas Fortney- Paul Thompson. This new line counted for all 5 of the goals with Thompson having a hand in all of them (3 goals, 2 assist)
So what can we make of the Cats after 9 games? Well to me this is not a team that found its identity yet. The team has had game were it offense was totally clicking, and games were the defense was really on. But there has been no consistence in either one of these fields. The new changes in the lines has really seemed to added some energy to some of the guys. Have to say so far the unsung hero and MVP of the team would be Freshman Paul Thompson, this kid has come in with little fanfare and had added some energy to the team, and he has greatly deserved his move up from the 4th line to play with Fortney and JVR. Thompson is turning into a fan favorite very quickly. I have read many people complain about JVR’s play, and call him lazy. I don’t see it that way, he does skate around effortlessly which can look lazy. I would like to see him play with a little more of the chip on his shoulder that he did in the first 2 weeks. When he does that he is by far the best player on the ice, and seems to fire up his teammates. I am hoping Fortney and Thompson help him bring that back. Now need some of the other forwards to step there game up. Radja needs to start going to the net the way he was last year. Lablanc has played well this year, but Pollastrone had not skated as hard as he did last year, but have a feeling that will change very soon. Another freshman who has proven something to me is Dan Dries, he has shown to be a solid player and will be a grinder in years to come, he came in with even less fanfare then Thompson, and has earned his spot in the line up. On the blue line Craig Switzer is still playing below were he should be. He has made way to many mental errors that a senior should make. Brad Flashians has really stepped up his play so far and with Thompson is probably one of the most valuable guys on the ice. The rest of the defense has been inconsistent so far, with some of the guys having great games, and some bad games. In net Regan has been all right, but he has shown that as the year goes along he gets stronger, so really have no worry there. Brian Foster has played a few games and been a solid back up, and will get more time as the year goes along. The main concern for the Cats right now has to be the power play, or lack of power play. They have down right awful on the PP so far. They have not been able to find the right combo on the PP so far. On the penalty kill they have been pretty solid, they have probably 3 of the best penalty killers in hockey east with Fortney, Greg Collins, and Radja. With the inconsistency the Cats have had this year, they are still only 2 points out of first in a very odd year in Hockey East, with a game in hand. Hockey East will go right down to the wire this year, and who knows what it will look like in March, who would have thought that Maine would lose 4 in a raw, 2 at home to Providence and 2 down at Merrimack. Is there a reason to panic? Hell no, take a look at last years team that was the hottest team in the country at this time, and stumbled down the stretch. I think it will take a few more weeks for the team to find its identity. January will be a telling month for the Cats. With 6 out of the 7 games that month being Hockey East games, will show what the Cats are made of going down the stretch and into the playoffs. If taking time to establish what this team is leads to a long playoff run, then I will take some losses in November. I still believe that this can be the case and this team has the talent to do just that. After all no one has Michigan State being one of the top teams last November, and they turned out just fine.

What's on Q's mind today

2007-11-07T18:37:00.000-05:00

Those Iphone commercials are just plan stupid! Like the Iphone is going to have a better weather system them air traffic control. Get over yourself, you are not the best invention ever, and the guy who says that someone never knew that he didn't know there name he had to look it up on web site, well idiot you just did a commercial saying, like a little realism involved.
· NFL on NBC pre game show, you are a football show not an environmental show, I don't want to hear all about NBC big week of green crap, I want to hear about football.
· On that same note, what is the "carbon footprint" of sending people all around to show what is being done to the environment? Am I the only one who finds a lot of hypocrisy in that?
· Which leads me to "carbon offsets" now this has to be biggest scam going, here you feel guilty give me money to plant a tree for your guilt. Anyone who buys into this is nothing but a sucker. Just upset I didn't think of this first. I have no problem benefiting from a bunch of stupid people guilt.
· Living in New England all of my life and going through a lot of cold snowy winters I saw bring on that global warming, it can't get here fast enough!
· Why are all the democratic candidates for President so afraid of Hillary? If you want to be leader of the most powerful country in the world, need to have some balls and stand up and show why you should be elected and not someone else.
· Why aren't you watching "Friday Night Lights"?
· Is it me, or has ESPN just gotten worst and worst over the last couple of years?
· To the groups protesting BET and MTV for the violent and sexual content in rap videos, how about going after the artists who actually make the videos? That is were you should start your crusade. If there were none of those video then there would be none on TV. I know heaven forbid we have any personal responsibility
· Why don't we wait till the season is over to say the Patriots are the best team ever! It has been 9 games. I have seen teams go further then this undefeated and not win everything. They are a great team, but let's wait and see what happens. Patriots fans should know anything can happen in the playoffs, remember 01 when no one thought the Rams could lose?
· Am the only who thinks "Saturday Night Live" sucks now? How about trying something different, like being funny?
· I have given this some thought, and this year is actually a good reason why not to have a college football playoffs. Every week has had games are turning out to be very vital to the national championship picture. If you had a playoff, these games would not have the significance they have now.
· Matt Ryan is showing to be highly overrated. He is a lot like Brady Quinn, all hype and can put up big numbers against lesser opponents.
· Charlie Weiss is proving not to be the great head coach as everyone thought. He has a worst record then Ty Willingham had at this point, and Willingham was fired after his 3rd year, and Weiss is in his 3rd year? Think Weiss will be fired? No he won't after signing a 10 year contract. So why does Weiss get the pass that Willingham didn't? This is going to be one of Norte Dame's worst years ever, and it's not going to get any better any time soon.
· Whose bright idea was it to be in charge of a safety team?
· I love the NHL Networks nightly "on the fly" show, it is like a Sportcenter but it all hockey with live look in at games going on.

UNH-CC recap

2007-10-28T20:36:00.001-04:00

Some thoughts from the UNH weekend sweep of Colorado College.
Kevin Kapstad really impressed me this weekend, were was that hitting last year? He will be a fan favorite in no time.
Craig Switzer needs to step up and stop making stupid mistakes. He has shown in the past we can play solid D, needs to stop thinking he needs to carry the team on his shoulders
When did Brad Flashins become such a good offensive defenseman, but hell we will take it.
Overall very happy about the way the defense played this weekend, well after the first period Friday.
James Van Reinsdyke really showed me a lot with his great hustle and drawing at least 4 penalties on CC.
Brian Foster looked very solid in net Saturday night. Like the 1, 2 punch we have in net, and should be set between the pipes for the next 3 years.
Paul Thompson has earned a place in the line up.
Love the attitude this years Cats team has, I can’t remember the last time I saw them play with a little chip on their shoulder and would be aggressors in the physical game.
Was very impressed with the turn out of CC fans, they were loud Saturday night. Hard not like a team that has that good of a turnout from the distance.
All 4 lines played a solid weekend. The Pollastone-Lablanc-Butler line was probably the best of the weekend. Like how Coach Umile has them as the “third” line to get a better match up for them.
Like to see the Cats take less stupid penalties, I don’t mind penalties coming from some aggressive play, but some of the ones they took this weekend were stupid one in the offensive zone.
The Cats showed some great conditioning over both games, they seemed to wear down CC in the third period both night, just like they did to BU last weekend. Overall very happy with the way the Cats played over the last 5 periods of the weekend, I hope they can keep up this play all year and not fade off like last year.

Random Q thoughts

2007-10-27T10:36:00.001-04:00

What is it with the celebration after every round in the baseball playoffs? They do the big celebration when they make the playoffs, after the division rounds, after the LCS round and the World Series, seems to be a little ridiculous to me. No other sports does that. Just something that drives me crazy, break out the champagne we won the wild card, woohoo!!!
The Bruins might actually make the playoffs this year, the Claude Julian hiring was the right move
Sorry to say Red Sox fans, you are now Yankees fans.
If the Patriots can develop there running game, they could be the best 1 year team ever.
“Chuck” is my favorite new TV show.
Had nice weather for my week off, thank you global warming!!
Chris Mathews is just a putz, no real reason to say this just wanted to
When did CNN turn into a network who yells and blames everyone for everything, instead of reporting the news? No wonder your ratings have gone down, keep this up will be with MSNBC soon
Good to see everyone step up in the fires in California. Good to see people helping each other instead of blaming each other.
Watching the news the other day and the reporter asked an “expert” what to do if a fire is coming towards your house, I have an idea, get the hell out of there, and I am not an expert!
I really don’t care if Brittany Spears has her kids or not, there are millions of families that go through custody battles every year.
Ok you can start to pay attention to the Presidential elections now, the primaries are a few months away.
The mayor of Portsmouth, Steve Marchand, was running for Senate but dropped out because Jeanne Sheehan decided to run, what a wuss. Why would anyone vote for anything else if you don’t believe you are the best person for the job. Have some balls!!

UNH-CC round 1

2007-10-27T09:46:00.001-04:00

UNH needs to work on coming out with some fire, it could have been worse then 3-1 after the first.
UNH controlled the play in 2nd and 3rd and matched up well with the fast CC forwards.
CC has some guys with some wheels, was impressed with their speed.
Jerry Pollastone has shown himself to be a clutch player and knows how to score the big goals
That might have been some of best hitting I have seen by a UNH team in a long time, and especially Kevin Kapstad, count at least 3 hard hits he had. Hopefully they keep that up.
Sislo need to control his shot more, he had quite a few shots go wide.
The Cats really moved the puck well on the PP and had some really golden opportunities, as the team gels more of those will go in.
18-1 shot advantage in the 3rd? WOW!!!!
Was obvious that CC’s goal in the 3rd was to hold JVR as much as possible. Turned in to 2 PP for the Cats, so that backed fired for them. Liked the way Paul Thompson played. Didn’t have many scoring chances played some good D.

True Fan vs. Bandwagon Fans

2007-10-22T22:55:00.001-04:00

So the World Series is all set with the Red Sox beating Cleveland in the ALCS. Living in New England that is all you hear about. Which is fine, I totally understand. But there is one thing that really bugs me is all the bandwagon fans. This is a huge problem with the Red Sox and Patriots. There seems to be a whole group of “fans” who know very little about either team before 2000. Of course this is not just a phenomena for New England, it happens every time is good and has a few years of winning. These fans make the real fans look bad. I know people who have always been a fan of both teams through thick and thin, and deserve to be part of success both teams have had, but there are to many of these bandwagoners to give them there due credit for always being there. People like my friend Todd I have know for over 25 years. He has been a huge fan of the Sox and Pats since I have known him, to me he is a true fan. I was having a conversation with him tonight about the 86 series and weather in game 6 should the wild pitch been scored that or a pass ball for Rich Gedman, to this day I say pass ball on Gedman and not a wild pitch for the Steamer, that is Bob Stanley to all the Johnny come lately. Of course most of these people wearing their pink hats have no idea what that debate is about. The same can be said for the Pats and who should have started Eason or Grogan? A true fan will know what that is about.
A true fan also know not to talk smack till its over. A true fan gets more excitement out of their team winning then another team losing, they don’t chant Yankees suck when the Sox are playing Tampa, and they don’t gloat if the Colts lose. A true fan respects a good team even if its not their team, they will say if their teams losses that the better team won. A true fan will be there when Rod Rust is coaching the Pats to a 1-15 record, and come back the next year. A true fan will be there when Butch Hobson is showing to be an awful major league manager. To those fans I say enjoy the ride, as you know it does not last forever. But that true fan will be there when their team has to go through the rebuilding that every great team eventually has to go through.
I can honestly say for some sick reason I have been a fan of the same teams for over 20 years, and I am positive if you ask me 20 years from now will be a fan of those teams. I have been a Blue Jays fan since the early 1980’s when they were awful, but stuck with them and got to see them win 2 World Series, and hopefully more. I have been a Steelers fan as long as I can remember and got to see them win a Super Bowl a few years ago, could have been 2 if it weren’t for Neil O’Donnell. I have for some god forsaken reason always been a Bruins fan, and have to believe they will win a Stanley Cup sometime in my life, and I also guarantee I will be at least one game. Have seen them play for the cup twice, but lose to 2 great Oilers teams. I have been a Penn State fan for College Football since as long as I can remember, have seen them in a national championship in 87, and should have won one in 94, got to love polls, and will always love Papa Joe. And of course if you have read anything I have written know I am a huge UNH fan in college hockey. Have seen them in 2 National Championship games, one in live in person. I truly believe they will win one in my life, and hopefully it will be soon. Even if none of my teams win I will root for them, because that is what a real fan does.

UNH-UNB- Lets get it on!!

2007-10-13T13:18:00.001-04:00

Some of my thoughts about the game last night 4-3 lost to UNB.
- JVR is the real deal, paid close attention to him, he seems to find an open patch of ice all the time. Like his aggressive style around the net. Needs to bring that a little more around the boards but overall very impressed for his first game.
- I have said a couple of times but Fortney has really impressed me, again
- Were was Butler?
- DeSimone started off slow but played better as the game went along.
- The entire team played better in the third.
- UNB played a very tough defensive style, which was a good test for the Cats for their first game.
- There is a lot of work to be in defense, but it should come together.
- Sislo looked good to me, I think he will add more then people think before the end of the year.
Overall wasn't upset with the game. Glad it was an exhibition game. There is a lot of work to be done, but I am sure we all know that going into the game. Will take awhile for everyone to get use playing with each other, after all there are a lot of new players. It's a long season and I would rather the team take time to get everything right then panic after a month or so and make drastic changes that will put the team farther back. My feeling is this time will start to gel and coming together after Christmas, so will probably be the opposite of last year, and I am fine with that.
Now bring on BU!!!

Q's UNH hockey preview

2007-09-27T20:53:00.001-04:00

Well its fall in New Hampshire and that can only mean one thing. No I am not talking about the infusion of tourist to see a bunch of leaves dying, or the hordes of media to watch the circus that is called the New Hampshire primary. I am of course talking about the start of a new UNH hockey season. With practices starting on Oct. 6th with an exhibition game on Oct 12th and the season starting on Oct. 19th at BU. The 2007-08 season on paper should be a very exciting season. After the roller coaster season last year that started with a slow start then a huge rise in the middle of the season that saw them shot up to #1 in the country it ended on a downfall with 2 consecutive losses, in the Hockey East finals and the 1st round of the NCAA tourney. The exceptions going to last year were not so great, they were picked to come in 4th in Hockey East and ended up winning the regular season title. So in the end they ended up meeting and exceeding exceptions. This year is different. Now is the time to move on to the new campaign.
Loses from last year
The first thing that to look at is what is lost from last year. The main thing they lost is some scoring punch. The biggest losses will be Jacob McFlicker, Brett Hemmingway and Trevor Smith. To me the key one of these will be McFlicker. He has been known to bring up his game a notch in the big games, to me he was the emotional leader of the team that will be very hard to replace. Hemmingway and Smith could put the puck in the net, but seemed to do it against lesser competition. It seems to me that they didn’t know always show up and bring that extra effort for the big games. Shawn Vinz is also gone from last years roster. Of course Vinz was a favorite of mine so I am a little biased. But Vinz was key contributor on the penalty kill, and on the 4ht line he seemed to help the freshman bring their game up, he proved to be a good influence on them. Also gone is last years captain Josh Ciocco. Ciocco should some leadership with the team and had a really good last year, to me McFlicker was the real captain of the team. Like Vinz Ciocco added a lot to the penalty kill with his great speed. He also stepped up to the #1 line pretty well when there was injuries. The last member of the 07 class was Chris Murray, he was the only defenseman that the Cats lost. Murray was an average defenseman that I do not think will be to hard to replace. His graduating will open up some more ice time for some of the other defenseman.
Offense
So where will the scoring come from this year? I see the offense being a well balanced attack this year. I see many players with the capitates of getting 30 or more points this year. Of course we can expect Mike Radja, Matt Fornataro and Jerry Pollastrone to put up really good numbers. All 3 really stepped up there game last year and should continue with their scoring touch. Other key returnees who should add scoring and bring their game up a notch are Peter Leblanc, Bobby Butler, Thomas Fortney, Greg Collins and Danny Rossman. Leblanc, Butler and Rossman are entering their sophomore campaign and should great promise last year. They were integrated slowly into the line up. All shared time on the 4th line. As the season progressed all 3 raised their game up. Butler really improved over the course of the year, and showed he should be one of the top scores on the team over the next 3 season. Fortney and Collins are entering their Junior year. Both will not but up huge numbers, but add with the little things, both play a good fore check and pass the puck pretty well. Fortney is probably the best face off man on the team. The incoming class up front is probably one of the best in recent history for the Cats. Of course it is highlighted by James VanRiemsdyk (JVR), he was the second over all pick in last summers NHL draft. The consensus is that he will be in Durham for no more then 2 years. I think he will come in and have an impact. He will add some size, 6’3”, which will be very helpful. He also showed he can score, with the US under 18 team last year he put really good numbers against college teams and in international play. Of course he will probably be loss for the series at North Dakota right after Christmas, as he will be more then likely playing for the US in the under 18 world championship. Another key addition will be Phil Desimone, who was the USHL player of the year putting up 70 points in 56 games. He has shown to be a good set up man who will play well with either Radja or JVR. Some other freshman who might contribute this year are Mike Sislo and Paul Thompson. They might not get a lot of playing time early in the year but as the season progress they will have the opportunity to work themselves into the line up. There will be much more competition for playing time this year, which in my opinion will be a big plus. I think that was lacking last year and hurt the team. Other players who could fight for some time are Dan Dries, Dan Vranek, Greg Manz, and when he is healthy Paul Thompson.
Defense
This years defense should be pretty deep. Last year there were only 7 defenseman which made it hard on the top 6, gave little time for them to rest and made them have to avoid injuries at all cost. There are no stand out stars on the blue line, but there is depth and quality. There are 5 returnees with 4 who were regulars last year. The top 4 this year will be Jamie Fritch, Craig Switzer, Kevin Kapstad, and Brad Flashins. Of those 4 I believe Kapstad has the capabilities of having a break out year. Sophomore Nick Krates has a good chance of making the top 6 defenseman this year, only getting time in one game last week Krates did not have an opportunity to show what he can do. He will battle freshman Matt Campanale for playing time, another Freshman Mike Beck comes into the season injuries and might see any ice time this year, if he does come back healthy he will add depth on the blue line, and give some guys a chance to rest later in the season on those 2 game weekends. I would like to see the defense play a little more physical this year. There were time when they played against a big team that they would be pushed around some, this was evident over the last month of the year. This defensive bunch might not have a lot of all stars but are pretty equal in the top 6 which is a positive and will help match the depth on the front line.
Goaltending
There is no question in net for the Cats. The cats return a top notch tandem between the pipes. Coming back are Senior Kevin Regan, one of the top goalies in the country the last 2 years. Regan will be the #1 goalie for the year having proven himself extremely capable last year of handling that duty as he had many outstanding games and helped steal some games for the Cats that could have gone in the lost column. The only question is how much time will sophomore Brian Foster see this year. Foster started off the season very hot with a couple of shut outs. Foster did have a few hiccups later in the year, one while coming into the game in the second in that awful game at Providence. Foster should see more game time this year, this will not only help him improve but give Regan more time to rest and save himself for the last push at the end of the year. Foster has pedigree to be a #1 goalie, he was one of the toped recruited goalies when he came and was a 5th round draft pick of Florida. Foster should be using this year to set himself up to be the #1 guy in the net for his final two years in Durham. I could see him getting 10-15 starts this year. With more back to back games this year and less middle of the weeks games, Foster will be needed more this year.
Special Teams
With the added depth this year I think the cats should be outstanding with their special teams. The power play has the potential of being one of the tops in the country. The power play should be let by Mike Radja and should be at least 2 units strong, with the possibility of a good 3 line that can contribute, there is also the possibility of playing 4 forwarders playing on the PP unit. I know this is something Coach Umile normally doesn’t do, but with the depth this year it is an option that should be looked at. The penalty kill units should be pretty solid to. Greg Collins and Thomas Fortney should be a good unit that has the chance of quite a few shorthanded chances. Mike Radja has proven to be a really good penalty killer, he will miss his running mate Ciooco on the PK but I see Pollastone being able to use his great speed to help him on the PK. I would not also be surprised to see JVR get a shot at some PK time.
Expectations
Well if you made it this far you can probably guess my exceptions are pretty high this year for the Cats. There is a really good mixture of returning upperclassmen and a really solid incoming freshman class that will make this team a deep team on offense and the blue line. The proof of how solid this team will come playoff time. The cats should be a solid contender for the regular season title. The shared the preseason coached poll for top spot in Hockey East with BC. BU, Maine and Vermont should also be in the top half of Hockey East. Going into the season I would say UNH has the less amount of question marks. The loss of Cory Schneider will be a tough one to get over for BC and will be relying on two freshman goalie, if they can find a solid #1 they will be extremely tough to beat. UNH also has some tough non conference games that will be a really good taste for them for the post season. The cats host Colorado College in Oct for 2 games, and go out to North Dakota right after Christmas. The also host St. Lawrence in January. They games will show what the cats should be able to do come March. So were do I see the Cats at the end of the year. If all goes right, the freshman come and play up to expectations, the sophomore improve over a solid freshman year, and of course the injury bug stays away, there is no reason that this team can further then last couple of year and make a solid run at the frozen four. The expectations should be high for this years team and will be a disappointment if they do not show an improvement in the post season over last years team.

Never forget!

2007-09-11T19:28:00.000-04:00

Today is the 6th anniversary of attack of America on 9/11/2001. Six years have past since that awful Tuesday morning. A lot has happened since morning, but one thing that has not is we still loss over 3000 fellow Americans to a bunch of sick and demanded people. I for one will never forget that day, as I was on vacation that week and was watching it live on TV. Those are images I know I will never forget. But to many people have forgotten what happened to us as a country that day. To many people have forgotten about the thousands of brave men and women of the fire and police dept who risked their own lives to save the lives of total strangers. There was also the people who were in the buildings who perished in attempts to get people they never met out of the buildings. People have forgotten the hero's on United 93 who bravely took their own lives to over take the horrible people who hijacked their plane, by doing they saved probably 100 if not thousands of more lives. All of these hero's should never be forgotten, and should be honored and remembered by every American. These days we are to preoccupied by such partisan bickering on both sides of the aisle that we do not see they things that united us on that day, and the days following. We are to busy pointing the finger at everyone for every little thing. We are to worried about offending anyone to honor the people who should be honored. We do not show the images from that day enough, we worry that is will effect people or it might help or hurt one political party. Well those images should effect people, and should be shown what happened and what happened afterwards. I worry that we will have a generation that will know what 9/11 is, but it will just be words and watered down. Every school child should see the images from that day, when they reach an appropriate age. They should also be shown the movie United 93, this move in my opinion is a great piece of work that shows what the people on that flight did and sacrificed. These images should not be sheltered from young people they should be shown, we need to let them know what exactly happened. To many times Dec 7th goes by with a word about what happened in Pearl Harbor that day, to me that is a shame, we should never forget that day and what happened either. We need to take these days to honor the people who gave the ultimate sacrifice those days. Both of these days are part of history and have helped shaped us to what we are today.

Nothing but scumbags!!

2007-09-10T21:55:00.000-04:00

Well I have to use my freedom of speech to say that Moveon.org is nothing but a bunch of good for nothing scumbags who are just a bunch of cowards who can’t handle someone having a difference of opinion. They try to pull politicians to their way of thinking, they are like other lobbyist that they say they are against. But today they officially became scumbags in my opinion. While General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave a progress report before congress the jerk off at moveon.org were out running ads calling a 4 star general Gen. Betray Us, and questioned his credibility. The questioned a man who has given so much for his country to become a 4 star General, a man who risk his life everyday to lead 160,000 brave men and women who put their lives on the table every day. This ad stats the good General is "Cooking the Books for the White House" they make these accusation from their comfortable offices that are furnished by George Soros. Because I am sure they know more of what is going on in Iraq then the man who is leading the multi country forces. I think it is despicable people at moveon make these accusations and I would hope anyone who has supported them or had received support from them distance themselves from this cowardly group. I doubt this will happen, as moveon has used it bully tactics in the past to get their way, look at Joe Liberman, but who got the last laugh in that one. In the long run moveon’s fight against him actually made him a more powerful voice in the Senate. I know one way not to get my vote in NH, that is to side with moveon. I know people will argue that moveon has their first amendment rights, and they do, and so don’t I in what I write about them.
To the people at moveon.org, you are a bunch of scumbags and you are everything you claim to be fighting against.

With you eyes close you can’s see what is going on around you

2007-09-06T19:25:00.001-04:00

http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070906/NATION/109060064/1001
Even when there is some good news in Iraqi the “leadership” of democrats in congress is nothing but negative and counter productive. On the heel of Gen. Petraeus progress report on Iraqi in a few weeks. The so called leadership is dismissing the report before they even hear it, they are calling it “Bush’s report” This comes after some good reports coming out Iraqi and the surge being effective. This does make me question what they want out of Iraqi, do they want the US to be successful or do they want the US to fail so they can use it on the 08 election, to me I would say it is the latter. They make it sound like Petraeus is a puppet to Bush, even though the Senate unanimously approved Petraeus to be the leader in Iraqi. To me this is showing Petraeus very little respect, and the men he is leading. The democrats are showing no leadership in this. I have heard them complain many times that President Bush can’t admit when he is wrong, which is one of his major faults, but people like Reid, Pelosi, and Durbin can not admit when they are wrong, or if they are proven wrong they call it lies. They want to put there faith in the GAO report that measure is goals are met, but does not measure if there is progress on the goals, it looks to me they want to find any report that will help them in their views, and not the people who are actually doing the job on the ground. Then there is Sen. Schumer who claims that any progress in the Anbar province is not due to the US troops but due to the natives of the area had no other alternative but to join together to fight against Al Queda because the US was not doing the job. I find this all very dishearten, and nothing but political grandstanding, and they wonder why the Congress approval rating is lower then the President’s.

Q, Bill and Hillary

2007-09-03T21:06:00.001-04:00

Ok the title sounds like a bad adult movie. But its not. On Sunday night I went downtown Portsmouth to see Bill and Hillary Clinton speak. As many of you probably can figure out I am probably not going to vote for Hillary. But I thought it would be interesting to check out, plus I am a big fan of seeing the process in action. First to the stage was President Clinton, I am not his biggest fan but will admit I am not totally against him I did vote for him in 92 and will say he is a masterful politician. Will say he is a great speaker, I didn’t agree with a lot of what he said but was highly impressed with the way he said it. Though from listening to his speech you would think we are in a great depression, also that he had nothing to do with the statues of the military, he never mentioned his cuts in military spending and kept saying how we need to revamp the military. That was my pet peeve with speech. Next up was Sen. Clinton, I do have to say I was not impressed with her speech, well besides that I disagreed with most of it, but it seems like when she talks it is forced, were when Bill talks he does come across as genuine. She comes across as having a higher then though attitude. Now I am sure anyone who is reading this is probably thinking that I am a staunch Republican and would not go into the night with an open mind. I have to say I did not, well know I was not voting for Hillary but was interested in hearing her speak. Plus I will say I have voted Democrat before, I am not one of those who will only vote for one party, I have an open mind. As I said before I vote for Clinton in 92, voted in the Democratic primary in 00 and 06, voted for Joe Lieberman both times, who I think got screwed over by the democrats, and have voted twice for Democrat Governor John Lynch, and will probably again. So those are my credentials as a voter. Plus I have a great interest in Bill Richardson in the Democratic primary, no I don’t agree with him over Iraq but the man has dam impressive credentials. Just wanted to put that out for anyone who thinks I am here just to bash Hillary, just calling it like I saw it.

No excuses!

2007-09-03T20:46:00.001-04:00

Well as I am sure most of you have heard Rodney Harrison of the Patriots has been suspended 4 games for using Human Growth Hormones. So the last couple of days I have been listening to the Boston talk radio shows. I have heard so many excuses for Harrison. Harrison came out said he only used it to get back from an injury quicker. So many people are letting him get away with this excuse. They are also praise him for being a “stand up guy” and “admitting” to it. If he was truly a stand up guy he would have come out and admitted to it with out being caught. The only reason he is saying all of this now is because the doctor who gave him these got busted and they found Harrison’s name. Harrison also wanted to make it clear he never used steroids, well technically he didn’t, but he used a drug that does the same thing, but he used one that was no detectable by the NFL drug testing, so to me that is worst. He know what he was doing the whole time and did what he had to get around the NFL drug program. Now everyone seems to be on Harrison’s side and buying all of his excuses. Most of these are the same people who criticize Barry Bonds and call him all sorts of names. To me Harrison and Bond are in the same category, I don’t care what uniform he is wearing, he is a cheater and a liar. There are no excuses that can make up for it, I don’t care how many other guys in the NFL are doing it and don’t get caught, that does not make it right. So to everyone who is making excuses for him, I say get a taste of reality and see a cheater for what he is!

The Random Q Thoughts are back!!

2007-09-01T20:36:00.000-04:00

Ok it has been awhile since I wrote anything so figure get some of my thoughts out there
-First Michael Vick, well my first opinion is that he deserves what ever he gets. I am sure he will get a good prison term. What gets me is the reaction all the sports media has over it. Yes he did an awful thing and his a huge scum bag, but these are the same people who hero worship Ray Lewis, a man who was part of a murder. To me is just as big of a scum bag as Vick and should be treated the same. But no he gets to come back and do commercials with very little questions ask. To me that is a double standards because the media is in love with Lewis because he is what they think a team mate is, well a scumbag is a scumbag no matter who they are. As far as Vick goes I do not see any team taking a chance on him when and if his suspension ever gets lifted. I see him playing in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Canada for a couple of years and then fading away.
-Sen. Larry Craig, yes is a big hypocrite he has taken a stupid stance on gay marriage one I totally disagree with and then supposedly found trolling for some guy sex himself in a Minnesota airport bathroom. But by hitting another guys foot under a stall really against the law? To me this sounds very stupid and more of a little thing made into a huge story in a slow news cycle. Of course he was extremely stupid to plead guilty with out a lawyer, for that he deserves a slap aside the head. This is a much bigger story then Rep. Jefferson from Louisiana being charged with taking bribes, which one is really a big threat to democracy, a in the closet guy Senator, or a Rep. taking bribes? What about Sen. Clinton taking money from Norman Hsu, a man know to fleece investors out of lots of money, To me it is the last two. Seems to me the priorities of what is important and what isn't are all mixed up. I don't think he should be forced to resign, it should be up to the people of Utah to decide if they want him to represent them, isn't that what democracy is all about? I can see why the Republican part would want him to go away, but it should be the people deciding who represents them, not a party.
-I haven't heard to much from people who were saying all summer we need to get out of Iraq now. Why is that? Could it be that they see the surge is working to an extent and has a possibility of doing some good, of course now need to focus some on the political situation, but that will be some what easier with a more secure population. Think everyone needs to realize this is a long process that will take many, many years to get Iraq to be totally stable. There are centuries of hatred between ethic groups that will not go away in a few years. The problem is we look at things in election cycles, which in this case is so unrealistic. AS the 08 elections gets closer I see more arguing coming, and people not seeing the big picture, just saying what they think will get them elected. It is just sad that groups like Moveon.org have so much power and can not see past there own political views to see what the right thing to do it. It took the US many years to get from the end of the Revolutionary War to the Constitution, we had the Articles of Confederation in between that failed, some time need failure before you get success. My fear is we pull out to soon and have another Vietnam case on our hands, were some nut case comes in and ends up killing thousands if not millions of people who oppose him. That will make Darfur look like a day at the park, and will have all the in crowd who cry about Darfur crying about Iraq and say why did we let that happen.
-To all the people who are crying they can't pay their adjustable rate mortgage, what are you an idiot? Who in their right minds gets a adjustable rate? Did they really think the rate they got it at would stay that way. It is economics 101, the interest rate will fluctuate. The economy does not always stay in an upward swing. I am far from an economic expert but I know that. Its like the people who cry when the stock markets goes down, it goes up and then goes down. The economy grows, then is slows.
-The little message on the bottom of any email you get from someone sending from an Iphone "this message send from my Iphone" is really stupid and annoys me. Do you need that much attention?
-Only a week left to the NFL kicks off, should be a interesting year for my Steelers. Not sure which way to go with them. Think they can make a run this year, but hard to tell how the coaching change will effect them. Do except a more psychical defense though. Speaking of football NBC now has Keith Olbermann on there Sunday show, not sure how long I will be able to listen to him, talk about a guy who is so in love with his own voice and will not listen to anyone who has a different view on things. Did have my fantasy football draft last weekend, I am really screwed if Payton Manning, LaDalian Tomlinson or Steven Jackson get hurt. Have a very deep group of receivers, actually have 8 of them, figure a couple of them will have to step up. Ended up with New England's Defense, really wanted San Diego but Jay screwed me by taking them a few picks before me, guess everyone is finally on to the strategy to win, and only took them about 5 years as I have won 3 out of the last 4 years.
- Only 43 days till the first UNH Hockey game of the year, looking forward to another solid year and hopefully a run at something big. Should be a good team this year with lots of depth. Will write up my preview of the team soon, but see them going into the year as one of the teams to beat, with Minnesota probably the team to beat. GO CATS!!
-What's with Van Halen taking Michael Anthony off the cover shot of there old albums on their web site and replacing them with Wolfgang Van Halen? Don't think that is right. I understand you have parted ways, which sucks but does happen, but he is a huge part of your history and really disrespecting him with that. Think its great they are back with David Lee Roth, he is the original singer and they truly rocked and would love to see them live. I do appreciate both the DLR and Sammy Hager years, but with out the DLR there would have not been the Sammy years.
- November 18 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band are playing the Fleet Center in Boston, really hoping to get tickets to that. Have seen Bruce once in my life and would love to see him again, puts on a great show!! A true must see. Did just hear the first song of the new album, has a very Pearl Jam feeling to it, a little different then some of his other stuff.

Random Q thoughts – since its been awhile

2007-08-12T21:20:00.000-04:00

What the hell is up with people at yard sale, is it some yard sale rule that you have park all over the road so people cant pass, and it has to start at 7am. , these people really need to more of a life, hey lets go look at other people junk and haggle over the price, after that why don’t we go window shopping at the dump

What is with the guy in Prescott Park who had to run around with out his shirt, then show off by doing push ups? Are you that desperate for attention?

I could have sworn Merv Griffin was all ready dead, man do I feel bad about that one.

That Tiger Woods is a pretty good golfer, he just might do something with his career. Keep an eye on him, you might hear his name again.

Only 2 more months till hockey season, GO CATS!!!

Congrats to the Portsmouth Little League team, once again made us proud

Not to sound mean, but because one bridge falls does not mean everyone is going to, hate to break the people from CNN’s heart

If you can’t be friends with someone because you don’t agree with all of their political views, that says more about you then the other person. Tolerance works both ways.

In that same note, if you think you know someone’s every political view by a few things you hear, then you are so wrong. Yes I support President Bush in the war and other things, but do disagree with him on other things. If you say you agree 100% with a politician, then you are lying. Just so you I also support Governor John Lynch, a democrat.

Something about the movie “Superbad” looks awesome to me

Is it really almost the middle of August?

I believe the Celtics did the right thing with their trades. Potential is what it is, potential.

Why do people pay full price for a preseason NFL game? Only see the starters of a quarter, hell I got into the 4th quarter of the Raiders-Cardinals game the other night. Yes that was me #29 in your program, but #1 in your heart.

Just starting to read “The Regan Diaries” very fascinating looking into the behind scenes stuff at the White House, and interesting look at the man himself.

Is it weird that I like to watch the British House of Commons on C-Span?

Bill Mahr and Rush Limbaugh are the same person, both low hards who have nothing to offer but name-calling.
What ever happened to Patrick Duffy?

Can anyone really say the don’t like Hall and Oates? Deep down inside we all dig the smooth sound, and of course John Oates magical mustache.

Say hello to Ann Murray for me

2007-08-01T21:17:00.001-04:00

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3433005&page=1
This article is about the rise in Americans moving to Canada, or as I like to say the whining little people who run when everything doesn't go their way! First let me say I have nothing against Canada, my grandmother is from Canada, I deal with almost 100 accounts in Canada. I know many great people in Canada, and of course being a big hockey fan and a Blue Jays fan have a soft spot for our Canuck friends to the north. I have been to Canada many times in my life and have found it to be a great country. My beef here isn't with Canada, its with these people who run and hide like kids who don't get that extra piece of cake they want. So these people don't agree with the way President Bush handles things. I say to bad be mature person and deal with it. One of these nitwits said this "I wanted a country that respected my human rights and the rights of others," I am sure that person had been beaten so many times that they can barely walk. Were hasn't this person human rights not been respected? I would like to know when they were dragged into some gulag and pistol whipped. This is what another yahoo had to say "My stepfather has diabetes and has health issues. So, he'd be taken care of for free if he moved up here." I have always loved this argument, first of all socialized medicine is not free!! The tax rate in Canada is very large, most of that is for health insurance. If your step father is not paying the tax then someone else is, but I guess you don't mind someone else paying for your way. S Contrary to what Michael Moore says these socialized health care are not perfect, I am sure your step father will be waiting in a long line to see a doctor, could be many months. Sure the US health care system is not perfect, which one is? But I for one will take it over any other. There is a reason most medical break through come from the US. What will happen if Canada elects someone they disagree with? Were will they go running to next? To their friend Chavez in Venezuela ?I am not saying the US is perfect, and I am not saying that Canada is awful. I have a problem with these people's excuses. There were many people who didn't agree with President Clinton's way of doing things, but did you see those people sulk there way up north, no! They manned up and dealt with it. I guess these babies do not have the balls to handle it, well to them I say good riddance don't let the Maple Leaf hit you on the way out. Just remember it's the American dream, not the Canadian dream! To me we are a better country for losing these cry babies.
GOD BLESS AMERICA, and all REAL Americans!!!!!!!!

Random Q thoughts for your listening pleasure

2007-07-30T19:10:00.000-04:00

RIP Bill Walsh, a true football genius

The Simpson’s movie kicks ass!! D’oh!!

How will people who want to pull out of Iraq spin this opt ed piece in the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/opinion/30pollack.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087%0A&em&en=a6ab3727cf10b97d&ex=1185940800
A good piece to read from 2 guys who have been outspoken about what is going on in Iraq, and in the New York Times, a paper that has very little to say positive about the war. Hopefully people will actually give the surge a chance, and not call it a failure before it even begin, talking to you Sen. Reid. See what happens when you actually give something a chance and not turn into to a political thing, and call our efforts a failure, that would be you as a “leader”

Speaking of Sen. Reid, why is it the President’s approval ratings are front page news, but the lower rating that congress is getting is not? I though the world was suppose to change for the better with this new congress?

Michael Vick is a scumbag and deserves what ever comes to him!!!

The CNN/Youtube debate was a joke. A Presidential debate should be serious and not a side show at a carnival. How can CNN be taken serious when they have a snowman asking people running for President a question.

Speaking of the debate, how can some democrats say they would be with some of the worlds worst dictators, but they wont debate on Foxnews? What are they scared of?

Less then 3 months to hockey season!!!

Way to go Iraqi soccer team for winning the Asia Cup!

Good luck to the Portsmouth Little League team at the regionals. Have already made Portsmouth proud

The Last Waltz

2007-07-17T21:39:00.001-04:00

So I am sitting here on a nice summer Tuesday night, of course couldn’t find anything on TV. But then I came on Flix the Bands “The Last Waltz” movie. Fore anyone who doesn’t know that this is a move, actually a documentary about the Bands last show together in 1977, the movie is directed by Martin Scoresese, it is mostly the show with some interviews between songs. The concert is not just then on stage but may people they played with over the years, the likes of Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Neil Diamond and Van Morrison. They play a lot of the Bands song and the other peoples. I have seen this movie a couple of times in the past, actually own it to, but have to say sitting here watching has really made me appreciate it even more. The music is just incredible. Have to say I have always enjoyed the Band, they are probably one of the most underrated performers in rock history. They have some great songs, Up in Cripple Creek, Ophelia, The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down, etc… will admit have some of them on my ipod and do listen to them quite often, and after watching this will probably be downloading more, another reason to love that Ipod. So have to recommend this for anyone who likes some good old rock music, It gets the Q seal of approval!!

The day the visitors became the home team!!

2007-07-11T19:40:00.001-04:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aKj5qk41gPc&session=6HZFGlyi2X9AetCUhVrrOiVY3EOmSTN2Ew_ji5oXzeUiEr1bp_v0-JY0d7d5cDphfjmtfT8dFR65KY-QoG6cocnOo2NmwuISpyNSvQc3ucfKxKPimr311b9yMTBAfSU2OS4KlmnjBM19Zu0iGsP9VYvKew3ItrQd48XMoVMB5dE1EXceBRlaQHSFEObGTSUZyuuaKCDky4eaYi40FJWAYJKZNfVKdKperUyzjHPNzqG9GPOlV_tFrv7yxwql7DP3
If anyone has not seen this, I have to comment the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies were playing Colorado last weekend when a storm came through, as the ground crew was putting the tarp down a huge gust of win came through and blew some of the member of the grounds crew right off their feet. The Phillies, and the umpiring crew came out to help the crew, as the Rookies were back in their locker room. Have to give the Phillies a lot of credit for this, makes it hard to root against them.

And the point of this is?

2007-07-07T10:51:00.001-04:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=466775&in_page_id=1879
As I am sure many people are aware that today is the Live Earth concert. I have one question, what is the purpose of this? To me is seems counter productive to the cause they are trying to promote. Lets have artist fly around the world, lets have over a million people gather and make more trash, lets use all this electricity to help promote the effects of Global Warming? To me this makes no sense. At this point I am sure there are very few people who are not aware of global warming. To me this concert seems to be a self promoting venue for Al Gore. I am in favor of people doing what they can to help the environment, but thing this is the wrong venue for it. If you wanted to have a venue to raise awareness a simple in studio concert would have worked. Something like the telecast after 9/11 with no big audience, no big stadiums, no flying around the world. With the technology we have today this could have been done so easily. This is the third of the so called “Live” concert. The first being Live Aid, which was a huge success raising huge money for Africa. The second a couple of years ago wash the Live8 concert, which wasn’t that great of a success, the point of the concert was to raise awareness of third world debt during the G8 summit. The only thing to come out of that was a performance of a reunited Pink Floyd. Now comes Live Earth, which I see in a year or two being remembered as a concert not a turning point in the Global Warming campaign. It will also be remembered as a very hypocritical thing. Not only for the thing I mentions earlier but for such acts as Snoop Dog who are performing who go out and endorse car companies like Chrysler and not the Hybrids. I have to say as I am writing this I am watching some of the broadcast on Bravo, and have to say I am not impressed at it all. They are jumping from performance to performance. There is no promoting of the cause. I will also admit the line up does nothing for me, only one I want to see is Mettalica. The other Live concerts had bands that were reunited for the concert that drew people in. Live 8 had Pink Floyd, and Live Aid had Led Zeppelin.

Happy 4th of July

2007-07-04T19:22:00.001-04:00

Today we celebrate the birth of our country. During this time of bitter partisan politics with all side arguing on what is best for our country. It is important that it is our country, no matter what separates us there is one thing that unites us, it is that we are all citizens of the greatest country on earth. There has been many things since that glorious day in 1776 that has divided us, even a massive Civil War that took over 600,000 of fellow citizens. But in the end we have always come together as one. After the bitter battles of the Civil War the country came back together to move forward. After two heart breaking attacks on our homeland, Pear Harbor and 9/11, we came together as Americans to move forward. We have had major difference on the policy of our government, from Slavery, to the Vietnam War to the Iraq that is currently going on. We have gone through a Great Depression that took many lives and many more sprits. We have gone through decades of a Cold War that could have lead us to nuclear war. But through all of this we all have remained Americans and united in that fact. No matter what might pull us apart we have that one common thread that brings us back together. We all get to experience what millions around the world would die to experience, the “American Dream” Every day there are thousands of people who die just trying to reach our shores. We should never forget what we do have, and fight for what we don’t. America in not perfect, and never will be. But what makes America special is that we, the common citizen, can fight to make it more perfect. I witnessed something today that made me thing about all of this, I happened to be walking downtown and witnessed a citizenship ceremony were about a hundred people were sworn in as US citizens. You could see the pride on their faces and there pure love of this great country. This is something everyone takes advantage of, and it is so easy to on an everyday bases. But it is days like Independence Day that makes us ponder what we have, and to feel proud of being something those hundred people now are US citizens. I say welcome my fellow citizens!!

MLB News

2007-07-01T18:31:00.000-04:00

There have been some notable things that has happened in Major League Baseball the last couple of weeks that I would like to comment on. Of course if you watch ESPN you mostly hear about The Yankees and Red Sox, but there has been some milestones hit by 3 very underrated classy players.
The first is 3,000 hits by Craig Biggio. He has done this in a very quiet manner. He has spend his entire career with the Astros. He has been a quiet leader for them all of these years. He has been an all start at 3 different positions (catcher, center field, 2nd base) he is also the all time leader in hits by a pitch. To me is a hall of famer, probably a first ballot. In this day of the long ball Biggio has had is success by grinding out hits, and turning them into doubles. As fate would have it Biggio got thrown out at second after he tried to turn his 3,000 hit into a double. Congrats Bigg, job well done.
The next milestone is 500 home runs by the Big Hurt, Frank Thomas. Many people over look what Thomas has accomplished in his career. He has been overshadow by other homerun hitters during his career. People like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire have gotten most of the spot light during his career. But Thomas first 10 years are some of the best in the history. He did not only hit the long ball but also a hit for average. With all the questions about other players using drugs to help them, those questions never have came up with the Big Hurt. Last year after some injuries Thomas had a great comeback year with the A’s and now play for my Blue Jays. Hopefully Frank has some more big bombs in him, the Jays will need them. The last in a continuing milestone. Ken Griffey Jr. He keep climbing up the all time home run list, he is 1 away from Frank Robinson now. Like Thomas Griffey had been overshadowed by others during his career. He also has had a lot of injuries during this time. During his prime Griffey was the best player I had seen in my life. Not only did he hit the long ball, he hit for average, could steal bases, and was an outstanding outfielder. I am 100% convinced if he was healthy his entire career he would be the one chasing the all time home run record and could be arguably the best player of all time. Even with all the injuries he is up there, and deserves much more attention There has never been a question that Griffey reached all his accomplishment on his own. Hopefully when his career is over he will be recognized as the best player in the last 15 years.

Keep an eye on!

2007-06-18T21:59:00.001-04:00

As most people wait anxiously for any word about Paris Hilton, there is something brewing half away around the world that could turn into a major story in the weeks and months to come and could change the world events. Most people would think I am talking about the on going war in Iraq, but I am not. I am talking about the rift within Palestine. Late last week Hamas over took the Gaza Strip. This was after President Abbas got rid of the Hamas Prime Minister from the Palestine cabinet. Abbas is from the Fattah party, which has been at odds with Hamas over the leadership of the Palestine people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Hamas will not recognize Israel’s right to exists while Fatah might not be a lovely dove organization, it was founded by Yasir Arafat, at this point it is the lesser of tow evils. President Abbas has pushed for talks with the west and with Israel over peace in the region. So what effect does this have on the rest of the world? Well to me the major thing is that Hamas is backed by Iran, and battle in this region could blow up into full war between Hamas and Fattah, this would more then likely drag Israel into the middle, and of course Iran. The ramifications of that is overwhelming. The Mid East has been powder keg for a centuries, and even more since 1949 with the establishment of Israel, and this could be the match lights the fuse. At this point it does not look like it could go that way, but it is worth keeping an eye on, so as the world gets its daily Paris updates lets try to keep some perspective and keep on eye on one blot of land half way around the world

GET OVER YOURSELF!!!

2007-06-18T21:07:00.001-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,282173,00.html If you look up the word hypocrite in the dictionary I am pretty sure you will find a picture of Angelina Jolie. On one hand she is a spokesperson for the UN and speaks out against people being oppressed around the world, she also just made a film dealing with Daniel Pearl who died while trying to get a story for the Wall Street Journal. He was showing what freedom of the press was all about. So what does Jolie do for her opening of this film? She tries to take away that freedom from the press. She wanted to limit what the press could ask her and censor what was said about her. She also wanted to bar Foxnews from covering the premier. I am sure she is unaware of the glowing review Fox gave the movie “A Mighty Heart”. I am sure she had been told by many of her friends that Foxnews is the antichrist, then again every liberal things that. I am also pretty sure Jolie, like most Foxnews critics, do not watch Fox. They get there opinion of Fox from what other liberals and bloggers say about Fox. I will say Ido watch some Foxnews, does it lean some to the right, yes it does. Just as MSNBC and CNNN lean toward to the left, a little further for the MSNBC. But is that made a big deal by Hollywood? Of course not because they lean that way. For every conservative in Fox you can find a liberal on MSNBC and CNN. So for Jolie and her Foxnews hating friends I have one thing to say, GET OVER YOURSELF!!

Justice served?

2007-06-18T20:43:00.000-04:00

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070617/D8PQF6R00.html
As many of you know Mike Nifong the prosecutor who brought up charges on the Duke lacrosse players has been disbarred over his actions in this case. Of course all charges against the players were dropped a few months ago. He made a mockery of the entire justice system. He withheld evidence and made inflammatory comments meant to make this a race issue so he could win reelection. To me this is only the tip of iceberg on what he should get. He should be made to pay for all legal service for the accused. He should also be made to do a community service in a real rape survivor support group. Not only did Nifong ruin the life of these innocent young men, he made it extremely difficult for women who have really been rapped to come forward. To me that is the real crime that committed by Nifong. I also wonder were are all the who were out in the streets protesting these young men, who called them every name in the book. Were are Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson? Why aren’t they out protesting against Nifong? Why aren’t they out there demanding Nifong apologize to these men, and to the black community in Durham who he used by getting them all riled up with this false case to get reelected? Were is Nancy Grace? Is she out there apologizing to these people? She was on TV every night saying these men are guilt. Why is she not held accountable for her words? To me justice had been partially served, there is still a ways to go for total justice, and Nifong is not the only one who needs to pay.

Shut up!!!!

2007-06-10T11:49:00.001-04:00

I know anyone who knows me might find this hard to believe, but I was watching both presidential primary debates last week. Still think it is early for these debates, but at least its getting closer. Though don’t think they need every candidates on the stage. Doesn’t give much time to get thoughtful and true answers from the few that actually have a chance of winning. Have to say I didn’t really take to much from either debate. But there was one thing that did get under my skin. There was something said during the democrat debate that really irked me. This is something I have heard said before and really didn’t think to much about it, but when thinking about it, it made me realize how stupid of a statement it is. Heard Hillary Clinton say, though she isn’t the only to say it, about Iraq she said “This is George Bush’s war”. I know many people will defend this comment by saying it was President Bush who brought us to war and has made mistakes during the war, which I will agree are all true. But to say it is just his war is nothing more then partisan politics and using the war as a political tool to get more votes, and makes me sick. This is no Presidents Bush’s war, it is Americas war. It is OUR brave men and women in this war, not just George Bush’s brave men and women, or maybe Hillary Clinton and other don’t think these people who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice represent them? Maybe they don’t think we are all in this together, that what the military does has any effect on them or who they want to represent. This to me says more about anyone who makes these comments then it does about President Bush. There are over 130,000 of our best in the desert right now putting their lives on the line. This is there war to, it is the people they left behind who worry everyday and night about their loves one who are serving over in harm’s way. It is also the 300 million people these people represent and fight for war. If Hillary Clinton does not recognize that then there is no way she, or anyone who makes such comments, should be commander and chief of this countries finest. So many times I have heard over the last 6 years on how President Bush has divided this country, but statements like Senators Clinton’s are extremely divisive and it is her and others like her that are using the war, and our soldiers, as a political tool.

New Hampshire Makes History.

2007-06-01T23:27:00.000-04:00

http://www.wmur.com/news/13418489/detail.html
This week New Hampshire became the first state to make civil unions for gay couples legal with out a threat of legal action or by the courts. So I had someone ask me what I thought of this. They know I voted for President Bush and thought I would have a very negative view of this, well I think I surprised them. I am very proud on NH for this, glad they did it the right way. Passed the bill through both houses and signed into law by the governor. Of course there are those who are very opposed to this. To these people I have to say get over it, the world is not going to end. Many people say that gay unions will trivialize the “sanctity of marriage”, I have to disagree with this, I think the over 50% of marriages that end in divorce trivialize it. Another argument against it, is that these gay couples can not produce their own children, to that I say so what? There are many marriages that do not produce children, and there are many children that come from couples that are not married. I think all these arguments is a way for some people to hide from there own fears, so instead of owning up to there own fears and ignorance they have to try to take it out on other people. These unions will not change the world for the worst or effect your life in anyway. I say who am I to say two people can have the same rights I have and be able to have there relationship recognized in a legal way so they can share the same benefits as I could. To me withholding these rights from an entire group people is not only asinine but immoral. Thought I do have to say I do have one problem with this bill, it is that it is “unions” to me it should be called what it is, that is marriage. But I guess this is a major step in the right direction. One day we will get over our stupid little fears and recognize people for who they are, not what they are.

Why Papa Joe Still Has It!!

2007-05-23T20:59:00.000-04:00

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=dw-paterno052207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&expire=1

I have to say I have been a Penn State football fan as long as I can remember, they have never been the flashy team, the team with the outrageous characters, or the team that gets all the media attention. They have the plain white jersey and play in the mountains of western Pennsylvania. But there is one thing that separates Penn State from all other college football teams, and that one thing would be Joe Paterno, aka Papa Joe, Joe has been a coach in Happy Valley for over 30 years. Many people have said the game has pasted by the 80 year young Paterno, but a 12-1 record 2 years ago proved those people wrong, and was 1 second away from a perfect season, thanks Michigan!! So in this day of arrogant player who think they can get away with anything can Paterno keep up with them? Well as the above article points out, hell yeah!! When 15 of his players got into an off campus fight, Papa Joe took things into his own hands. Instead of the customary slap on the wrist the guilt players would receive, Joe has decided to hold the entire team accountable. Joe has always held the team concept very high. So he decided that then entire team will clean the 107,282 seat Beaver Stadium the Sunday after every home game for the 2007 season. Every player will be doing this! Usually this is done by one of the club teams at Penn State to help raise funds. They usually get $5000 for this task. These teams will still get the money, and the football will be doing all the work. Also Joe is making the team build a house for Habitat for Humanity and working the Summer Special Olympics. In this age were team and discipline are words that are just thrown around with no real meaning behind them, 100 young men in western Pennsylvania will truly learn what these words mean from an 80 year old coach who truly believes in these words. These maybe some of the most important lessons these men will learn in there time as Nittany Lion’s.
To me Joe Paterno will always be a winner, no matter what his on field record his, and here is hoping he has many good years ahead of him!!

The new NFL Prima Donna, same as the old.

2007-05-19T20:07:00.001-04:00

For the last few years all the buzz in the NFL has been about Terrell Owens and how bad of a teammate he is, how he tore apart the Eagles locker room with his comments about Donavan McNabb. For the last couple of years the press has made TO out to be the worst teammate ever and is a disgrace for the NFL. I am not here to defend TO or his acts, but wonder why Brett Favre gets a free pass from most people in the press with his antics and his treatment of his team and teammates. For most in the press Favre is held up with a god like statues that in what he ever he does is right. But looking over his behavior over the last couple of years I would put him in the same category as TO. He has a history of not being supportive of his teammates. He criticized both Javon Walker and Mike McKenzie when they were trying to get there contract renegotiated, while Favre got his redone with no problem, then he complains when both leave the Packers. If he would have used some of influence with management he could have helped Walker get a new deal and he would still have the all-pro wide receiver to throw to. I am sure Favre lack of effort to support him had something to do with him leaving Green Bay. Over the years I have heard about Favre's great leadership skills. So when the Packers went out and drafter Aaron Rogers to be his successor what does Favre do? He comes out and says he is not there to mentor Rodgers or to help him out. This to me shows his true leadership skills, or lack there of. When TO accidentally OD on pain killers last season most in the media, mostly ESPN, criticized him and said how he was hurting his team. But when Favre came out to being addicted to pain killers he was hailed as a great man and was a warrior for taking them to play, and keep his continues game streak alive. Also at the end of the 2005-06 season Favre kept the Packers waiting for months on his decision on weather to come back or not. Now in the last week it comes out that Favre asked for a trade after the draft in April, because the Packers couldn't make a deal for Randy Moss. Favre wouldn't need a top notch receiver if he would have used the same effort he did to try to get Moss to try and keep Javon Walker, also Walker is probably better in the long run for the Packers. Walker has never quit on his team like Moss as. Walker plays hard ever play were Moss admits to taking plays off.
So why does Favre get a free pass? This is a good question I wish I had the answers to. Many say he is a warrior who goes out there and plays hurt, well TO did that this year with a broken finger all year, and coming back early with the Eagles to play in the Super Bowl. Then there is the issue that many say Favre has earned his special treatment. I will admit that he has put up some great numbers in his career. But does he have the right to treat his team, teammates and even the fans with such discontent? I don't believe he has. He has not lead the Packers to a successful season in a number of years, yes some of that is due to the Packers management. If this was just one incident I would probably say yea he has earned one, or maybe two. But I have seen a running record over the past three to five years. So I asks the boys at ESPN why the free pass to Favre? I am sure when the season starts Chris Berman will still being having his man crush on Favre. To me Favre is on the same category as a TO and should be criticized in the same manner, but he's not. So when members of the media complain on how players act, they need to take a look in the mirror and see the hypercritical way they cover people might lead to some of the behavior issues in today's sports world.

Very Random Q thoughts!!

2007-05-13T22:22:00.001-04:00

· What ever happened to Scott Baio, I guess Joanne didn’t love Chachie that much!
· Love that I found G4 plays repeats of “Arrested Development”
· Why do people think that Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart are real newsmen, they are comedians!! Anyone who takes what they as facts should be slapped
· Why is Larry King still on the air? I think he died 10 years ago
· Who doesn’t love pancakes?
· What happened to Saturday morning cartons?
· How you doing?
· Go check out a minor league hockey game, it is a great time, especially if it’s a playoff game!
· How long as ER been on the air? I think it is the original show on TV
· When did everyone become so sensitive? Man people lighten up!!
· The banning of trans fat by any city is just stupid!! Talk about taking your power to far.
· Anyone who shots a cop deserves what they get!!
· The 17th hole at Sawgrass is just mean!!
· Why do people make a big deal about someone’s sexual preference? I really don’t care if you gay or straight. Hate when someone describes someone as there “gay friend” there either your friend or not, no matter if there gay or straight!
· Cant wait for “Rescue Me” to start June 13th

People who annoy Q

Celine Dion
Nancy Grace
Keith Olbermann
Chris Berman
John Madden
Curt Shilling
Any one on American Idol
Bono, take the dam sun glasses off
Anyone who has been on “The Real World”Dudes!

Blue Jays Update, why, why, why???

2007-05-13T20:42:00.000-04:00

Well I posted before the season started I am a Blue Jays fan. I had high hopes going into this season, the line up should have been solid with a good chance of a solid pitching staff. Well those hope went down the have been dashed very quickly. After 37 games the Jays are a miserable 15-22 and 10.5 games out of first, with no hope of recovering. They are 2-8 in the last games, and this week lost one of the best pitcher in the majors, Roy Halliday, for 6-8 weeks due to an appendectomy. So far this season the injury bug has really hit the Jays hard. The pitching staff has not only lost Halliday, also Chacin is out of the rotation for awhile, and BJ Ryan is gone for the year with Tommy John surgery. There is some mystery on that whole situation. The reporting of it was wrong to begin with, as reports had it as a back problem. Also injured are Reed Johnson and Greg Zaun are on the DL right now, and Troy Glaus is hurt with a hamstring, his second injury of the season so far. The bullpen has not picked up the slack with Ryan out. Even with these injuries the Jays should still be better then they are. I don’t think I have ever called for a managers or coached job, but I do think it is time for a change in the dugout for the Jays. I think John Gibbons has worn out his welcome and should be replaced with bench coach Ernie Whitt. Gibbons has not handled the pitching staff that well. In a couple of games he pulled Halliday from the game to early, had mismanaged the bullpen. He has had two run in with players in the past couple of years, Shea Hillanbrand and Ted Lilly. I appreciate the job he has done to get the Jays to what they were last year, but to get to the next level I think the Jays need more then just player, but need a man in charge that can lead the team to success. Ernie Whitt I believe can do that. He coached Team Canada in the World Cup of Baseball last year, he was successful with them. I think it is time he giving a chance to lead his former team back to the top were they once were.

Q review of Spiderman 3

2007-05-04T20:24:00.000-04:00

Well had took today off from work, got home the Red Sox game around 1am, so good thing I did take the day off. It was actually a very nice day out, got in about an hour and half walk this afternoon. But I decided to catch Spiderman 3 this afternoon, figured what the hell why not. I enjoyed the first two, actually watching the second one while I write this. So here are my thoughts on the third installment of Spiderman. First of all have to say I love the new stadium theater by the mall, very comfortable and spacious. Also glad I went on a Friday afternoon, theater was about a quarter fill.
So for the movie, I have to say it was very enjoyable. I wont give anything away. It is about two and half hours long, the first hour does go by a little slow, but all the story lines they cover in that time do end up meaning something in the end. Of the three movies this one by far has the least amount of action. But the storyline is probably the best of the three. The story does cover a lot more then the previous two, and goes back to the storylines involved in the first one, and not just the one you see on the commercials. The best storyline I found was the internal battle in Spiderman on which path he has to choice to go in his life when he faces some internal battle. This one also had more comical moments then the other two. The acting was really good, I think Thomas Hayden Church and Topher Grace really did add something and were good choice to play two of the new character in this one. The character Church plays is interesting, he does have an interring quality that makes you want to like him, even though he is bad. This really plays out at the end.
Overall I would recommend this movie. It is very enjoyable, it is more then an action movie it is a really good story.

Red Sox-Mariners game 5/3

2007-05-04T20:23:00.000-04:00

Well I went to the Red Sox game last night, was scheduled for a few weeks ago but was rained out. Got the tickets free through work, do have to say they were incredible seats, ticket said $100, cant believe people pay that for a regular season game. But who am I to say no to a free, I know work didn’t pay for them either, we get them from vendors. It was the first game I have seen in a couple of years, have to say it was a really good and fin game, the Red Sox won 7-5 with a 2 run home run by Many Ramirez in the bottom of the 8th. It was one hell of a blast, the wind was really blowing in and he had to really hit it to get it out of the park. The seats I got were about 25 feet from 1st base. So here are some random thoughts from the game
What the hell is up with the gates at Fenway, gate D you would think would be between C and E, but it was no were near it, actually never found gate D, is there some new way of doing the alphabet I was not aware of?

The Kenmore Square T stop seems like something from a bad B movie. Would think they would keep up a station that gets used so much, the station at the North Station is always pretty neat, why not Kenmore Square?

Speaking of the T, what is up with taking one of the Green line trains out of service in middle of the run right after a Red Sox game? Make everyone get off and wait for the next train.

Why do people work in Boston and live out of the city, would have to pay me a lot to sit through that traffic everyday

Usually sitting on the aisle seat is the best, not last night, the aisle had to be about a foot wide and kept getting my elbow hit.

Why cant people wait till between batters to get up? Very annoying when people keep getting up and down all inning.

$7 for a Beer? Are you kidding me?

Very happy to say that the bathrooms have really been improved since the last time I was at Fenway, was impressed by how clean they were.

More random Q thoughts

2007-04-29T21:34:00.000-04:00

It is way to early to be having presidential debates, so stop it!!!!

Hockey fans are the best in all sport

Thank god the snow is finally over, can get back to my routine of walks, man do I sound old

Speaking of, do love the Ipod, it is a great invention

The year I get into 24, it turns in the middle of the season and sucks, what the F?

Why aren’t you watching the NHL playoffs?

Speaking of playoff hockey, way to go Monarchs first time they made the 2nd round of the playoffs.

If I let you to traffic, you better wave. Should be a law if you don’t wave I should be able to follow you home and beat you

Do the Miami Dolphins have a clue on what they are doing?

Crotons rock

Has anyone seen my socks?

Alec Baldwin is a good actor, but a jerk, don’t think that was a secret before his phone call to his daughter

Why inst Cinco di Mayo as big as St. Patrick’s day

How come we don’t hear more about what is going on in Canada? I think they are up to something up there!!

Harry Reid’s take on leadership?

2007-04-22T20:19:00.000-04:00

I think I have made my feeling on the Iraqi war known. I do support the President and the troops. I have heard many times over the last year from many leading democrats that we need a new plan. But once the surge plan was announced they came out almost unanimously against it, with out actually giving it a shot. This was lead by the Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, who is now supporting a bill to defund the war, claiming he has the say of the people with the democrats win in November, even though they never brought up this strategy in the election. When the Senate had hearing to approve the new commander of the troops in Iraq, General David Petraeus, he stated he would not know until the end of summer to say if the surge strategy is being effective. Well on April 18th, far from the end of summer, Harry Reid proclaimed "I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week,". To me this is the cowards way out, Reid is showing no leadership. Since the beginning he has offered nothing but criticism and nothing else constructive. To me Harry Reid should be ashamed of his comments, though I doubt he is. His comments are in no way supportive of the troops. There are many people in congress that I disagree with, but do respect. I hate to say it I have lost any respect in Harry Reid. He is nothing but an opportunist politician who his showing his true colors as a coward. He offers no leadership, no guidance, no spine, and offers nothing in a meaningful debate about the war!

Why the NHL playoffs are the best playoffs in pro sports!!

2007-04-21T15:59:00.000-04:00

Ok I know I have written much about the NHL, and have stated my problems with the game. But it is playoff time in the NHL, to me the NHL playoffs are still the best in North America professional sports. I will take it any day over the NBA, NFL or baseball. All the others are good but to me they cant top the NHL. So here are a few reasons why I think the Stanley Cup playoffs are great

The Stanley Cup. There is no other trophy in sports that can compare to the history of the Stanley Cup. The fact that every member of the winning team gets to have it for a day is just great. There are many stories about what has happened to the trophy over the decades. The stories that piece of hardware could tell. Also the winning team gets its names engraved on the trophy, so 50 years from now the member of last years Carolina Hurricanes can look at the cup and see there names on it, no other trophy has that. I was able to get my picture taken with the cup once, and as soon as you get close to it you can feel the history of it. The first thing I looked for was the 71-72 Boston Bruins. It was a great moment for me.

Speaking of the Stanley Cup there is the tradition of the NHL. You have the original six teams (Boston, Detroit, Chicago, NY Rangers, Toronto, Montreal) for decades the NHL was just these 6 teams. So it is something special when these teams play each other, and ever more when they face off in the playoffs. Also Detroit has the nick name hockey town. Is there any town know as baseball town, football town, or basketball town? I don’t think so. Also have the throwing of the octopus after the Red Wings score there first goal of every home game.

Multiple overtime games. Can always count that in every playoff year there will be at least one game that goes to at least 3 overtimes. This year in the first night of the playoffs there was a 4 overtime game between Vancouver and Dallas. I remember watching a few 5 overtimes game in my life. When I was younger would stay up till the all the games were over for the night, cant do that as much anymore, remember sitting up till 3am watching a Pittsburgh-Washington 5OT game, and going to school the next, or the same, moring. There are full period overtimes to, not the 5 minutes like the regular season. So this would be like a baseball game going to 24 innings. You can always count on the person who scores the game winner will not be a big name guy, but usually a 3rd or 4th liner who is more of a checker.

Game 7’s. Sure baseball and basketball have game 7’s, but they do not seem to be as intense as the NHL. I think the hitting in hockey makes it more interesting. The hitting in a game 7 is always harder, the passing more crisper, the goaltending more spectacular and the scoring more beautiful.

Goaltending, in not other sport can one member of a team make such an impact. A team can ride a hot goalie all the way to the Stanley Cup. I have seen many times were one team outplays another team, but that team did not win because the other teams goalie was so on fire. Last year the Edmonton Oilers rode Dwayne Roloson all the way to the finals. He got hurt in game 1 and the Oilers would go on to lose the finals. But they would have not been there is it was not for Roloson. The Oilers were a #8 seed who pulled 3 upsets to get to the finals.

Speaking of Edmonton the Province of Alberta is reason enough to love the Stanley Cup playoffs. There is noting better then watching a game from Edmonton or Calgary. I love watching those games, the crowd is so into it. They all wear the same colors and are so loud. It is twice as intense if it is Edmonton and Calgary playing each other in the playoffs. To me this is the most intense rivalry in all pro sports. You can have you Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. I think for intensity and hatred between the two cities Boston-NY don’t handle a candle to Edmonton-Calgary. I would love just once to be at one of those games. These teams really feed off that energy of their crowds. Calgary is playing Detroit this year, Detroit just owned Calgary in the first two games of the series, both played in Detroit, but once they got back to Calgary played 100% times better. The won the 2 games there and now its an all new series tied at 2 games each.

Power plays. In the NBA, NFL or Baseball do you get the advantage of having an extra player if the other team breaks the rules. A good power play is a beautiful thing to watch.

On the same line of a power play, pulling the goalie. When your team is down by a goal in the last minute it is so nerve raking when your team pulls the goalie to get an extra man. It is also nerve raking for the team that is ahead. It is so intense, cant think of anything like it in any other sport.

Random Q Thoughts

2007-04-18T21:39:00.000-04:00

Ear Infections SUCK!!!

How can the Blue Jays lose 3 key players in the same weekend? DAM IT!!!

Speaking of, how do I lose so many player to injuries in my fantasy baseball league, and I am still in first, man these guys suck!!

The Food Channel rocks, not sure why but it fascinates me

The Penguins-Senators playoff game Sunday was a great game

Finding old repeats of MASH when sick rocks

Anna Nicole Smith is still dead

Keith Olbermann annoys me, I mean really annoys me, this goes back to his ESPN days

Something is not breaking news 6 hours after it happens!!

Sig and Edgar on “The Deadliest Catch” rock!

I need a vacation

Hey Al Gore, were is that Global Warming?

Anyone who goes on a realty show to find there true love, should be beaten!!

The boat sinks at the end of Titanic

How come people who think there always right, are usually wrong?

Why was Ivan so terrible?

Why was Alexander so great?

This day in Baseball history.

2007-04-15T14:22:00.000-04:00

Well today marks the 60th anniversary of one of the most important days in baseball, if not all of sports. It’s the day Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. This was a decade before the civil rights era of the 60’s with Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. Many times you hear ball players today whine and moan about different things, but compared to what Robinson went though it is nothing. Hear many players talk about being disrespected about the money they are offered, Robinson was disrespected because of the color of skin. Robinson would be called names that would make Dom Imus blush, had death threats against him and had things thrown at him at almost every ball park. But he was a truly classy man who dealt with it with class and humility. He would go out and win the Rookie of the Year his first year, 2 years later win MVP and make the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first shot at it. He deserves the respect and appreciation from all black player in baseball, and other sports. If he had not dealt with it with the class he did who knows how things might have ended up. Also have to give a ton of credit to the Dodgers general manager Brach Rickey who signed Robinson and brought him to the Major Leagues. He to took a lot of grief for his decision, but he stood by his man and together he and Robinson made history, not just in sports but for the entire society.
MLB has honored Robinson years ago by retiring his number 42 through out MLB. But today many players will wear that number in honor of Robinson, and some entire teams will. Ken Griffey JR. was the first to petition to wear the number, many more players have followed in his foot steps. I think it is a great think, and very happy to see many players respect and honor Robinson for contribution to the world.

Q’s Thoughts on Don Imus and the Duke case

2007-04-13T19:28:00.000-04:00

Well there are two big stories in the news this week. The first is the whole Don Imus incident. Yesterday CBS did fire him from his radio show. Should he had been fired? Well looking at this from a business issue, of course he should have been. He lost sponsors and brought nothing but bad publicity to CBS and MSNBC. I will admit I am not an Imus fan; I have listened to his show and find him to be a loud windbag, who’s only true talent is calling people names. If I was in charge of him I would have fired him years ago. His ratings have been in toilet for years! Should he have been fired for what he said? I think so; this was not his first time using derogatory comments to women. When you go an alienate half your audience, well then your just plain old stupid. I think what he said is extremely stupid and deserves everything he gets. I see his statement more a s sexist comment and not racial. But this does bring us to the two men who pushed for his dismissal, the Rev Jessie Jackson and the Rev Al Sharpton. These are some of the last two men who should be someone’s judge and juror. Both have a very checkered past on saying stupid things towards Jewish people, white people and Hispanic people. But they are never called out on it. I don’t get were these men get to be called Reverends when all they do is sit back and judge other people.
This brings us to the Duke Lacrosse case. Last year Jackson and Sharpton were down in North Carolina protesting against the lacrosse players and defending the so-called victim to the end of the earth, with Jackson paying for her schooling. This week the NC DA came out and said they would drop all charges against these men, as he said they were incident of any crime. I have not seen Sharpton or Jackson go down to NC to protest against Michael Nifong, the DA who brought up the charges and has been accused of misuse of his power. This is truly an injustice, but yet no Jackson or Sharpton. They will protest against some old guys and his stupid words, but will not go down and support the men who were wrongly accused of rape and had there names and reputations dragged through the mud for years to come. This is where these men should be fighting for injustice. But yet they stay silent. Nifong used and abused his power to get reelected. He pandered to black community to get their votes. If these charges were true the accused should have had the book thrown at them, but they weren’t. Then there is the so-called victim, there is no mention of what she did by lying. She made it harder for women in that area who actually are rapped to be taken serious. This should not be taken lightly by the community, or Jackson and Sharpton.

Q’s Easter Sunday

2007-04-08T19:42:00.000-04:00

Well my Easter was nothing exciting. Went down and did some laundry at my fathers. Had to feed his cats while he is on vacation. So while I was down there I watched the replay of the NCAA hockey championship game on ESPNU. I didn’t get hear the commentary when it was on live. Was out at a bar and they had the Red Sox game on all the big TV’s. Also watched the Masters today. So figure give some random thoughts on both.
First the NCAA Hockey Championship
Could Barry Melrose made it any clearer he wanted BC to win. Gary Thorne as usual was very good, but Melrose came off as very bias towards BC, and especially Brian Boyle. Had to laugh with a little over a minute left Melrose said that MSU was playing to get into overtime, think he might have been wrong about that.
Speaking of Boyle, how does he make the all tourney team as a defenseman when it was poor play that lead to the tying goal, and he was out of position for the game winner. He did have a great 2 on 1 while shorthanded, that would be great for a forward but not for a defenseman who should be back when shorthanded. Speaking with one of my friends during the game and we both agree we wont be that great as a pro when the play will be faster and will have guys almost the same size
In my opinion Jeff Lerg should have been named Most Outstanding Player. With all due respect to Justin Abdelkader but it was Lerg who put this team on his back all tourney long. He only allowed 5 goals in 4 games against four team that were all ranked higher then MSU. He went up against 4 of the top goalies in the country (John Curry, Dave Brown, Ben Bishop, and Corey Schneider) he out played all of them. He might have been the smallest goalie in tourney, but he has the biggest heart. He also fights a bad case of asthma and needs treatment before each game.
I counted four times that BC ran into Lerg, all cheap shots in my opinion. But the little man got up every time. I don’t know how you cant root for him.
I know he is a UNH guy and I should like him, but Bob Norton does nothing for me. I don’t think he is that good with his commentary. To me he really adds nothing. Think ESPN should get Doug Woog who does the Minnesota games, he is really good, or Eric Freide, I really like him no matter what he is doing he is good at it/

My thoughts on the Masters
Have to congratulate Zach Johnson for his first major victory. Once he got the lead he never gave it up. He showed great poise down the stretch and made some clutch shots to hold onto the lead.
Johnson seems like a genuine person. Most times when you see someone win you get the canned speech. But I just watched his ceremony of receiving the green jacket, you can tell this meant so much to him.
This had to be one of the weirdest rounds of golf I have seen at a Masters. No one wanted to hold onto the lead until Johnson got it late in the day. Was the highest score (+1) to win in over 50 years. The winds reminded me of the British Open.
The shot Tiger Woods hot from behind the tree was incredible, he broke his club on the tree, but he put in the fairway. Is there any shot he cant hit?
Rory Sabatini has one incredible putt that might have out done Tigers shot. I thought it has no shot, but as usual I was wrong.
Jim Nantz is a great commenter. Vern Lungquist has so much passion he brings to the Masters, the both of them make is so much fun to watch the Masters.
Not sure who it was telling Nick Faldo what it takes to win the Masters, but that was to funny to me. Telling a 3 time Masters champion on what it takes to win, I am sure he really needed your advice.
Andy North is great on ESPN, he might be the best golf report on TV.

And you Champs, the MSU Spartans!! Once again the Q is wrong

2007-04-08T10:53:00.000-04:00

Well for the second year in the row the BC Eagles lost in the national championship game. Leading 1-0 with 10 minutes to play BC had the title in the sights. But then MSU ties up the game. Just as it looked the game was going into overtime, MSU scored with 18.9 seconds left to take a 2-1 lead, and an empty netter with 1.2 seconds left would give the Spartans a well deserved national championship. This was the first tile since 1986 for MSU, and their third overall. Most people gave MSU little chance of winning this game, but as they had shown all tourney long this team had incredible heart and never gave up. They fought hard since the opening face off. Came out and controlled the tempo of the game. BC would swing the momentum back there way and would take the lead on a power play goal by Brook Bradford, though on the scoring sheet is has Brian Boyle but it was Bradford I think. Once again the Spartans would not die, and would tie the game at the 9:53 mark with a power play goal of their own when Tim Kennedy would get one by Corey Schneider. The next 9 minuets would be back and forth hockey, with the Spartans showing a new life and played more physical hockey then BC. BC would have a golden opportunities with about 5 minutes left, but Jeff Lerg would make a great save on Boyle, that would turn the swing to MSU for good. Then came the goal heard around the college hockey world. Justin Abedelkader would fight hard in front of the net with two BC players around him he would get a rebound and put it over Schneider’s shoulder to give the Spartans the title. The Spartans played a more physical game then BC all game long and showed they were not intimidated.
So once again I was wrong in my predications. But this time I was happy that I was. I am very happy for MSU. I did want them to win. I will admit it I am very happy to see BC lose, I usually don’t root against a team, but for some reason do against BC. This was their second straight lost in the finals, first time since 1963-64 that a team lost in back to back championship game. All the hype was how this was going to be BC year, they were the hottest team in the country and MSU backed there way into the tourney, they were 4th in so called weak CCHA, they did not play well down the stretch. But the Spartans showed they had a little more heart then the Eagles and they wanted it more. The played till the finals whistle. BC overall might have had more talent, but MSU had more heart and overall were the better team when it counted, and that is how you become a champion. Its not thinking you are going to win, its going out and playing to win. Congratulations to the Spartans on well earned championship, the first by a CCHA team since 1998 when Michigan beat BC.

And then there were two! How wrong could Q be?

2007-04-07T18:05:00.000-04:00

Well here we are at the NCAA hockey championship game. The game pegs the red hot Boston College Eagles and the high octane of the Michigan State Spartans. As anyone who might have read my blog about the semi-finals know how wrong I was with my predication, I had Maine and North Dakota in the championship game. So how could I be so wrong?
Well Michigan State showed a lot of heart in their 4-2 victory over Maine. Maine went up very quickly 2-0, the first goal coming only 23 seconds into the first. But Michigan State did not collapse and hung in the game and fought back to tie it up by the end of the second, and showed a lot of poise in the third to get the 2 goals to win the game. Lerg played really big in net, after letting 2 goals on the first 4 shots he faced. Michigan State was also very discipline and only gave the highly effective Maine power play only 2 opportunities. Have to give the coach for Maine, Tim Whitehead, a lot of credit. His mother in law was killed in a crash early Thursday morning hours before the game. Whitehead did not tell the team till after the game. It must have been very extremely difficult for Whitehead to coach this game. My thoughts go out to Whitehead and his family. They might the Cats biggest rival, but have always had respect for Whitehead, he comes off as a classy guy and good coach.
BC pulled out an exciting 6-4 victory this game was back forth, and really exploded in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd. North Dakota tied up the game 3-3 in the third with a hard fought short handed goal. BC would take the 4-3 lead with a power play goal just minutes later. BC would go up by 2 with a empty net goal, that the North Dakota D fell asleep and let the BC player walk right in for the empty netter. North Dakota would get with in 1 with 16 seconds left, but another empty netter sealed it for BC. This game was pretty evenly played with both teams having swings of momentum. BC did play a little harder in the third and showed some grit.
So what can we expect tonight. Well if you read some what most people are saying this should be a BC victory. I would say on paper this should be a BC victory, they are playing the best hockey in the country. They are playing a well balanced game. There offense is playing hard and all 4 lines are contributing, their defense is playing tough and physical an Schneider is playing his best in net. So how can the Spartans pull this out? Well it will start in net. Lerg will have to come up big in net again. He needs to play a solid 60 minutes, and not let up early goals like he did to Maine. MSU doesn't have as many big names as BC, but they have depth to match BC. I rank their top 2 lines against BC as pretty much even. BC would have the advantage in the 3rd and 4th line. On defense all the attention has gone to BC with Brian Boyle making the switch to the blue line. But I would say MSU has a little more depth back there, and there forwards play some good defense to. MSU will have to come out and play the same discipline hockey they played against Maine. They need to limit the number of power plays they give BC. I have seen BC take some dumb penalties in the tourney. MSU will need to take advantage of those chances they are given. MSU will have to play there best game of the year to pull this out, it is possible but the odds are long.
So can I be as wrong as I was in the semi's? Truth be told I hope so. I know I say I see BC winning, but I will be rooting for MSU. There are 59 division 1 hockey teams in the NCAA, and I could see myself rooting for 58 of them, but cant root for BC. BC fans come as the most arrogant fans I have met. They act all high and mighty over every other fan. They act like they win the championship every year, not 2 since 1949. If there team loses in the national championship they fought hard and should be commended. But if another team gets there and losses they chocked. I have also had the lovely experience of sitting near BC fans at the regionals in Manchester and the Hockey east championships in Boston. Was near some kids rooting for BC, I am all for rooting for your team, but the things coming out these kids mouth, well lets say my father would smack me today for saying. Of course there fathers were right there with them laughing and encouraging them. Showed how little class they had. Those are not isolated experience I have had with BC fans over the years, just the two most recent. So makes it so I can root for BC. Which is a shame, I think Jerry York is on the classiest men I have seen behind the coach.. I really do admire him for what he has done behind the bench and his fight against cancer. Was impressed that at UNH last home game of the regular season he had his team out there for the senior recognition and he applauded for every UNH player. But there fans leave a lot to desire. Also sick of hearing just how great there players are from the Boston media, would think there were no other college hockey players in New England. Well here is hoping for a good national championship game, its been a long season. October can not come fast enough for me. So one last note from Q about the game
GO SPARTANS!!!!!

Q’s Frozen Four Preview- All roads lead to St. Louis!

2007-04-05T21:15:00.000-04:00

Well Thursday is a bitter sweet day in the life of Q. It is the national semi finals for the NCAA hockey tournament, AKA the Frozen Four. It is sweet because its the best of the best of college hockey, but its bitter because UNH is no there. Having been to two frozen fours myself I have to say that it is a great experience, hopefully will get to a couple more in my life time. It is much better when your team is there though. The first one I was at was in 2003 in Buffalo, UNH made it to the championship game that year losing to Minnesota. The next year made it down the frozen four in Boston. That year Denver beat Maine in a great 1-0 game. Highly recommend going to one if you get the chance. So on to this years frozen four in St. Louis. The first game is at 4, that has Maine against Michigan State, that is followed at 8 with Boston College against North Dakota.
So what can we expect out of the first game, Maine vs. Michigan State (MSU)? Well these are two pretty even teams. Both were the #3 seeds in there region, Maine is 23-14-2,MSU is 24-13-3. Offensively Maine averages 3.36 goals per game, while MSU averages 3.25 a game, on defense MSU gives up 2.48 goals a game compared to 2.44 a game. On the special teams Maine power play clicks at 25.7% rate #1 in the country, while MSU is at 19.1%, on the penalty kill MSU kills 87.0% of the power plays they give up, while Maine kills 85.6%. Going by the stats this should be a tight even game, but then again what else can you expect from a frozen four game? So what will win this game for either team? Well both have two solid goalies both let up 1 goal a game in the regionals. Looking at the goalies you see two totally different goalies, in Maine have the 6'7" Ben Bishop while in MSU have the 5'6" Jeff Lerg. But both play some great goal when needed. The key to me is who's forwards step up more. Maine has more depth with 4 solid lines, but Michigan State has 2 really good lines. If MSU can get some solid play from there back 2 lines they have an excellent shot at winning. Maine has the experience that might over take MSU. I watched both teams in the regionals, and for MSU Tim Kennedy really impressed me, he could be a key for an MSU win. While for Maine I don't think it's a secret that Michel Leveille is the go to guy for the Blackbears. MSU needs to stay out of the box and keep Maine's power play off the ice. Maine needs to do what they did in the regionals, and clear the puck out of in front of the net for Bishop. They really impressed me in that aspect of the game. So how does this game end up? Well not usually one for predictions, but since UNH is out I feel like I can go out on a limb here. I am going to say we see a 3-2 game with Maine coming out on top, Maine's experience pays off in the third and Leveille is the difference. ..:NAMESPACE PREFIX = O />
So that brings us the night cap, BC vs. North Dakota. BC is probably the hottest team in the country right now winning their last 12 games, and is almost everyone's choice to take the title. So how do I see this going. Well first lets look at the state. BC is 28-11-1, North Dakota is 24-13-5. On offense BC averages 3.38 goals a game, while ND averages 3.55 goals a game. On defense BC gives up 2.17 goals a game while ND gives up 2.62 goals a game. In the power play BC is at a 19.5% while ND is at 23.8%. On the penalty kill BC is killing penalties at a 88.6%, while BC is at 83.3%. In net all of the spot light has been on Corey Schneider of BC. He is a first round draft pick, and has won 14 out of his last 15 starts with 1.54 goals against in that time, while putting up an eye opening .948 save percentage. For North Dakota it is the little talked about Philippe Lamoureux, since Christmas he gone 17-3-4 with a 2.13 goals against while putting up .924 save percentage, though Schneider gets all the attention Lamoureaux has shown he can pull his own weight. Schneider does have the experience with playing the national championship game last year. On offense ND has 4 lines that can score at anytime, BC has 2 very solid lines. They have not missed a beat since Brian Boyle moved back to defense. On the blue line BC has been extremely well, only allowing 1 goal in the regionals. ND did allow 10 goals, but to probably the 2 best offenses in the nation, Michigan and Minnesota. All the talk about BC in the last month is about Boyles move to D, but do not over look ND as they have a deep defense. Specail teams will be interesting as ND #3 power play goes against BC #4 penalty kill. So how does this game come out? Well I have only seen 2 ND game in the last couple of weeks, but they were 2 really good games against Minnesota. I have seen quite a bit of BC over the last month. I have heard almost all of the expert pick BC. But I have to say I see this game going to North Dakota in a 5-3 game, with an empty netter to seal the deal. So how does North Dakota win this game? Well I see them coming out and scoring the first goal. I have seen BC come out flat in the first 10 or so minutes in the last couple of games. In the regionals St. Lawrence controlled the first 10 minutes, and against Miami-Ohio, Miami controlled the first period and the beginning of the second. Once they got the first goal in both of the games the controlled the tempo and the game. It has been awhile since BC has had to come from behind and play a tight game. I think ND is a bigger team and will wear down the small forwards of BC. In the Miami game I saw Boyle take a few stupid penalties. I think that could come back to hurt BC.
So there we have my picks, and I see a Maine-North Dakota championship game on Saturday a night. A rematch October when Maine beat ND twice in North Dakota. I will do a preview before the championship game, and will see if I am right about my picks Thursday. With my track record with predications, don't be surprised to see a MSU-BC final.

Q’s Tuesday night.

2007-04-03T20:28:00.000-04:00

I am sitting here watching the movie “Man on Fire” and have to say it has to one of my favorite films, Denzel Washington is just incredible in it. His character is such a distant man who show he has a big heart, and in the ends trades his life for the child he was in protecting. When that child gets kidnapped he does some of the most horrific things to people to find her, but you find what he does just. I have to say this is one of Washington’s best film, and that is saying a lot. I think he is probably the best actor acting today. His Oscar for “Training Day” was very well earned, as he was superb in that to.

Now the movie is over, and realizing there is nothing on Tuesday nights. I refuse to watch American Karoke, I mean American Idol. So watching some of the Bruins game, only 3 more games left in their season. Its been one long season as a B’s fan, but I do think the future is bright and next year will see a playoff spot.

Well flipping channels between whistles and see Discover is running the best of season 2 of the “ Deadliest Catch” that just got me to change the channel. Tonight is the premier of season 3, and I have been looking forward to it since I found out the new season was starting. I became hooked on this show last fall when they did a marathon of it. Watch it every time I see it on. These guys are really men who risk their life every time they go out. To me this is real reality TV. Have to admire these guys. This has become one my favorite shows. Highly recommend it to anyone!!
Keep meaning to write something about the Frozen Four, probably will tomorrow night.

Mr. Smith goes to Bridgeport!

2007-04-02T19:18:00.000-04:00

Well Trevor Smith has decided to take his puck and leave the Wildcats. Smith signed on with the NY Islanders, and assigned to Bridgeport of the AHL. First of all want to wish Trevor the best of luck in the future and hope he makes NHL dream come true. Have to say I was a little surprised when I heard the new this morning. I though Trevor would come back for his junior year, well I thought he should of. I feel he would be in a much better position with a strong junior year. I am sure he would have gotten more offers after next year then this year. Smith did have a strong first half of the year, but then trailed off in the second half when the Cats started to play tougher competition. I think Smith would have had a great junior year, another year with Fornataro and Pollastrone. They would have been the #1 line next year, which would have made them the #1 power play unit. Smith would have had the chance to show that he can lead a team. I am sure the money was very tempting for Smith, and really can’t blame him. But I think he would have been better served playing another year. Plus he would have added depth for the Cats. With him, Radja and JVR next year they would have had 3 scores. Well here is hoping Radja and Regan stay for another year. Do have to say I find it out that Garth Snow was the one to sign Smith, the former Umaine goalie still sticking to the Cats!
DAM YOU GARTH SNOW!!!!

The confession of a Blue Jays fan in New England.

2007-04-01T21:04:00.000-04:00

Well today is opening day in baseball, and as some of you might know I am a Toronto Blue Jays fan living in New England. I have been a Blue Jays fan for as long as I can remember. Not really sure how or why I became a Jays fan just have always been. This dates back to the early 80’s when they were really bad. I wasn’t someone who jumped on the bandwagon when they won their 2 World Series titles in the 90’s. But living in New England it is so hard to get any information about the Blue Jays, as everything is all about the Red Sox, and the Yankees. You would think that there were no other teams in the American League East. If my memory does serve me correct it was the Blue Jays who did finish ahead of the Red Sox last year. But yet everyone in New England just dismisses the Jays as a team that could contend with the almighty Red Sox. Growing up in New England I have heard this all my life, and yet I have seen my team win 2 World Series, compared to 1 for the Red Sox. But I do not let these Red Sox fans get me down. I have cheered on my team through the bad time, and the good times. There have been plenty of bad time, leading 3 games to 1 over KC in the 1985 ALCS and losing, losing the lead in the AL east the last week of the season to the Tigers. But there has been some really good times to, of course the 2 World Series titles. I would not trade my team alliance for anyone else. I tell people it is easy to be a Red Sox fan in New England, but try being a fan of team in New England that very few other people are, now that take a try baseball fan.
So what are my thoughts of the 07 Jays? Well if healthy I think they can contend in the AL East and for the AL Wild Card. The Jays finished last year with 87 wins, I see if thinks go right they can win 90-95 games this year. If the pitching staff stays healthy they should pick up more wins. Last year AJ Burnett and Roy Halliday both missed time. If those two stay healthy I think they are the best 1-2 punch in the AL, yes better then the Yankees and Red Sox. After that the starting pitching staff is a little shaky. In the # 3 spot is Gustav Chacin. He has been up and down, does need to be more consistent, but if healthy he can put up 12-16 wins. The #4 is going to Tomo Okha, who is coming off injuries, but has looked really good in spring. I think he will be a solid #4 for the Jays. Right now the #5 is going to Josh Towers, he will be on a very short leash this year. His spot might be filled by Victor Zambrano, who is coming of Tommy John surgery. When signed to a minor league deal over the winter he was expected to be part of the team to late May/ early June. But Zambrano did pitch well over the spring and challenged for a starting spot. He will start the year in the bullpen, but if any of the last 3 guys in the rotation falter I would expect Zambrano to step into their spot. The bullpen is anchored by BJ Ryan, one of the better closer in the AL. The set up man is going to be Jason Frasor, who should be pretty solid in that role. Scott Downs will be the lefty specialist coming out of the pen. The pen does have the potential to be solid, but it is a question mark in the middle of the pen. The beginning of the pitching staff and the end of the bullpen are very strong, but the back end of the rotation and the beginning of the bullpen are the biggest question marks for this team. The Jays line up is very solid, I think they can compete with any lineup in the AL. Greg Zaun is a very dependable catcher, he wont put up big numbers but he is not a liability either. Lyle Overybay is a very underrated first baseman, who will drive in the guys ahead of him. He wont hit a ton of home runs, but will hit a ton of doubles. The middle of the infield is solid defensively with Aaron Hill at 2nd base and Royce Clayton at Shortstop. Claytons bat will be the weakest in the line up, but he should make up for it with his glove. Hill is young but should have dependable bat, does need to work a little on defense, but should be better them last year when he went from 2nd to SS and back 2nd. This year he knows were he will be playing and that should be a plus for him. At third we have the power hitter Troy Glaus. Glaus will have his share of strike outs this year, but has a bat that can hit 30-40 homers. He has a surprisingly good glove, played some SS last year, but do have to worry about his knees has had some problems with the last few years. The starting outfield is young, but good. It is lead by probably the most underrated players in baseball, Vernon Wells. The Jays did sing Wells to an extension over the winter, which I am very happy about. Wells is hitting the prime of his career and the next 5 years should he should be one of the best players in baseball. The corner outfielders are Alex Rios, who had a great first of the year last year before he got hurt. He should be a good lead off hitter for the Jays. Reed Johnson is also young but solid. He wont put up huge numbers, but will hit for average and be a good 6 or 7 hitter. The Jays went out and signed Frank Thomas to DH, I really liked this signing, thought they should have done it last year. The DH spot was a very weak spot for the Jays last year, with the addition of Thomas is has become a strength.
So there you have your 2007 Toronto Blue Jays. If healthy one of the top teams in the AL. If not, well questionable. They won 87 games last year with injuries to Halliday, Burnett and Rios. So why cant they win 90 this year? The addition of Thomas will be a plus for the offense. The subtraction of Ted Lilly will hurt, someone will have to step up in the back end of the rotation, I see Okha or Zambrano to be that person. Here is hoping for a successful season north of the border!!

Shawn Vinz Update!!

2007-04-01T17:26:00.000-04:00

Well as irony would have it, the day I post my thoughts on the class of 07, the last one signs a pro contract, the one and only Shawn Vinz sings on with the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL. The man who did score until his senior year with that cats scored on his very first shift as a pro. Congratulation Shawn and best of luck, here is hoping the scoring touches stay and you stay, I know what my favorite ECHL team is now!!
GO CHECKERS!!!!

UNH Class of 2007- Thanks for the Memories!

2007-03-31T23:24:00.000-04:00

Well it was a week ago today the season ended for the Cats, so figure it was time to take a look at the 5 graduating seniors (Jacob McFlicker, Brett Hemingway, Josh Ciocco, Shawn Vinz and Chris Murray) McFlicker and Hemingway have got the most press over their four years in Durham, and rightfully so. But all 5 member of the class of 07 played a part in the success of the Cats over their 4 years here. All 5 will be missed, as this is probably one of the most solid classes in awhile. Here is wishing them all the best of luck in the future, and they will always be proud member of Wildcat country. Four of them have already signed on to play pro hockey and have started that next step in their career. SO let take a look at the calls of 07 and my view of them.
Well you have to start with Jacob McFlicker. McFlicker has been a huge fan favorite all 4 years, was a 3 time winner of the fan favorite. McFlicker was never the biggest guy on the ice, but played with the biggest heart. McFlicker is a pure skater and a natural with the puck. He played on the top line his last 2 years. There were times it looked like McFlicker was out on the ice doing magic with the puck. He could slip through the defense and make his way to the net. He was always a joy to watch in a Wildcat uniform. He always gave it is all. He was superb 5 on 5, on the power play and on the penalty kill. McFlicker has always fit in the mold of Steve Savino, Sean Collins and Darren Hayder. Not the biggest, faster guy, but the guy who played the hardest and you always knew what you were going to get. Mc Flicker took a beating this year, as it seemed every team always had one of their top defensemen on him, even with all the physical beating he took he always came back for more. McFlicker has signed on with Springfield of the AHL, proud to say he scored his first professional goal last night. I can see McFlicker having a decent career in the AHL or Europe, and were ever he goes he will be a fan favorite.
Brett Hemingway followed in his brother footstep, Collin Hemmingway, and came to Durham. Brett had a scored touch in his time in a Wildcat uniform. Brett had a knack of finishing some of the nifty plays McFlicker would set up for him. Brett didn’t always get the press as one of the top guys on the team. But he was consistent in his scoring touch. He did start of slow his senior year, but did turn it on to finish with another 30+ points. He did miss the semi and finals of the Hockey East tourney, and he was missed. I have read on some post on USCHO that they thing Hemmingway will be easily replaced. I don’t think he will be, it is not everyday you bring in a 100 career point guy. Brett was a perfect third guy on the top line the last year. This year with McFlicker and Radja, and last year with McFlicker and Winnick. Many people tried to compare him to his brother. Collin was a leader on the teams he was on. Brett did not have to be on this team there were plenty of other leaders to step up, Brett just had to play his game and that is what he did well. Brett signed with Colorado of the NHL and was assigned to Albany of the AHL. I see Brett playing the AHL for awhile, and maybe getting a shot at the NHL in the next couple of year. I would not be surprised to see Brett playing the NHL in the future, might not be a star, but can stick somewhere as a 3rd or 4th line guy.
Next up is the Captain Josh Ciocco. I will come out and admit it that I was surprised when Ciocco was named captain last spring. I though it would go to McFlicker. Ciooco wrote w weekly column for the Portsmouth Herald his junior year. I have to say I was not a big fan of it at times, he did come off as cocky sometime. But Ciooco did prove me wrong as he turned out to be a good captain. Josh led the third line this year, with Thomas Fortney and Greg Collins, that was probably my favorite line to watch this year. It brought a lot of energy to every game and played extremely well. Josh also stepped up the #1 line through out the year with different injuries to all 3 member of the line. This was a good example of the leadership he proved this year. Josh was never afraid to go right after the biggest guy on the other team. I thought along with Radja he was the best penalty killer the Cats had, as he would come out with a lot of energy and make the other team work extremely hard. Next years captain will have some big shoes to fill and will have to bring some leadership to replace Ciooco. Josh has signed on with Wheeling of the ECHL. I see Josh playing in the ECHL, he will bring a lot of energy to any team he is with, and like McFlicker be a fan favorite were ever he goes, and will be outspoken.
The only defensemen to graduate this year was Chris Murray. I was also surprised when he was named an assistant captain last spring. Murray had a very quiet 3 years before his senior year, I actually didn’t realize he was a going to be senior this year till he was named asst. captain. But he did turn it up his senior to be come a force on the blue line for the Cats. He was the 2nd highest point man from the blue line, 1 behind Flashins, and the top goal scoring defensemen. He also lead the team with 5 game winning goals. He also had 4 power play goals. He turned out to be a good quarterback for the power plays. He was named a 2nd team all Hockey East player this year. He stepped up when the team needed him to this year. Murray signed on with Peoria of the AHL. I am not sure were I see Murray’s career taking him. He might end up in the ECHL for a few years. It is hard to judge since he only had the one break out year with the Cats.
This bring us to the last, and my favorite senior, Shawn Vinz. Coming into his senior year Vinz had played 60+ games in a Cats uniform, and had no goals to show for it. Vinz has been mostly a 4th liner his career. His first 3 years he was in and out of the line up, as the 4th line was usually rotated between 4 or 5 guys. This year saw Vinz play in all but 1 game. On November 17th Vinz would get his first career goal against Lowell. It was a tip in goal, nothing pretty but it was a goal. Vinz would end up getting 4 goals on the year, one a short handed goal. The Cats would go 4-0 in games he scored, as I like to call it the Vinz rule. But Vinz biggest contribution came in leading the 4th line all year. He played mostly with freshman Bobby Butler and Peter Leblanc all year. That lined played very well this year, one of the better 4th lines in a long time for the Cats. You could really see the development of the Freshman on that line, Danny Rossman would also see time on that line. I think Vinz has to be given some credit for their development. Vinz’s contribution might be felt for the next few years. Vinz also played regularly on the penalty kill this year, and played very effective. I have always enjoyed watching Vinz play, if there is one jersey I wanted it is a Vinz jersey. There is a guy who usually sits a couple rows in front of me with one, and I so wanted to get it from him. You can tell he loves to play the game. He never got not being the line up get him down. I do not see Vinz playing professionally, though I would love to see it. I do wish him the best in the future. Here is wishing all the member of the Class of 07 the best of luck in the future, whether it be in hockey or something else. Thanks for the memories.

Cat's review 07- The end of the Vinz Era

2007-03-29T22:17:00.000-04:00

Well I figured I would wait a few days after the season ended up for the Cats before I wrote my season end review. Of course the season didn’t end the way any Cat player, coach or fan wanted it to, a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. But the season was in my opinion far from a failure. Many people are looking at the end of the season and seeing it being a failure. But when you look back at the beginning of the season and what was expected for the season, I see it as a success. The Cats were picked 4th in the pre-season Hockey East coaches poll. Many people thought they would be fighting for a home ice slot in the Hockey East playoffs. In the national poll they had them at #10. Due have to give the voter in the USCHO poll credit, they had 3 of the Frozen Four participants in the top 6 (BC #1, Michigan State #5, North Dakota #6, with all getting first place votes) they had Maine at #11. So how did the Cats get from that to the Hockey East regular season title, and many weeks at #1 in the country during the season? Well lets begin the journey.
Well the season started back in October with 3 exhibition games at home. The started off with a bad loss to St. Francis Xavier from Canada. Things looked like it was going to be a tough and long year. The Cats did rebound in their 2nd exhibition game, a 7-1 win over the US Under 18 team, led by future Cat James Van Reinsdyke (JVR). Things were stating to look up. The Cats first 2 regular season games would be on the road in the tough home of national power Colorado College. The Cats would come out with 2 impressive wins. The Freshman Bobby Butler would get the first goal of the season. The Cats would come home on a rocky mountain high. That high would not last long. The Cats home opener was also their Hockey East opener, against UMass, they would lose that game 3-2. Two days later the Cats would face off against Yale. That would be a very heartbreaking, controversial loss in OT. A game with a questionable waved off goal, and a goal that should have never happened as the ref never blew the whistle when Mr. Regan clearly had the puck covered. Thus the Cats ended October at a disappointing 2-2.
That disappointing October would lead the Cats into an amazing November and December. It started off with a home game against Northeastern. The Cats would find themselves ties 3-3 after the 2nd period. Then Cats exploded for 3 goals in the third, and played some great that hockey that would last until after Christmas. The Cats would go on incredible 12 game unbeaten streak. Some of the highlights of that streak would include, a fabulous 8-2 win on a Sunday afternoon against Maine up at the Alfond the Blackbears were undefeated and #1 in the country at that time, a 6-3 win at BC. During the streak we got to see the first 2 games in net by freshman Brian Foster, those 2 games would be 2 shut wins by the Cats, a 4-0 win at home against Lowell and a 2-0 win at home against St. Lawrence. There was also the 5-0 shut out by Mr. Regan at home against Merrimack. Also during this streak we would see the first 2 career goals by senior Shawn “the man” Vinz. The first coming on come on Sat Nov 18 against Lowell, Fosters first shut out. Vinz next goal would be a shorthanded blast from right inside the blue line in Regan’s 5-0 shut out over Merrimack. The streak would come to end in the Cats first game after their 3 week Christmas break, a 5-2 win in a Christmas tournament in Florida. The would rebound with a win against Western Michigan the next night, though the Cats would lose the service of top goal score Mike Radja for 4 week in this game. The Cats would end 2006 at 14-3-1. Also during this time there would be the emergence of the SPF line (Trevor Smith, Jerry Pollostrone, and Matt Forntadaro) Trevor Smith would be one of the most dominate players in the country from November to the end of January. His name would be mentioned as a Hobey Baker candidate.
January would turn out to be another well played month for the Cats. The Cats would go 5-1 during the cold wintry month. At the end of the month the Cats had clawed their way to the #1 ranking in the country. The only loss would be a 3-0 loss at UMass, this is not the last we would hear from them. That would be their first road loss of the season, they started the season 10-0 on the road. Some of the highlights of the month would be the 2 game sweep at the #1 defensive team in the country Vermont to begin the month. The first game would be a extremely well played 7-1 victory that drove the top goalie in the country, Fallon, out of the game in the first period. The Cats would also have a dominant 5-1 victory over UMass at the Whitt. The Cats ended January 19-4-1, and well established in first place in Hockey East. The Cats would be one of the top ranked offensively and defensively ranked team in the country at this point.
So now comes February and Marc to finish the regular season, the toughest part of the schedule for the Cats. Of the last 10 games to end the regular season 6 would be against Maine, BU and BC. The Cats would end the last 10 games 4-5-1. Something they would not be happy about. The highlights would be a great 2-1 victory over Maine at the Whitt. The Cats in my opinion didn’t play bad in this stretch, except for one game I will mention. The Cats would clinch the Hockey East regular season title with a couple week to go in the regular season. There was a natural let down as the Cats played hard all season to earn the title. The let down was seen over the last 3 weeks. The last weekends the first would be against BU. The Cats would lose a 4-2 hard fought game at the Whitt, BU would end up with 2 empty netters at the end of the game. The next night in Boston the Cats would jump out to a 3-0 lead, then the wheels came off, and the Terriers would come back to a well deserved 3-3 tie. The next weekend in Providence would be the low point of the season for the Cats, a humiliating 7-1 loss at the hands of the Friars. As irony would have it BU would lose that night and clinch the regular season title for the Cats. The Cats would end their regular season with a home and home series with BC. At this point the Cats did not have much to play for. The Eagles would come out with 2 victories, thought the Cats gave them a fight in both games. The Eagles came in fighting for the #2 spot in Hockey East. The Eagles would be in middle of an extremely hot stretch. The Eagles would end up 1 point behind the Cats in the standings. The Cats would end the regular season at 23-9-2, and 18-7-2 in Hockey East.
The Cats would enter the tournament on some what of a down note. Many is Wildcat country would be a little worried going into the post season. The Cats would face off the #8 seed Providence in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs, the same Providence team that spanked the Cats a few weeks earlier. Well there was no need to worry as the Cats, lead by Mr. Regan, would sweep the 2 game series with 2 shut out ( 4-0, 6-0) The Cats played great in those 2 games. From there it was on the Fleet Center for the Hockey East semi finals against UMass, the team that had played them very hard all season. Mother Nature in her wisdom would dump a foot of snow on New England that day and keep many of the faithful Cat fans away from Boston. This might have been one of the best games of the year, a thrilling 3-2 victory in double overtime. Bobby Butler would score the winner, after Danny Rossman would score his first career goal in the third to tie the game up. Brett Hemingway would miss this game due to a sickness, he would also miss the Hockey East championship game the next night, as a good number of the team was sick. This game would not go the Cats way, as BC would once again beat them 5-2. The Cats came out playing well in that game. But the team would be slowed down and BC took it to the Cats. The Cats would play hard the last 10 minutes, but it was not enough to overcome the red hot Eagles. The Cats would earn a #1 seed in the NCAA regional in Manchester, #4 over all in the tourney. The Cats would face off against Miami-Ohio. The Cats played a very good game, but would come up on the wrong side of the score sheet, a very tough 2-1 loss. The Cat outplayed Miami most of the game, but just could not get the puck past the Redhawks netminder. The winning goal for Miami would come off the deflection off one of the Cats skate. The highlight of the game would be a spectacular shorthanded goal from Mike Radja. The season would end with the Cats playing hard till the final whistle.
The Cats did meet and exceed the exceptions I had at the beginning of the season. The Cats offense turned out to be one of the best in the country and the defense played solid all year and be one of the top rated defenses at the end of the season. Some really great surprises developed over the season for me. The first being the play of the SPF line, Trevor Smith showed some real spark and scoring touch. Jerry Pollastrone showed he can play well with the puck and has some great wheels. Matt Forntadaro got over his sophomore slump and played like up to the potential he showed his freshman year. Bobby Butler really showed some promise his freshman year, he should really step up next year. Thomas Fortney really played well, became the best face off man the Cats had, and played some great defense. Mike Radja really jumped up, and took the place of Daniel Winnick, who left after his junior year. The devoplement of the guys on the blue line, Kevin Kapstad and Brad Flashians really stepped it up this year. I will have a post later on looking forward to next year, and a look back at the graduating Seniors.
So some of the highlights of the season for me. Wish I had seen the 8-2 win in Maine. Seeing Shawn Vinz get on the scoring sheet was great to see, he really earned it, though I saw the first goal on TV, but was there for his shorthander. Seeing Brian Foster get 2 shut outs in his first 2 starts. The best 2 games of the year to me were the 2-1 victory over Maine at the Whitt, the 12 game unbeaten streak, the 7-1 victory at Vermont and the 3-2 2OT win in the Hockey East Semi’s.
So to me it was a good year for the cats, not the outcome we all wanted, but the Cats played hard the entire year, and played with class, for that I am proud of them, and proud to say I am a Cats fans, and our time will come!!

Q’s View on Iraq

2007-03-28T21:18:00.000-04:00

Well now that the UNH hockey season is over, what will I talk about? Well I have steered away from political stuff, though I am very interested in the subject. So here is my first post dealing with politics. Want to talk about the passing of the supplementary budget passed by the Senate for the war in Iraq. Of course this is the bill that has in a Sept 08 withdrawal from Iraq. I find this stipulation very disturbing. I will be up front and admit I do support the war in Iraq. I do not think putting a deadline on withdrawal right now is rational. I also find the Democrats to very hypercritical on this whole matter.
First I kept hearing how the President needs to change strategy. Well he did with the surge by adding more troops, something most Democrats called for last summer, and to focus more resources on controlling Baghdad and Anbar province. This was strategy that has the backing of Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, the head of troops in Iraq. The Senate approved Petraeus to be the head of troops 81-0, after the President announced the surge strategy. So they oppose the strategy, then turn around and but a man who fully supports the strategy and thinks it is key to victory in charge. So how do you think we can win? The Democrats fought the surge from the beginning, so want a new strategy but don’t want a new one? I was listening to Senator Reid last night saying the President wants more of the statues quo, seems like he missed the news about the new surge strategy. He has also missed that there has been some success with the surge. The violence in Baghdad has gone down, and the street are safer. It is a victory? No its not, but it is step in the right direction, and should be given time to see how much it can succeed.
So now to this bill. First I find the timing of the “deadline” curious. Sept 08? If the Democrats want us out so fast, why not an immediate withdrawal? Why not cut off funding? Hard to miss that it is right before the 08 presidential election. Seems like the Democrats want to make this a very political issue. I also find all of the stuff added into this budget very outrageous. This should be a straight up budget for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. But there has been tons of stuff added to this budget, obviously to gain the support t get it passed. Some of the add-ons are Renew an income subsidy program for some small dairy farmers; give $24 million to sugar beet growers in the Red River Valley for losses from flooding and $20 million to combat Mormon crickets, Provide $74 million for peanut storage and $25 million for spinach growers, and $100 million for the 08 Democrat and Republican conventions.
I believe it is important for the US to be successful in Iraq. So what is success? Well success is a decline in violence in the streets, a well trained Iraqi Army, a strong nationalized government. Are we there yet? Of course not. Will setting a deadline for withdrawal get us there? NO! I have no problem with setting milestones to reach, I actually encourage that. I wish the President and Democrats would sit down and set some milestones. Such as x number of Iraqi brigades fully trained means the withdrawal of x number of Americans. This is the path to success, actual talking and making tough decisions. Right now all we have is name calling back and forth. I will give the President credit he has changed his strategy in Iraq and it seems to have some success so far. The only plan I see from the Democrats is to get out with no plan to succeed. I know there are some logic Democrats who want to succeed. It just seems their voice has been silenced. Here is hoping that something can be worked out and all of the bickering back and forth can be over with and we can have a real discussion about Iraq. The sooner this down and path to success an be worked out the sooner we can be successful, and then the sooner we can get our brave men and women home. The more time we spend having both side one up each other the longer we will be there. So please smarten up and have an actual discussion and not a power fight.

NCAA Hockey Tourney- Day 3- And then there were 4, but no 1!!

2007-03-25T22:24:00.000-04:00

The Frozen Four is all set. We add North Dakota and Boston College to the mix. Boston College Boston College won a 4-0 Northeast final over Miami-Ohio. This was scoreless game going into the 2nd, with Miami controlling most of the play. As faith would have it BC would score on its first quality chance in the 2nd and turn the momentum their way. Miami did loss one of its top forwards early in the game due to a hitting from behind call that was deemed a 5 minute major with a game DQ. That goal seemed to take the life out of Miami. Miami showed me a lot this weekend, they belong there. This game was closer then the score. BC will face North Dakota in the late game of the Frozen Four semi finals. North Dakota won a great 3-2 OT game against Minnesota. This was a rematch of the WCHA that also went to OT, with Minnesota taking that one. This game was 1-1 early in the game. Both teams had some good chances through out the rest of the first and the entire second. It would not be until the third till North Dakota took an advantage of a power play. The Sioux would get a 5 minute major against them, but would kill it off. But Minnesota would take advantage of a power play later in the third to tie the game up. This would bring us to OT. The Sioux would control most of the play in the OT. The would end the game with a wrap around goal, to bring the Sioux to the Frozen Four for the third straight year.
So the Frozen Four is set. We have Michigan State- Maine at 4, and BC- North Dakota at 7. We have 3, #3 seeds and a #2 seed. My first instinct says North Dakota is the team to beat. I know many people are in love with BC right now. But after seeing their last 3 games, I still believe they are very beatable. To me ND is the best all around team. But I would not count the other 3 teams. Maine has Bishop who can steal a game, a steeler power play and the experience of being there last year. Michigan State showed me a lot this weekend, they play good D, have depth and Lerg is playing well in net. BC does have depth, the experience of being in the final game last year, and Schneider is very solid in net. So over all have 4 teams that can win it. Should be a very god Frozen Four, Now just have to wait two weeks. WHY????

NCAA Hockey Tourney- Day 2- The last half dozen standing!!

2007-03-25T13:59:00.000-04:00

Well day 2 didn’t go as Cats fans would have hoped for. The UNH-Miami game was a good game, with the Redhawks pulling out the 2-1 win, though UNH did out play them most of the game, but sometimes the bounces don’t go your way. The Redhawks will play the red hot BC Eagles. The Eagles beat St. Lawrence 4-1. I stayed for 2 periods of that game, thought the Saints played with the Eagles and at times controlled the pace of the game. I have seen BC twice in the last week, and still think they are very beatable. This team is bound to hit a ref who will not cave into them and call the late hits, holding the stick, and the dives the Eagles do. Hopefully the Redhawks can come out and control the pace of the game and use their physical presence to take out the Eagles. Did get home in time to see the last half of the Maine-UMass regional final. Looks like Big Ben was the missing element for Maine as they finally beat UMass, after 4 straight losses, 3-1. Maine’s power play was the difference in that region. So now Maine is off to the Frozen Four in St. Louis. There they will met up with a very tough Michigan State team. Michigan State took out the #1 seed Norte Dame last night in a tight 2-1 game. I have seen both MSU games this tourney, and have been really impressed with them. They have depth and play a good defensive game. The might midget in net had played huge for them. So in one frozen four game will have Big Ben vs. The mighty midget. Should be a good game, and low scoring I think. I didn’t get to see any of the Western regional first round games. But once again Minnesota didn’t really come out to play in the first round. Last year they lost to Holy Cross, in probably the biggest upset in NCAA hockey history. You would think that they would come out to prove something this year. With the #1 seed overall playing Air Force, they would come out with both guns blazing. But once again the Gophers were down in the third, they were down 3-1 early in the third. But unlike last year the Gophers did pull out the victory with a tight 4-3 game, with Air Force getting some chances with the goalie pulled for a 6-5 at the end of the game. The Gophers will face their WCHA nemesis North Dakota. The Sioux won a wild 8-5 game over Michigan. The Sioux known for their defensive style of play, but not last night. With what sounds like a very entertaining game the Sioux’s offensive exploded and scored 5 power play goals. I am really looking forward to watching that Minnesota- North Dakota game tonight.

UNH-Miami- Ohio. Playoff game #5, that’s all folks!!

2007-03-24T23:22:00.000-04:00

Well the Cats lost 2-1 in the first round of the NCAA tourney today. They fought to the very last whistle. This was a hard fought game were the team that had the more physical style won out in the end. The Cats did play a good game I though. Miami controlled the first 10 minutes and got an early goal, that I am sure Mr. Regan would like back. That came on the Redhawks very first shot of the game. After about the 10 minute mark the Cats started to control the play and had some golden chances but Miami stoned them. Have to give Miami all sorts of credit. They did not let the Cats set up anything down low and cut those passing lanes. The forced the Cats to take shots from outside and let up very few rebounds. Miami would get a 2-0 lead early in third on a power play on a goal that was thrown to the front of the net and looks like it went off someone’s skate. That is why it is never bad to throw the puck on net kids. The Cats did not quit though, they continued to play hard and keep the pressure on. They finally broke through late in the third on a beautiful short handed goal by Radja. That seemed to give the Cats even more life as the continued to keep on some good pressure, but in the end just couldn’t get another pass Zatkoff in net for Miami. The Cats have nothing to ashamed of today. They left everything on the ice today. I am not at all disappointed in the way they played today, just wanted them to play hard, and see what happens. Have to give Miami all sorts of credit, they made the plays when they had to. I wish them luck against BC Sunday. For life I cant root for BC, seems like I keep finding all the pain in the butt BC fans, had more BC kids sitting behind me today, and once again if I had talked liked that when I was their age, I would have got back handed by my father, the father with them was encouraging them. I did find it appropriate that McFlicker was the last guy off the ice today, he always left on the ice all four years. I will have a review of the season later on, and a look forward to 08.Thanks for a great year Cats!!!

NCAA tourney- Day 1- Let the fun begin!!!

2007-03-24T11:04:00.000-04:00

The first day of the NCAA hockey tourney is in the books, we have 4 teams out of the running for the trophy (Clarkson, St. Cloud, BU, and UAH) so we have a #1, 2 #2, and a #4 seed gone. There were 2 overtime games, one going to 2 overtimes, and one going scoreless into overtime. I got to see 2 of the games. The first game I watched was the Maine-St. Cloud game. This game was totally dominated by Maine, 4-1 win. St. Cloud did score first on a very weak goal. At that time I thought it was going to be a long night for Maine, as Ben Bishop, who hasn’t played in a month due to a groin injury, seemed to go down very slow to stop the shot. I was watching with a couple Maine fans, after that goal I was talking to one of them and we both questioned Bishops health. Well we were wrong, that would be the only goal he would let in. Maine would turn around and get 2 pretty weak goals themselves off of St. Cloud goal Booby Goepfert, a Hobey Baker finalist. The Black Bear would score on their first 2 power plays, and there would be no looking back from their. Main’s special teams would be the story of this game, not only their power play but their penalty kill was superb, they would kill all 9 power plays for St. Cloud. Both of these teams came into the tourney on very negative notes. St. Cloud loss both games last weekend in the WCHA tourney. Maine had lost 4 straight games 2 at the end of the regular season and 2 in the first weekend of the Hockey East tourney. Maine was by far the one who bounced back the best. It looks like having Big Ben back in net was a confidence booster for the Black Bear.
Maine lost all 4 of the games to UMass, all at Umass. So as luck has it these 2 teams will met again Saturday night with a trip to the frozen four on the line. UMass playing in their first ever NCAA tourney pulled out a 1-0 overtime win against #1 seed Clarkson. I do wish I had got see this game, dam them for starting the game at 2:30. From what I read and heard this was a very good game going back and forth, with UMass controlling the first period, Clarkson controlling the second , and a back and forth 3rd and OT. Both goalies came up with some huge saves. So this sets up an all Hockey East regional final. Can UMass beat Maine 5 times in a row? Will the return of Bishop be the missing link for Maine to get past the Minutemen? This should be a very interesting game. Maine does have the experience in the tourney, but UMass has the confidence that they can beat Maine. Not sure how much of this game I will get to see, but it should be one hell of a barn burner.
As we have an Hockey East final in the East region, we have an All CCHA Final in the Midwest. The first came should have been a cake walk, not even a close game. Had the #1 team in the polls and #2 seed in the tourney, playing a team what was well below 500 for the year in the weakest league in the country, had to come from behind in every game of the CHA tourney to win the automatic bid. Anyone looking at this would think Norte Dame would have their way with Alabama Huntsville (UAH) , but they would wrong. As UAH would bring the Fighting Irish to double overtime, with Norte Dame pulling out a 3-2 win. Of course I didn’t get to see this game either, sounds like a good game to me. Did get to see the other game in that bracket, BU-Michigan State. Like the Maine- St. Cloud game, the higher seed, BU, got the first goal, then the lower seed got all of the rest. Michigan State would skate to a 5-1 win. This game was all Spartans. BU played very undisciplined hockey. They would take 2, 5 minute major and just played sloppy and stupid. They end with 2 total stinkers this game and their Hockey East semi final lost to BC. BU should what they were a team lacking scoring all year, relied to much on John Curry . BU is some serious trouble next year with Curry, and no scoring. So what about the all CCHA regional final? I will have to go with Michigan State. They really impressed me last night. Their goalie, Lerg also known by yours truly as the mighty midget. Really impressed me last night as did Tim Crowder for them. He looked really good to me.
I will be in Manchester for the Northeast regional first round games. UNH-Miami Ohio at 1, followed by BC- St. Lawrence. Depending on what happens and how long these games go depends on what other games I will see.
Here is hoping for a Cats win today, and they move on to play Sunday!!!GO CATS!!!

UNH-Miami (Ohio) NCAA Preview

2007-03-22T21:13:00.000-04:00

Well we have come to the real part of the season, the NCAA playoffs. The last 6 months have all lead up to this. The Cats earned the #1 seed in the Northeast bracket of the tourney. They also get luck of playing in their own backyard in Manchester, thanks to hosting the regional. The Cats do come into the tourney coming off a lost in the Hockey East Championship game, 5-2. They also have had a bad case of the flu going through the team. It kept Brett Hemingway out last weekend, and is still questionable for this weekend. Here is hoping the team is healthy for the weekend
So what can we except out of the Redhawks of Miami? Well Miami is limping into the playoffs losing their last 3 games, including a 2 game sweep at the hands of the 8th seed in the CCHA playoffs, Lake Superior State. The Redhawks season in part was like the Cats, started off very hot, and cooled off towards the end of the season. But UNH did manage to get some of there momentum back with 2 solid wins against Providence and a hard fought 2OT game in Boston against UMass. The Redhawks have 5 players with double digit goals this year, and a lot of experience on the blue line. This is similar to the Cats. They also have a Hobey Baker finalist in Nathan Davis. Davis season mirrors Trevor Smith, a hot start and cooling off in the second half. The Hawks also have 2 very capable goalies in Jeff Zatkoff (2.24 GAA,.918 SV%) and junior Charlie Effinger (2.67 GAA,.896 SV%). As of Thursday night Coach Blasi has not named a starter yet, though the smart money is on Zatkoff. From what I have read it seems like the Hawks play an aggressive offensive style game. This style could play well for the Cats, as it can lead odd man rushes then the Cats have seen in a while. UMass and BC were probably polar opposites of this. This sounds a lot like the style Maine has played this year, and I think the Cats matched up well in that series. The Hawks have the #2 rated penalty kill in the country. So the Cats will have to patient on the power play, and hopefully be able to take advantage of any they might get. The Hawks did take a lot of penalties in their NCAA tourney game against BC last year, a 5-0 loss. But this team is more experience and more discipline. I have heard people say that the Hawks have played more discipline in the 2nd half of the year and taken less penalties, again like the Cats.
So it looks like we got 2 pretty evenly matched teams. So how do the Cats gets past the Hawks and move on to play Sunday? I think the Cats depth will be an advantage for them. If the first 2 lines are healthy that will be a huge boost for the Cats. Also the third line played really well last weekend, a healthy inspired 3 lines along with some quality play from the 4th line will go along way. The defense will have to play aggressive and try to slow down the Hawks offense. The Cats will have to limit the turnovers that were costly last Saturday night. I have no doubt Regan will have another Mr. Regan game. I think last Saturday nights game will only motivate him more. Overall I think the Cats can win this game, but they can not take Miami lightly, they are a dangerous team that can also win this game. If both teams come out with their A games, I would have to give the advantage to the Cats. So here is hoping we see the Cats Sunday afternoon.
GO CATS!!!

Happy Birthday to the greatest Pro Athlete of all time!

2007-03-20T21:06:00.000-04:00

Well today is March 20, it the birthday of the greatest and most dominant pro athlete of all time. A man who 30 years after his retirement still is the best that ever played his game. That man is the one and only Bobby Orr. Orr’s was cut way to short due to multiple knee injuries. The great Gordie Howe had to say this about Orr’s early retirement Losing Bobby, was the greatest test blow the National Hockey League has ever suffered." Also sadly Orr didn't retire as a member of the Boston Bruins. He ended with the Chicago Blackhwaks. This is due to his good for nothing agent Alan Eagelson. It would be found out year later that Eagelson lied to Orr and many others about his dealing. Eagelson would be the first, and only, person to be kicked out of a professional hall of fame, and would end up in jail. So what made Orr so great? To this day Orr is the only defensemen to lead the NHL in scoring, This is the equivalent of a catcher winning the triple crown in baseball. He is a 3 time league MVP, 2 time Stanley Cup MVP, an 8 time Norris trophy winner as best defensemen in the NHL, he was the 1970 Sports Illustrated sportsmen of the year, The Boston Globe names him the greatest athlete in Boston history ahead of Bill Russell and Ted Williams. Orr was an incredible +124 in 1970-72, which is unheard of. Orr was the first rushing defensemen who could carry the puck from his own end to the other end with out being touched, then rush back to play some incredible defense. He was not afraid to hit, be hit, or even fight. If there is one athlete wish I has seen that I haven't, it would be with out a doubt Bobby Orr. I never got to see him play, but still know how great he is. I have the famous picture of Orr scoring the game winner in game 4 of the Stanley Cup in 1970, the one were is flying through the air. Orr is the type of athlete that doesn't come once a life time, but once a century. It will be a long time before the NHL or any league sees the likes of Orr. Orr made hockey huge in New England, and his effect is still seen today. So happy birthday Bobby, here is to many more

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame- 2007

2007-03-18T17:12:00.000-04:00

I am sitting here watching the Rock and Hall of Fame inductions for 2007. Only going to comment on the 2 artist I am really familiar with, as I grew up with both of them. Van Halen and R.E.M
First have to talk about Van Halen. It is a dam shame they all weren’t there to get there due honor. I know there has been a ton of infighting between all the member of the bands. Also Eddie Van Halen is in rehab, here is wishing him the best of luck with that and hope he gets himself all right. Still they only ones there were Michael Anthony and Sammy Hager. Would have liked to seen Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth there to. To me the original line up with Roth will always be Van Halen to me, sorry Kristi. Not saying I don’t love the line up with Sammy in it, have seen Sammy 5 times and is one hell of performer. But I started to listen to Van Halen with the DLR as the front man, and they truly were rock and roll to me. They put out some amazing records with 1984, Van Halen, Van Halen 2, and Women and Children First. How can anyone not listen to Running with the Devil and say that one of one the most kick ass songs ever!! I know a lot of people criticize Eddie for being a prick, which he is. But there is no doubt the man is a true guitar genius. He is one of the greatest rock guitarist of all time, there is no doubt in my mind about that. Alex is also one hell of a drummer. Who can not love the incredible bass rift of Michael Anthony, his rift are what makes Running with the Devil such a great song. They have had 2 totally different front man, and 2 great front man. DRL was the showman and Sammy was the laid back type. I do wish I got the chance to see VH with DLR in their heyday. Hopefully someday they can all get along, and get be able to get their honor together. I would have loved to seen them all perform at the inductions. A couple of songs with DLR and a couple with Sammy. But sadly that didn’t happen. Sammy and Michael did perform together, they did a great job, but it wasn’t the same. Velvet Revolver inducted them and performed a couple of their songs. I thought this would be really good. But I was very wrong. I was sad on how bad they were.
Have to say I was never a huge REM fan, do enjoy their music, but never a die hard fan. But looking back at their music, it is easy to see why they are in the Hall of Fame. They have but together one great body of work. They have been very influential on many artist over the last 25 years. Has it been 25 years since Radio Free Europe came out, man do I feel old! Their perform ace was really great do, also had Eddie Veder perform with them, have to say that was a great choice. He sounded like he had always been part of the band.
Have to congratulate all the inductees, all very well deserving.

Northeast Regional- Can the Cats scratch their way through?

2007-03-18T16:31:00.000-04:00

Well the NCAA tourney has been announced. The regional in Manchester work out this way. UNH does end up with the #1 seed, BC# gets #2, St. Lawrence gets #3, and Miami- Ohio gets the #4. So we have on Saturday UNH-Miami at 1, and BC-St. Lawrence at 4:30. Will be honest knowing nothing about Miami does scare me. I have seen all the other team in the region play this year. I am sure coach Umile has a good sense on what it will take to beat them. My first concern is to make sure everyone is healthy and focused. I am sure they will not be looking past Miami. I know Miami has lost a couple games in a row going into the tourney, but that might be a motivation for them. I will say UNH should be the favorite to move on. I think BC should beat St. Lawernece, I did see St. Lawrence back in Dec and didn’t come out of that game thinking they were that great. But that was a few months ago, and never know BC might be looking past them. But I see a UNH-BC final in the region. Lets hope the outcome is better then it was in Boston.

Some other thoughts on the NCAA brackets. Love to see that Denver bracket with Minnesota, Michigan and North Dakota. That will be one hell of a battle in the Rockies. Maine got very lucky with their draw, first of all not sure how they got the #3 seed in Rochester. Overall a good tourney with a lot of teams with the capability of winning the whole thing. My early feeling is that North Dakota will take it. Their heartbreaking lost in the WCHA finals last night, on a kind of fluky goal by Blake Wheeler might be the motivation they need. But my heart will be pulling for the cats!!
GO CATS

UNH-BC-Hockey East Championship- Playoff Game #4

2007-03-18T13:49:00.000-04:00

Well the Hockey East part of the season is over, and now its on to the big dance. The Cats ended that part of the season on a down note, losing in the championship game 5-2 to a very hot BC team. The Cats did come out flying and had some golden opportunities early in the first, Schneider made some great save for BC and UNH missed some open nets. This did come back to bit them in the behind. After about the first 5- 7 minutes with getting one of those grade A chances in the back of the net it seemed the energy went out of the Cats. Not sure how much the flu bug effected the team, heard most of the team has it. The first 2 lines seemed to play flat all weekend, with Hemmingway out again Saturday night. The third line I though played really well, especially Butler. He seemed to be everywhere all night, was glad to see him get another goal. Though I am a little upset he wasn’t named to the all tourney team. He was the best player, except for Regan, on the ice for the Cats all weekend. The second line seemed to be a step behind all night, especially Smith. Here is hoping everyone is 100% healthy next weekend. The 3rd goal were Regan got caught out of the net was ugly, but it seemed liked Regan though he had to carry the team at that point. It is hard to criticize him at that point with everything else he has done, without him they would have not been there. Have to give my congratulations to BC, they played a solid game and deserve the championship. Was impressed with Schneider in net. Though still think Boyle is the most overrated player I have seen.
So what is next? Well it looks like the Cats have held on to the #1 seed in their bracket for the NCAA. So looks like they will be playing the early game next Saturday in Manchester. Have Wisconsin to thank for that, they beat St. Cloud in the WCHA consolation game. We will find out this afternoon who they will play. Right it looks like Miami- Ohio. I have to be honest I know nothing about them this year, and that kind of scares me. But unlike last year I have confidence the Cats can beat anyone IF they come with their A game, and home ice will not hurt them. Also looks like BC will be in our bracket. I am sure the boys will love another shot at them to. We will find out this afternoon how it all works out. I will post something later about the brackets.
GO CATS!!!

UNH- UMass- Playoff game 3- The Butler did it!!!

2007-03-17T13:57:00.000-04:00

Well thanks to mother nature and her sick sense of humor I couldn’t make the trip down to Boston for the Hockey East semi-finals. Did start the trip down, but once I hit Hampton the roads were awful and saw a truck and a few cars off the road, so decided to turn around. But did get the see one hell of a game on TV. The Cats pulled out a 2 OT win 3-2. What a game! Brett Hemmingway was out of the game due to a stomach bug, this would actually work out for the Cats. Danny Rossman was inserted into the line up onto the 4th lie, with Bobby Butler moved to the 3rd line with Josh Ciocco put on the first line. As the norm Kevin Regan stood on his head, another 40+ save night, just another day at the office for Mr. Regan! The 3rd and 4th line came up HUGE last night. The third line had 2 goals (Collins, and Butler) and the 4th line had the other goal (Rossman) The Cats did come out flying in the first period, they were peppering Quick with shots. Collins was the first to break through with a hard fought goal, a great crashing the net goal. Have to say the second line skated hard in the first period and got some good chances , but Quick came up with some great saves for the Minutemen. The Minutemen tied the game up with a fluke goal that went off Flashians skate and past Regan. The Minutemen took the 2-1 lead early in the second on a defensive break down that lead to a Minutemen open in front of the net. Then stepped up Danny Rossman scoring his first collegiate goal late in the second. Until that point the Minutemen carried the play in the 2nd. After that goal the momentum switched to the Cats. The third period went back and forth with both goalies coming up huge. The first OT started with the Minutemen carried the play. Then the swings started to go back and forth, with Quick and Regan making some highlight reel saves, seemed all came with in a 90 second span. Then the Butler stepped up early in period #5 to put the Cats into the Hockey East finals. On a beautiful poke check by Collins to get the puck to Butler, he put a soft shot past Quick. Looks like the lack of speed might of confused Quick. Have to say was really impressed in the way the 3rd and 4th line played all night. Have to give the Minutemen a ton of credit, they played a great game and really used their trap to slow down the Cats for some long stretched of time. Of course made some spectacular saves for UMass. For the Cats being down one of their top scores I think they played well, in a match up that might not be in their favor. Hopefully they will be healthier in the Hockey East finals. I have heard that quite a few guys are under the weather.
So the Cats move on to play BC, who beat BU 5-2 in the other semi-finals. BC pretty much handled BU. BC is one of the hottest teams in the country right now, including 2 victories over UNH a few weeks ago. For the Cats to win the championship they will have to be on their A game all night, and have all 4 lines and all the D to step up, and of course have Regan play Regan hockey. At this point it is an uphill battle for the Cats. But not one they cant win. They have capability to beat BC. No matter what happens we know we will see the Cats in Manchester next weekend. Though a win tonight will give them a #1 seed there. So here is hoping for another good effort by the Cats and another W
GO CAT!!!!

RIP Brad Delp

2007-03-15T22:42:00.000-04:00

The world lost one of the great rock voices this week. Brad Delp the lead singer of Boston was found dead in his NH home. He died due to a suicide, as he said he was a “ lonely soul” It got me to thinking a little on little we really know the people we think we know. I have heard Delp on the morning radio show I listen to everyday. He is in studio every year to promote his other band Beatle Juice, a Beatles cover band. They do a show every year in Portsmouth to benefit a women shelter. He has always impressed me when he was on, he seems like a genuine nice guy. Everything I have heard about him back that up. So why would someone who is a genuine good guy take his own life? I guess that is something we will ever really have an answer for. To me it is a very tragic and sad thing. Many people will criticize Delp for the suicide, but who are we to judge when we do not know the full details. Sometimes people seem happy and carefree on the outside and aren’t always on the inside. I do wish the best for his family and fiancé.
So what did the world lose? To me a try vocalist. Listening to the all the Boston songs on the radio since last Friday it is not hard to appreciate the range and vocal talent he had. I have always appreciated Boston growing up, my brother use to listen to them guess that rubbed off on me. Even after almost 30 years those Boston songs do hold up. Someday they will be appreciated for what they were and get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rest in Peace Brad. It is true only the good doe young!!

UNH-UMass preview Semi-Finals!

2007-03-15T21:37:00.000-04:00

So Friday is the Hockey East semi-finals. Have in the first game UNH-UMass and followed by BC-BU in the 2nd game. Of course I am more interested in the UNH-UMass game. The Cats got to decide which game they play, one of the perks of winning the regular season title. UNH did get back on track in the quarterfinals with 2 shut wins over Providence. UMass is coming off 2 straight weekend of home games against Maine, 4 straight wins. So how is this game going to go? Well after my predication of a tight series with Providence not sure how well I can be trusted, but I will take a shot at it. Well UMass has a very stingy defense that will play a trap style and try to hold the Cats up in the neutral zone. UNH has had some luck with breaking the trap this year, Vermont plays the same type and UNH was 3-0 against them this year. Of course Mass has had success against UNH this year to, going 2-1 against the Cats. The first victory for the Minutemen was back in Oct and the other victory was in Amherst, the only shut out against UNH this year. In that game McFlicker and Ciocoo were both out for that game and Foster was in net for the Cats. UNH did win the middle game of the series at the Whitt, 5-1. UNH does have a better record on NHL size rinks. Both UNH and UMass play on larger ice surface. Though the smaller ice surface might help Mass slow down UNH’s offense in the neutral zone. I think the key for UNH, like is has been most of the year is to score the first goal. I think this will help them control the tempo of the game and open more offense for them. Of course that is easier said then done. Mass has a very tough goalie in Quick. He is one of the top goalies in the country. Of course UNH has one of the tops in Regan to, who I believe has been very much under appreciated nationally this year. So defensively I think UNH can match Mass defense, and goaltending. The advantage of offense goes to Unh that is very deep and have 3 line that can score. I do believe UNH needs to take advantage of any power play chances they get, and of course stay out of the box themselves. I think UNH has the capability to use their high power offense and take pretty low scoring game, I don’t see more then 5 goals combined in the game. My gut is telling me McFlicker will step up and have a big game. I think UNH will be extremely focused and will remember that 3-0 that Mass put on them in their last game. I also think they will be reminded of last year 9-2 loss in the Semi’s to BU.
In the second game, will make this short and sweet see BC taking that game, BU is not playing well and BC is, and has a lot more offense then BU. Of course weather depending if I stay for that game. Suppose to be snowing all night. At least I will be there for the UNH game, and here hoping for a return trip back down to Boston on Saturday night.
GO CATS!!!

Welcome to the party UAH!

2007-03-11T20:15:00.000-04:00

Well the fist team to each the NCAA hockey tourney was decided today. The University of Alabama- Huntsville won the CHA tourney today with a thrilling victory over Robert Morris in a 5-4 overtime game. I got to see this game on CSTV this afternoon, and have to say it was a really fun game to watch. Robert Morris grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first period. They scored 3 goals on their first 4 shots and drove the starting goal from the game. But the Chargers of UAH didn’t fold it in and quit. They chipped away and took advantage of some power plays early in the second and cut the lead down to 4-2. The were able to get the score 4-3 by then of the 2nd. All of this set a thrilling back and forth 3rd period. The Chargers were able to tie the game up in the 3rd to force OT, is there anything better then a overtime championship game? The OT was back and forth with both goalies coming up with some huge saves. Robert Morris did get a power play opportunity in the OT, but is was UAH who took advantage and scored the game winner on the short hand. It was a nice goal on a break away with the Chargers going hard to the net. All of this brought UAH to its first every tourney. Have to feel good for UAH coach, Doug Ross, he has been the coach of UAH for 25 years and announced this was his last. This was not his best year with a record of 13-19-3 and had to play in the play in game in the CHA tourney, which they came back from a 3-0 deficit. But his team never gave up and fought hard to earn their way to the dance. I am sure many people will criticize them because of their losing record, but they did earn their way and deserve to be there. As Holy Cross showed us last year anything can happen.
Congrats UAH and best of luck, unless you get UNH in the first roundJ

UNH-Providence- Playoff game 2- Onto the Boston!!!

2007-03-10T10:17:00.000-05:00

Well to anyone who was concerned about how the Cats would step up for the playoffs, I am hoping the 2 shut out game sweep of Providence (4-0, 6-0) help make you believe again. I do understand why some people were concerned going into the playoffs. But the Cats did respond to there late season let down with 120 minutes of solid hockey, and neither game was ever in doubt. The 2 shut outs for Regan were nice to see, had a total of 82 saves for the weekend. Though only had to come up with a few big saves, probably had more Friday night as Providence came out and played hard and made some better chances for themselves. Have to give the UNH’s D a lot of credit to. They forced the Friars to take a lot of shots form the out side and really played some tight D in front of the net. Can count the mistakes by the D for both games on 1 hand, they really stepped it up for the series. What can be said about the offense, they didn’t have a lot of shots on net in the 2 games, but have to say a high percentage of them were very quality shots. The moved the puck around good all series and really set up the back door shot by forcing the Friars to play to one side of the ice then hit the good pass to the guy sitting on the back door. Seemed to also have quite a few break outs Friday night, which came from aggressive checking. Also was very impressed with the play along the boards, seemed UNH was winning the battle for the puck along the boards. The scoring was also very balanced as every line scored over the weekend. Was happy to see Fortney get 2 goals Friday night. The thing that probably impressed me the most was the physical play, especially on Friday night. Was happy to see Charblois and Fornataro step up for the teammates. Both got right after 2 Friars players who took a few cheap shoots on the Cats. It did lead to a could of 4 minute power plays, as Gravellese totally missed the Providence penalties, but it showed the Friars, and everyone else, that the Cats would not be pushed around. To me that is huge in playoff hockey. Overall a great 2 games for the Cats, their best 2 games in a couple of month. Not sure who they will play next Friday, but 99% sure it will be the 5pm game. We will find out Saturday or Sunday who they will face, either Vermont, Umass or Maine, at this point have no favor to choice from that bunch.
So here are my 3 stars for the weekend.
1) Regan- 82 saves, 2 shut outs
2) Radja- 5 assist on the 10 goals
3) Fortney- 2 goals, McFlicker- 1 goal and 3 assist

UNH-Providence- Play Off Game 1

2007-03-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

Well seems the real UNH team showed up tonight, a solid 4-0 win. A very well balanced team effort tonight. The team came out firing on all cylinders tonight. It seems had to believe Providence out shot the Cats 42- 26. I honestly don’t think Providence had that many shots on net, if they did they were not quality shots. Out of the 26 shots UNH got have to say most were quality shots. I do have to say I was kind of right when I said the second line would step up. The Smith line started tonight which left the McFlicker line to be the #2 line, they had 7 points and plus 9, not a shabby night. Was impressed with the D tonight, they didn’t come in to often on offense like they had been, they played a very discipline game. The were so much hustle going on tonight from the forwards, Collins, Fortney, McFlicker and especially Pollastrone were flying tonight. Pollastrone seemed to flying by everyone tonight. Regan was solid in net tonight, good to see him get the shut out. Didn’t have to make many big saves, been when he had to he did, and let up very few rebounds all night.
So what can we expect Friday night? I believe the team will come out flying again. I believe they will come out with a killer instinct and wanting to put Providence away. Of course Providence will not lie down, I see them trying to get more quality shots and tightening up their defense. If UNH can come out and get an early lead it will make Providence play with some desperation, and might lead to more offensive chances.
Here is hoping for another solid 60 minutes and putting Providence behind up and moving onto the Fleet.

Friday Night Lights Update

2007-03-08T09:21:00.000-05:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17472507/
Found this great article about Friday Night Lights. I know I posted on here about Friday Night Lights before, still trying to spread the word. Take a look at the article, and watch the show!!

Some of Q's top 10!!

2007-03-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

Thought I would throw together a few list, these are not necessarily the best over all, but the Q’s favorites.

Q’s Top 10 TV Shows
1-MASH
2-The West Wing
3-Soap
4-The Simpson’s
5- Arrested Development
6-Sports Night
7-Greg the Bunny
8- Rescue Me
9- Jeopardy
10- Futarama
Q’s Top 10 Movies
1-Grosse Point Blank
2- Gladiator
3- The Jerk
4- Slapshot
5- Spaceballs
6- Office Space
7-Training Day
8- Munich
9- The Royal Tennenbauns
10- TAPS
Q’s Top 10 Music Artist
1-Nirvana
2- Social Distortion
3- Bruce Springsteen
4-Queen
5-Van Halen
6- Led Zeppelin
7- Barenaked Ladies
8-Metalica
9- AC/DC
10- Stevie Wonder
Q’s Top 10 Athletes
1-Bobby Orr
2- Magic Johnson
3- Rick Middelton
4- Rob Woodson
5- Roger Clemens
6- John Olerud
7- Edwin Moses
8- Mario Lemieux
9- Marvin Hagler
10- Mark Mowers

Its Playoff time!! GO CATS!!!!

2007-03-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

Well we have reached the most wonderful time of the year, the college hockey playoffs. What has happened since October has no real effect on what is going to happen. Now is the time when we see what a team is made of. So what can we expect from UNH? Well I know there are many people who are down on them right after losing 3 games in a row going into the playoffs, of course that 7-1 debacle in Providence jumps out at everyone. This last weekend they dropped 2 to BC, who is very hot right now. I was not upset with the way they played Friday night, didn’t see the game Saturday night. I am not going to be one of the many people I have seen who are ready to jump of the bandwagon. I still believe this team has the talent and heart to win. I think there was a natural little let down after clinching the regular season title. I look at the way the St. Louis Cardinals ended the baseball season, they played awful at the end of the season and barely made the playoffs, and went on to win the World Series. Every one was saying how bad the Colts played at the end of the NFL season, and ended up winning the Super Bowl. Also Denver faltered down the stretch a couple of season ago, and even losing in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, and went on to win the National Championship. So now is the time to put the hic-cup at the end of the regular season and move on to the real season. So how do I see the series against Providence going? I do believe it will be hard fought series, but in the end I see UNH coming out on top. I believe the 7-1 butt kicking they received at the hands of the Friars will serve as extra motivations for the Cats. I see the D tightening up more then they have been. Here’s hoping Murray and Flashains start to get back to the way they were playing a month ago. I see the Cats coming out firing Thursday night. I see the offense opening more then it has been the last couple of games. Have this feeling the second line will finally start to put the puck in the net again. I see the senior leadership stepping it up this week in practice and leading the team to the Fleet Center next weekend. I am sure the boys are more focused then they have been the last couple of weeks. So here is the Cats taking the 2 games they need this weekend to move on.

What's in Q's bag, his mail bag!!!

2007-03-04T17:42:00.000-05:00

Well I am going to do something a little different in this post, going to answer some emails that come into the Q inbox

Q, I was wondering how can I be as great as you?
Mike, St. Louis MO.

Mike, I have had many people ask this very same question. Being as great as the Q is very hard work, and take great dedication. First you will have to get up extremely early every day to read everything, because we all know the Q knows everything. You will have to be prepared for everyone to want a piece of you, as they know you will have the answer to all their questions. This is only a tip of the iceberg to reach the greatness of Q. But work on this for a few years. After that get back in touch with me, and I will give you the next step on your path to Q-ness. Best of luck Mike, and remember the Q is with you.

Almighty Q, Justin Timberlake claims he is bringing sexy back, could this be true?
Amanda, Anchorage Alaska.

Well Amanda I think everyone has heard Mr. Timberlake make this claim. With all due respect to Timberlake, sexy never left. It has been alive and kicking since the glorious day in December of 1972, when the world was graced with arrival of Q. That is day when sexy was truly born. So to say he is bringing sexy back, means it had gone away, and we all know sexy will always be here as long as the Q is here.

With all this noise all ready about the 08 election, who is the Q leaning towards throwing his support behind?
Loyal Q follower, Syracuse, NY

I have all ready had my campaigns looking for an endorsement from Q, both republicans and democrats. I think all of these campaigns realize just how important an endorsement from Q would be for them. I have explained to everyone who has called the Q thinks it is way to early to be making an endorsement, and the Q has not ruled out a run himself. Really what could be better then Q running the country? We all know if the Q gets in the race, it is game, set, match. So keep an eye out for a possible announcement later this summer.

Almighty Q, how do you stay so humble, while being so great?
Mickey, London UK

Well Mickey it is great getting some questions from across the pond. Well there is a fine line between being great, and acting like you are above everyone. The Q is a every man kind of man. The Q knows how great he is, but he is also man of the people. The Q loves everyone, and of course everyone loves the Q. Keep the faith Mickey

This is my first journey into the world of Q, and have to say I am enjoying the ride so far, so what does the Q stand for?
Big Bill, Santa Fe, NM

First of all Big Bill, welcome to the world of Q, hope you enjoy the ride and remember to keep your hands in the windows at all times. Well the Q stands for one thing, that is Quality, quality is every aspect of life. The followers of Q strive for quality through out their life. But finding the Q, you have taken the first step to quality. Stay of the path to Q-ness, and best of luck Big Bill.

Movies that make the Q go hmmmmmmmmm!!

2007-03-03T23:36:00.000-05:00

Well just finished listening to a UNH game on the radio, a 4-2 loss at BC L. Flipping around the TV to see what was on to try to cheer me up and came across Gladiator. This is a movie that if is on I will stop and watch, god only knows how many time I have seen it, but it still peaks my interest. Got me to thinking what movies makes me stop to watch, had a couple on today. So decided to make a list. There is no rhyme or reason to the list its just the Q’s list. So here we go
Gladiator
The Insider- Al Pacino and Russell Crowe in the same movie, WOW!!
Mystery Alaska- A little love for Russell Crowe
Miracle
Miracle on Ice- 1981 version on 1980 Olympics, who can say no to Karl Malden and Steve Gutenberg in the same movie?
Dodgeball
Slapshot- DUH!!!
Spaceballs
The Royal Tennabauns
Any Star War
Rocky- 1, 2 or 4
Smokey and the Bandit- 1, not 2 or 3
Stoker Ace- Not sure why the Burt Reynolds run.
Back to the Future- 1 or 2, not a big fan of 3
Cool Runnings
Canada Bacon
Stripes- Got to love the John Candy run there!! Miss you, you great Canadian
Old School
Caddyshack- 1 not 2.
Funny Farm- a Chevy Chase run
Training Day- Denzel Washington was AMAZING in it!
Taps- Tom Cruise, Sean Penn and Timothy Hutton together when they are young
Mystery Science Theater 3000- The one with movie Mitchell, CLASSIC
Baseketball
Munich
One Day in September- A documentary about Munich
Hosiers
Stalig 17- Great old WW II movie, a drama that lead to Hogan’s Hero some how
The Last Waltz- Great music from The Band
Office Space- CLASSIC!!! I have that fax machine at work

UNH-BC round 2- and there ends the Regular Season

2007-03-03T22:16:00.000-05:00

Well a hard fought 4-2 loss tonight. They did play well over all. Just not getting any puck luck. Ciocoo was out tonight and Regan was also given the night off, so didn’t play with a full team all weekend, not an excuse just reality. I am not going to dwell on the last week, not the best timing for a let down, but they do happen. Overall played all right this weekend, can play better though. I said on USCHO nothing is won or lost this weekend for the Cats. The real season begins at practice on Monday. There are things they need to focus on, things they were doing earlier in the year. Need to work on getting the lose pucks in front of the net and getting rebounds in. Sometimes they try to get to fancy and make the extra pass. Also need to get back to the physicality they had earlier in the year. They are trying to steal the puck from people, just need to hit them and out work them along the boards.
I would be lying if I said I am not a little concerned. But I know this team is very capable of getting hot and going on a run. I haven’t been able to say that the last couple of year. At this point can lose a game to anyone, or can go out and win 8 in a row. I would rather have that then last year when I think everyone knew they weren’t going to win anything. This 3 game losing streak take the target off them to, which might not be a bad thing. Here is to hoping the team works hard this week and comes out balls to the wall Thursday night.Keep the faith Cat fans!!!