Good day Rioters, it's Chris with another edition of Quick Takes. We are going to change things up a little with a format change of sorts. In the past this segment was used as a forum for me to sound off on topics on and off the field, sports and non sports related, and couple 5 or 6 topics in one posting. I found myself becoming long winded in these so-called quick takes, and decided to post those longer thoughts as individual articles, and make "Quick Takes," just that. So here we go, the first true Quick Takes.Shaq retires
Is he still playing? I've been hearing his name on and off for the past 2 or 3 years, but I just thought they were waxing poetically about the past, or I made it up. Apparently he played for the Celtics this past season, the Cavs last year, and he was a Sun for 2 years. Really? What happened? So I looked up some stats and low and behold, he did play this very postseason. He played 12 minutes for the Celts with 2 points, 1 assist and 1 steal. Shaq-fu, no more, yuck. All kidding aside, we know how dominant Shaq was in his prime. As recently as 08-09 in Phoenix he put up solid numbers (17pts, 8 rebs p/game). But it is never fun to watch a dominant superstar such as Shaq just fade away as he has. His retirement being a blurb on Sportscenter, and not a triumphant final tour through the league is a direct result of the times we live in. Free Agency has created this. The fact that Shaq is not with the Magic, or the Lakers, or the Heat is just sad, and is the reason why very few people noticed today when Shaq announced he may officially retire. What fan base cares? Fans care about the team they root for, not the players. This is why the Yankees went to the monetary lengths they did to keep Derek Jeter, who is currently hitting .264 with 16 RBI, at $17 million per season. Shaq would end his career with 4 championship rings, a 3 time Finals MVP, a League MVP (2000), a Rookie of the Year (1993), a 15 time all-star, a 2 time scoring champ and he will leave the game as arguably a top 5 all time player and a sure Hall of Famer. Shaq will be missed, sort of. I mean we all know he'll be around. The NBA's best personality will be at the very least an analyst if not have a comedy show because he's funny as shit. And boy what a good actor, who could forget "Shaq-Fu" or "Blue Chips" where he played.....a basketball player with an attitude; there's a stretch.
Stanley Cup Finals start......
........and nobody cares. I mentioned this a few weeks back and I will say it again, hockey has fallen out of the "4 Major Sports" category into the ESPN 2 category. Not even, because they aren't even on there. The good news is attendance at the arenas is way up, and buzz for the league online and amongst fans is great. The NHL has come full circle. I think the franchise moving out of Atlanta, Phoenix hanging on by a thread and God knows no one in Florida is watching hockey, are all signals that the NHL is returning to the cult status it used to have. Back when only REAL fans watched hockey, and it was a regional thing. There were no nationally televised NHL games back in the early to mid 80's. It wasn't until 1985 when ESPN took over the broadcasting rights from USA network, and began showing NHL games weekly, that hockey became part of the National sports map. Don't get me wrong, it was great when the NHL was in it's TV ratings golden era. From 1992 to maybe 2000, the NHL was indeed in the "Major 4" conversation. They had just as much pull as the NBA, especially when the Rangers were great. From 2000 to 2004 it wained a bit, and then the lockout ruined everything as it often does. So now with a crap cable deal, and an even worse network deal, (I believe NBC would preempt the NHL game of the week for a mild snow storm if they could) the NHL has relied on regional cable broadcasts and in house attendance to drive their sport, and it works. Supposedly most of the NHL franchises are doing OK, and those who aren't (Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa) have no market and should be moved to more viable areas. I remember when I was a kid, watching hockey on MSG (it wasn't "network" back then) and local Boston and Long Island affiliates, and that was it. I have to tell you, that I always preferred watching the Rangers during the playoffs on my local channel, rather than ESPN or whatever national network was carrying it. It had a hometown feel to it, and I think that's what the NHL should focus on. Also if they focus on being a regional sport, and having more of a "cult" following, the fighting doesn't ever have to stop. And you know my motto....FIGHT! (that's it really, I teach it to my kids)I've called them all dummies over the past few years, and I still think they are, but not going after a huge cable deal, or let me rephrase, not being able to get a huge cable deal has brought the NHL back to where it belongs....home.
Another note
So thinking about the regional "cult" nature of the NHL brought up a memory I would like to share. I'm not sure if this only happened in NY, but do you remember when MSG (Madison Square Garden channel) used to show the WWF live? The World Wrestling Federation LIVE! On TV! Every month, live from MSG would be Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, LIVE! I don't know if I'm getting my point across here, IT WAS LIVE! This is unheard of these days. I haven't watched wrestling in easily 15 years, but even 15 years ago it was very produced, and it was more like watching a well thought out play rather a sporting event. Back in the 80's, they talked, but it was like going up to Patrick Ewing during halftime and asking him about the Nets defensive scheme that night, not an involved drama involving girlfriends and wives, and shit blowing up under the building. Ok, maybe it was more like going up to Ewing on crack, but still, you get the point. I know they do a "Live" show every week, but it was different. IDK, it's just a cool memory.
I'm stunned by this "Worldwide Leader in Sports" and their obsession with the NFL. I understand you have Monday Night Football. I understand it's the countries most popular sport by far. I also get the 24 hour a day programming dilemma that arises everyday for ESPN. But why in the world, at 4pm on a Wednesday is a one hour show about the NFL on my TV. WHY? They've been running season predictions with analysts on ESPN 2's "First Take" every morning since the Super Bowl ended, they did two-a-day's on Mike and Mike in the morning on both TV and radio, and now this one hour show where they droned on about each teams practices and what news came out of that. WHY? We are not even sure that there will be a season in 2011; it's not looking good. What are we going to do, prepare for if there is a season? Here's the worst part....I F$%KING WATCHED IT! After 45 minutes I said to myself "why am I watching this?" Holy crap, stop with the NFL already. It is popular enough ESPN, they don't need your help.
Get Him to the Greek vastly underrated
So I finally saw "Get Him to the Greek," and I won't bore you with a full out review, but I will say that I think Sean "Puffy" Combs needs to do more movies. I expected the movie to be funny with Jonah Hill and Russell Brand, but Puffy stole the movie. He was in the movie for roughly 15 minutes, but it had me rolling, a definite recommend on my end.
So here's a take for you, does anyone really care about this shit? Why are people so upset over the trading of tattoos for memorabilia? Is this really a problem? Now let me say this, I do feel that Jim Tressel got everything that was coming to him. If you are a grown man, and you know the rules and you break them, you should go down. Especially if you did it defiantly. Tressel has been covering for these guys since '02 apparently. Now I'm guessing two things entered into his thinking. The first being that these are dumb rules, and my players deserve something for being the face of a sport, so let them get there tats, no big deal; which I happen to agree with, pay them something for God sake. The second is probably along the lines of "I'm Jim Tressel, and they can't touch me. I've won so many games that THE Ohio State University would go to the mat for me." Wrong there Jimbo, wrong big time. So what happens to Tressel now? My guess is his fate will be in DIII somewhere, you?
Now as far as the kids involved, I can't fault them at all. Imagine a fresh faced 18 year old Chris Riot! walking around a small city with the whole town treating him like a hero, and then going back to his shitty little dorm room with a roommate that smells like moth balls and talks to his feet on a Saturday night, and eats Cap'N Crunch out of a Tupperware bowl with a plastic spoon. If someone offered fresh-faced 18 year old Chris Riot! a Jag to borrow for 3 days just because he's a bad ass football player you bet your ass he would take it, and probably more. You can't expect a kid with the world at his feet to react morally and responsibly in that situation. He will fail 95% of the time.
Riot! Math
It's time once again for a real look into the brain of The Sports Riot! It's Riot! math, where the equation doesn't quite add up in the real world, but they make perfect sense to us.
1) Atlanta Thrashers + 200 fans @ a "save the Thrashers rally" = The ATL Sucks
2) The ATL sucks + Empty stadium in Winnipeg since '93 = celebration in Winnipeg
3) LeBron in Miami + Title in 1st year = very long lockout in '12
4) free tats - BCS bowl rings and jerseys + a cover up = the end of a career
5) free tats - BCS bowl rings and jerseys - Tressel = Maurice Clarett Part 2
As suggested by Jay via text message while I was writing this, I decided to "Quick Take" a Top 5. I just hope worlds don't collide and we all make it out of the vortex alive. Here we go.
Top 5 Winnipeg Jets of all-time
5- Teemu Selanne (NHL '92-'96) "Team Teemu" became a familiar phrase in the mid-'90's whenever the Jets came to town. They were an explosive offensive hockey team behind Selanne who announced his arrival to the NHL in his rookie season shattering Mike Bossy's rookie scoring record by putting up 76 goals (Bossy's record was 53). That rookie season netted him a Calder Trophy for rookie of the year and made him one of only 8 players in the history of the NHL to score 70 goals in one season; all in his first year. Although he never quite lived up to that rookie season in Winnipeg, he did put up nearly 150 goals in one full and 3 injury plagued and strike shortened seasons. He was traded to The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim after the lockout season in '95, but for those 3 seasons, he provided alot of excitement and promise to the Winnipeg faithful.
4- Anders Hedberg - (WHA '74-'78) As part of "The Hot Line" along side of Bobby Hull and Ulf Nilsson, Anders Hedberg was a tremendous talent. Very instrumental in 2 AVCO cups, Hedberg is every bit a part of the Jets heritage even though he never donned the purple-ish blue and red in the NHL. By the time Winnipeg jumped ship for the NHL, Hedberg had signed with the New York Rangers. Hedberg put up 458 points in 4 seasons in Winnipeg with 236 goals; 70 of those in one season. He was part of "The Hot Line" which was considered one of the best of the '70's in both the WHA and the NHL.
3- Bobby Hull - (WHA '72-79) How could this legend not make the list. Even though he only played in 18 games in the NHL as a Winnipeg Jet, he perhaps made it possible for the Jets to become an NHL franchise in the first place. In 1972, Bobby Hull joked in an interview about signing with the Jets for a million dollars. Back in '72, that was AROD money. Of course it was widely considered a joke by the NHL and the Blackhawks, but it shouldn't have been considering he was vastly underpaid for being the league's biggest star. The WHA owners did something that I don't think will ever be duplicated, they all made contributions to the Jets so that they could sign Hull for the one million he was asking for. The idea was that Bobby Hull brings the league, not just the Jets, instant credibility. Well, they offered, he signed and 7 years later the Jets were an NHL franchise. Oh, his performance was "Hull" like as well with 303 goals, and 2 AVCO cups in 7 seasons with the Jets.
2- Tomas Steen - (NHL '81-'95) Arguably the most popular player in Jets history, Steen was the consummate play maker. Always thinking of his teammates, Steen was everything but selfish as a player; his 553 assists are a testament to that. Never possessing gaudy numbers, Steen always seemed to fly under the radar. He was always polite to fans, and thoughtful when answering interview questions. In a 1990 poll of NHL players, Steen was voted as the leagues most underrated player. With his personality, and unselfish playing style, I'm sure being the most underrated suited Steen. His number is one of only two that were retired by the Jets. His number still hangs in the Jobing.com arena where the relocated Winnipeg Jets (now known as the Phoenix Coyotes) reside.
1- Dale Hawerchuck - (NHL '81-'90) Dale Hawerchuck was a star the second he was selected 1st overall in the 1981 entry draft. Hawerchuck led the Jets to what was at the time the single greatest turnaround in one season (48 points). Dale also became at the time, the youngest player to reach the 100 point plateau (since broken by Sidney Crosby in 2006) and made the All-Star team. All in all in a Jets jersey, Hawerchuck recorded six 100+ point seasons, and two 90+ point seasons in his storied 10 year stay in Winnipeg. Dale was traded to Buffalo during the 1990 draft which sent Phil Housley and eventually Keith Tkachuk with the Buffalo draft pick, to the Jets. That trade albeit rough on the fan base, set the franchise up for years to come. Dale Hawerchuck was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 2001 and retired 17th on the all-time points list with 1409 points. A mark of a players greatness can best be told by what their peers think of their performance. During the mid-80's, the peak of Hawerchuck's career, a poll was taken of NHL General Managers asking them which player they would want to start a franchise with. Hawerchuck placed 3rd in that poll. Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey were 1st and 2nd, that's good company.
Winnipeg has a storied history, from it's players to it's fans and the famed "white out," they are deserving of there team back. We here at The Riot! are big supporters of the Jets and will be from now on 'eh.
And Finally....
So since I'm kinda living in the past, let me end on this, do you get upset or pissed off when you hear or see something that you once loved, and realize that it's just shit. This happened to me this morning when HBO showed Wayne's World 1 and 2 back to back. I have young children, so I'm up early, and it was on, so I watched. Now before I go any further I believe that the first installment of Wayne's World is a great movie and defines what was happening in comedy and music at that time. I was in 10th grade, and that movie is etched in my mind forever. But WOW, the 2nd movie sucks, and sucks badly. It might as well have been a really bad version of the first movie, because it's all basically the same. Nerdy rock guy loves hot musician chick. She is courted by a rich, good looking man. Nerdy guy gets jealous, and it blows up in his face. He then has a melt down, leaves his friend in a lurch, fixes it, goes and gets his girl, and then returns triumphantly to a hero's welcome and a rock party ensues. Was that part one or part two? Answer: BOTH! SAME F$%ING MOVIE TWICE! Even the ending which was funny the first time with the three different endings, they did the same thing again in the 2nd one. Now here's the real kicker, I loved Wayne's World 2 when I first saw it. What a dick I am for liking that shit. So then I started thinking more about Mike Myers, because when I get annoyed at something, I blow the whole shit up. Wayne's World 2 was where Mike Myers became a whore. Look at the rest of the drek he has put out over the years. It's one flaming pile after another. With the exception of the first "Austin Powers", and brief cameos in "Mystery, Alaska" and "Inglorious Basterds" he hasn't made a decent live action flick since "So I Married an Axe Murderer;" which was before WW2. The "Shrek" movies are good, and thank God for those, because they have stopped him from forcing "The Love Guru 2" on us; or "Austin Powers: Shagadelic Baby! 2012".<yuck> Everytime I see Austin Powers now, I want to punch a puppy, that's how angry I get. I read somewhere that he is going to play Keith Moon in a biopic about the influential drummer from The Who. Well, this may gain some credability for him, because "Fat Bastard" is no longer doing it. Let me say this though, if he makes Keith Moon look stupid, I'm may punch a whole litter of puppies, so Mike the pressures on. Either make this movie good, or the Beagle gets it.
No comments:
Post a Comment