swankymodes

The Flyers only playing one game a week hasn't helped my fantasy team too much. Gaborik has been a heaven sent so far though. I've got Kiprusoff too and he's been stinking. Same with Khabibulin. Basically my fantasy goaltending sucks.

There was plenty of hitting back then and lots of injuries. Old time hockey was insane. But I believe all the big, protective pads are part of the problem. Yes they do protect, but in another way they make players feel tougher. They can hit way harder without feeling the effects. Checking really does hurt both players (usually one more than the other). Not to mention, I think athletes today are just bigger, faster and stronger than before. That might not be true across the board, but I think generally it is. I'm sure money, contracts and getting your face on tv in some sport highlight reel has a lot to do with it as well.

So generalizations about people's experiences and understanding only work in one direction? I made no comment about your specific experiences or lack thereof. I'm in total agreement with McKenzie, honestly, that hits to the head can be legislated effectively without eliminating hitting. And, honestly, I was specifically making the comment that, while you might not intend to come off like a machismo blockhead - as you're not one, your arguments are the same those who are, use. You can't get hyperbolic about the idea that legislating hits to the head is going to lead some kind of hitless NHL. That's the same shit the people who want to blame those with their head's down for being injured say. Haha, you are such bullshit. Do you even read anything that people post on here? Do you even read what you post on here? I didn't get hyperbolic about a hitless NHL. I asked you four specific questions, what you would do to stop it? banning checking? banning open ice checking? and banning checking players with their heads down? You continue to read so much shit into everything. As for generalizations, you made the generalization that I don't care about hits to the head. So I'm really not sure what you are trying to say? I think I've addressed everything you've written while you've generalized everything I have.

I like how you sneak it in that I don't worry about head hits. Nobody will say Sammy isn't consistent with his bullshit, that's for sure. I've suffered two serious head injuries (concussions) from playing hockey. So thanks but no thanks for your ignorance about me not caring about head hits in hockey. You should save your posts in this thread for talk about the LA Kings and their minor league teams, because it seems to be the only thing you know jack shit about.

Fixed. I'm not that familiar with Bob McKenzie as a writer, but the blog was pretty good and I agree with his points. I guess I don't see the connection between the hits that he talks about and the Richards/Booth check.

It's a joke because your argument takes place in your imagination. You place false motives to my points when you put words in my mouth like "deserve" and "fault." You try to make it out like I'm protecting some "machismo" attitude when I've said nothing of the sort. You seem to know exactly what Mike Richards was thinking when he put that vicious, dirty body check on poor, helpless Booth. That's why it's a joke. More serious head injuries (and deaths) in hockey have been the result of being hit with a puck than anything else. Maybe the league should look into that first. Get rid of all shots above the waist. That sure would make hockey fun. For the record, the same number of players have died as a result of on-ice injuries in the OHL as in the NHL. And the OHL is about sixty years younger. So it's not some magic oasis of clean, free hockey. I think the NHL has done a good job of protecting their players with rules and equipment regulations without destroying the game play.

You're argument is a joke. Seriously.

Nobody said anything about players deserving to be knocked cold. I don't know where you got that either. The argument is the BEST way to prevent it, is to not put yourself in the situation and protect yourself. As for the Richards hit, it's unfortunate that Booth got hurt. But the fact is Richards didn't target his head. He didn't raise his hands, elbow or even his shoulder for that matter. It was a clean body check. I'd love to see your mystical hockey league where guys getting undercut with hip checks (like Scuderi did, which resulted in an injury AND a fine by the league) instead of body checks doesn't result in an increase in head injuries from heads hitting the ice and a big increase in serious knee injuries.

You made my point for me by saying the only difference is one is a penalty and one is not. I have no interest in removing checking from the game. Its a silly argument used too often that removal of checking to the head or staged fighting means less of a "manly" game. Hitting people in the head is an attempt to cause more bodily harm than necessary and it needs to go away. What happens when someone loses their life because of a hit like that? Its not too far off and its not hard to imagine. Your helmet falls off, you crack your skull, its not necessary to make hockey what it is and its just ridiculous. This whole argument of "you need to keep your head up" is just machismo. Its dumb. I never made the argument that hockey would be less "manly" so don't put that crap on me. I'd love to see hockey eliminate serious injuries and I think that getting rid of staged fighting was great for the game. I'm wondering though, because I can't understand how you want to eliminate hits to the head, how do you propose this stops? Would any player with his head down get a free pass from body checks? Because that sounds kind of like banning checking and rewarding people for bad play. Also, I'm not sure if you've ever played hockey, but the "keeping your head" up argument isn't "dumb" or "machismo" as you say. It's hockey 101. You're a better player with your head up. You see the ice and the play better, and yes, you can keep yourself from getting blindsided.

Well, it's actually not the same deal. Checking someone in the back when they are facing the boards (from a certain distance) is a penalty, checking someone skating with their head down is not a penalty. You get rid of the boarding penalty and I guarantee you see that play in hockey a million more times. Guys don't not do it because of the goodness in their heart, they don't do it because it's a penalty. You put yourself in danger by skating with your head down. It's not dirty or illegal to check these people. Opportunistic, maybe, but not dirty. Hell, Scott Stevens based a hall of fame career on this kind of hit. Really, what option do you have? Ban checking? Ban open ice checking? Maybe ban checking of skaters with their heads down, haha?

I haven't checked the Fest schedule, but if I make it over to the OP show, I'll grab you a copy.

I've got to take my laptop for work reasons. Other than that, it's the bare essentials. Lots of cash, I'll buy the aspirin in Gainesville.

An elbow is different from a shoulder because you have to actually raise your elbow up to head level to hit it. That shows intent. With a shoulder, you can't really raise your shoulder to head level. If someone gets a shoulder to the face, it's because their head was down. You can't blame the checker for the other guy skating with his head down.

Mike Rupp is the man! He went to high school with a few of my cousin's in the Cleveland area. Part of me was actually rooting for the Devils his rookie year when he won the cup. I played with him in a pick up game before he got into the NHL. He was probably playing at 10% effort and just schooling everyone. He's actually one of three NHL'ers I've played with or against. Two of them are currently Pens (Rupp and Mark Eaton).

Woah, don't know when this went up, but thanks for the heads up! Ordered.

PM'd

All PMs replied too. Thanks.

bump

So you're buying back a gift to your ex??? That's fucked up. If he didn't give them back, I wouldn't buy them based on principle.

I've never dated anyone that listened to the same music as me, let alone collected records. But I've definitely re-bought records that I sold or traded in the past. It feels like I'm wasting money when I do it. I appreciate the English language too much to hope internet speak/shorthand makes it into our vernacular any more than it has. 'Fail' is one of my least favorite words, especially when it's used as a single word sentence.

You can basically cut-and-paste this for the Flyers replacing Huet with Emery.

I went to this tour in Cleveland. Awesome show. The other band was Challenger, who I loved. Breather Resist did some shows on the tour too, but not the date I was at. Shame this is on the wrong coast. From Ashes Rise was an amazing band.

Who do I contact about problems with Vinyl Collective orders? I've placed four orders recently and there have been problems with each one and I've gotten no replies. Thanks.

No kidding... and the dude is still coaching juniors in Europe. WTF???

"the direct result of my being abused was that I became a f---ing raging, alcoholic lunatic," http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4545993