February 13th, 2007 - Canes vs. Kings: Random Musings and Observations

No, I haven't disappeared...just been a little busy over the last couple of days. The Week In Review for both last week and this week will be posted this upcoming Sunday or Monday.

- This was a boring game...yeah, the Canes dethroned the Kings*, but they didn't stop me from checking on my Heels and Dr. House every five-ten minutes or so.

- *sighs* So...my Heels can beat Dook in Cameron Indoor Stadium, but can't beat the highly mediocre Wolfpack** or the so-so Snack Cakes***? The ACC AND NCAA tournaments are already shaping up to be veeeeeery interesting for my sky blue boys.

- Even the West Coast ads were boring.

- Hope Wallin and Whitney are ok...at least Whitney returned in the second period.

Current Music: "Massachusetts" by The BeeGees

* - THANK YOU CANES for finally getting rid of the creepy "Brindy! Brindy! Brindy!" commercial...despite the corny phrases the new ones sport. ("The Canes Will Dethrone The Kings" and "The Lights Will Go Down On Broadway" (New York Rangers) )

** - I *will* give the Pack credit in at least one regard...if there is any and one game they get up for, it is the UNC game. Something many forget, especially with all of the Dook hype, is that UNC/NC State was THE rivalry for sometime, particularly the 60's-70's, when Dook was not all that and a bag of chips at hoops. ESPECIALLY during the 70's, when Bucky Waters was coach at Dook.

*** - For those who may have forgotten, back during the 2004-05 season, Sean May was asked what he thought a (Virginia Tech) Hokie was. His answer? "Um...a snack cake?"

For the real story behind the Hokies nickname(s), click here.

December 19th, 2006 - Canes @ Flyers: Random Musings and Observations

- Y'know, the Grinch in me *really* wants to gripe about how the Canes should have pulverized the Eastern Conference worst Flyboys. BUT, on the other hand, the angel in me wants to just say that hey, the Canes got two points, and that's better than no points at all.

- John and Tripp AND FSN South...I may not get your feed all the time, no thanks to DirecTV and their version of Center Ice. But I've watched your feed enough over the last season and a third to know that it is absolutely no shock what-so-ever when you get Peter Laviolette to take two-three minutes out for his beginning of the second period "fireside chat". So that said, stop acting like you barely got Pete to stop and address us Caniacs on the current issues he (supposedly) went over with the Canes in the locker room.

And let's not even get into why the heck Kevin "Kato" McCarthy is doing "fireside chats" at the beginning of the third period... o_O

- Did John and Tripp switch bodies? Here I was all ready to hear Tripp drool over Philly's finest steak and cheese...and instead, it was John doing that!! o_O

I *had* to make sure Rod Serling didn't magically appear in my room or on the TV screen...

- Speaking of the Canes staffers...very, VERY GLAD to see Chris Huffine and his day with Lord Stanley get acknowledged during tonight's game. As I have noted somewhat constantly, I somewhat knew Chris when I lived in Raleigh/Wake Forest, thanks to his wife(!! It's VERY belated, but CONGRATULATIONS on the marriage, Chris!!) who work(ed?) as a receptionist for my family chiropractor. And he is every bit the wonderful person they make him out to be whenever he gets mentioned during a broadcast. Once again, and it can never be said enough, CONGRATULATIONS to Chris on being the first ever native North Carolinian to get their name on the Stanley Cup.

Because of that, I just may have to keep this game on tape.

- I'm starting to feel like the FSN South feed is teasing me with that damned creepy Gizmo-voiced "Brindy! Brindy! Brindy!" commercial...tonight's game was the third or fourth one in a row where they waited until the last five minutes to play that thing.

Current Music: "Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)" by The Ramones

December 8th, 2006 - Canes @ Canucks: Random Musing/Observation

What my eyes beheld tonight was something different, fantastic, hilarious, horrible, scary, chilling, imaginative, funny, colorful, cute, ingenious, awful, charming, trashy, frightening, and just simply wonderful.

Not to mention how that something was the best two hours I've spent in awhile.

Thank you, Canes, for letting me know that my decision to watch my recently purchased Gremlins DVD* was the darned best decision that I could make tonight.

Current Music: "My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane

* - As much as I knock the "Brindy! Brindy! Brindy!" commercial, it's good for at least one thing...

** - I know I missed a dynamite third period. But really, the way the Canes played in the majority of the game, they don't deserve the point they somehow got.

November 6th, 2006 - Canes @ Oilers: Random Musings and Observations

(Skipped last night's game 'cause to quoteth William Shakespeare...all the world is indeed a stage, AND THE CANES PLAYED LIKE CRAP!!

And, I was practically a zombie due to having get up really, REALLY early because of renovation work being done on my family and I's house.)

- I'm cutting to the chase on one thing made VERY BLATANT throughout this game...Mick McGeough ROYALLY SUCKS as a ref. Forget Mike Hasenfratz, I got a new numero uno most hated ref.

Unfortunately, I am not surprised that Magoo called things the way he did tonight...highly considering how he did not want to anger up the Oil faithful's blood more than he already did in a certain incident earlier this season. But geez Louise...was trying to make nice with the Oil more important than blowing a VERY OBVIOUS high sticking call (which should have been four minute of PP time for the Canes...as indicated by a very bloody Mike Commodore)? Then again, what the heck am I saying? We are talking about a ref who is so dramatic when he is criticized that he might as well don a Cowardly Lion costume or something similar, and belt out that horrible "King of the Forest" song.

- At first, I was highly enthralled to get The John and Tripp Show tonight, especially after having to put up with ESPeeN Full Court/Radio for about thirty-forty minutes into the game. But then, the thrill started going when John and Tripp constantly sang the praises of the Oilers. It can never be said enough: John and Tripp, I do admire how, unlike a certain Buffalo announcer with his team, you two try not to be complete Canes homers in your coverage. BUT, when the 60-70% bias starts leaning more in favor of the team playing other than the Canes, that's where I start to get a little annoyed.

Of course, I guess I'll give John and Tripp a free pass tonight, considering how it was/still is hard to overly compliment the Canes right now.

- Speaking of that, I couldn't help but be easily amused by how the "Bold Move of the Game" (fancy term du jour for the best highlight of the game, for those of you not in Canesland one way or another) was a move by Justin Williams that resulted in an Oil goal. While I think the "Bold Move" should have been Craig Adams' goal...usually, team broadcasts try to put on a positive spin one way or another...at the same time, I think Willy's "bold move" beautifully sums up tonight's affair in a concise manner.

- As if tonight wasn't already horrid enough, Rod Brind'Amour did not even play in the third period. To quote J. Forslund: "Rod did not report to Coach Laviolette."...and later, it was revealed that a lower body injury is what's keeping #17 hampered. More will be revealed here tomorrow or in a couple of days...

- Speaking of El Capitan, just when I thought a certain Canes commercial had finally been pulled...Gizmo's cries of "Brindy! Brindy! Brindy!" came back with a vengeance in the remaining five minutes of the "game", resulting in yours truly making a noise similar to this.

Current Music: "I Believe In Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer

November 30th, 2006 - Canes vs. Canadiens: Random Musings and Observations

- Ok, 'cause many of you are expecting it, I'll go ahead and make it official: Ron Francis needs to make more special guest appearances on FSN South when his now very, VERY BUSY schedule can allow it.

In all seriousness, it really seemed like the Canes got an extra spark or two in their engines when Ronnie took to the booth during the second period.

And for the record, when John said a special guest was coming on, something told me it would be Mr. Francis. Figured it would be either him, or Mike Commodore's dad, as much as they talked about Commie's day with Lord Stanley.

- Speaking of Mikey-Boy, you know he is really, truly a party dude when just his mere presence in a photo makes him look like he is fresh out of a college fraternity movie, with or without the enchanted afro.

- Too bad Erik Cole did not get the hat trick...but at least he got much needed points for both the Canes and my Fantasy teams. Something that cannot be said about Staalsy as of late...never thought I'd see the day where the boy would benefit moi more in the PIM column, where that's good anyway, than the goals or assist one.

- Ladies and gentlemen, Wardo is back. And even though I'm not sure I could agree with his taste in music shown off through it, Cam's new Nickleback helmet/mask is rather nifty looking. But, being a mythology nut, I still say Marc Denis has the best current helmet/mask in the NHL.

- What is with FSN South not wanting to cover the games against the Boston Bruins? First this past Friday's game, and now Saturday's game...well, at least NESN has not been obnoxious...yet.

- A thought just dawned on me...I did not see the infamous "Gizmo loves Brindy" ad at all tonight. You mean someone's actually listened to me? Wow...what a novel concept!

It's funny I bring that ad up considering I just bought Gremlins for my so-far tiny DVD collection... :D

Current Music: "My Will" - Inuyasha's First AND Last Closing Theme

November 15th, 2006 - Canes vs. Rangers: Random Musings and Observations

- Even though I always like it when the Canes win (and who doesn't, other than opposing team fans, certain ones *still* clamoring for the Whale to return to the Land of Insurance, and/or those who just flat out hate the Canes and/or hockey for no decent reason), this had to be the most boring win of the year. I'm sure I would think differently if I had the fortune to be at the game in person...

Anyway, seriously, this game dragged like Garfield the Cat after a lasagna binge...and it couldn't have just been me. At the risk of sounding like an advocate for the devils that are the "New NHL" (hey, "new" or "old", hockey is hockey people) and Bettman, the only Canes goals being scored at the very beginning AND very end of the game probably didn't help the time perception.

- At the risk of ticking off some of my Caniac brethren, particularly those who prefer to pull for NC State...the game was so boring in parts that I ended up flipping back and forth between it and my UNC Tar Heels men's hoops team struggling against the Winthrop Eagles.

- Even John and, *gasp*, Tripp (yes, praise the DirecTV and Center Ice gods, I got the FSN South feed last night) came across as ho-hum. I think the most excited they ever got was when they were showing a couple of the players' dads and talking about Team Bonding Exercise #37 a.k.a. the big annual (apparently) "Room With Your Dad" event taking place in the District of Columbia today and tomorrow.

- Speaking of male bonding...the most entertaining the game got was when they showed a picture of Matt Cullen and Mike Commodore kissing Lord Stanley in...well, a way that makes me *very glad* it gets constantly cleaned. o_O

- That "Brindy! Brindy! Brindy!" commercial *still* gets on my nerves AND creeps me out royally. The more I hear of that thing, the more I lean towards my Mogwai/Gremlins comparison than Mini-Me.

The hits just keep on coming from the Canes' advertising/marketing department...

Current Music: "Never Say Never" by Romeo Void

November 2nd, 2006 - Canes vs. Canadiens: Random Musings and Observations

- I had a *very bad feeling* that the Canes were going to make like Hoovers tonight when Scott Walker was interviewed by Tripp Tracy before the game, and uttered something about his teammates being tough enough AND that what Exelby did to Eric Staal and Cam Ward was no big deal. Gee, I wonder if Scotty-boy sounded like Bill Murray when he said that latter part... (rolls her eyes)

- This is the second time in a month that the Canes have been shutout in the RBC Center...y'know, I had a huge tirade planned, but I think I'll just say this: HOW FREAKIN' PATHETIC CAN YOU GET?!

- At least the night isn't a total waste...thanks to my brother, I now have the Fantastic Four 90's animated series on DVD!! And have been reliving a small part of my adolescence while writing this.

I had almost forgotten how uber-cheesy the first season of the series was...not only in its animation and writing, but also little things like:

- Ms. Forbes, the female version of Mr. Collins, the FF's grumpy landlord in the comic book, at least during the 60's-early 80's.

- The Dick Clark Collegiate Telephon taking place during the very first two episodes with a special guest appearance by Gary Owens!! Y'know, that announcer guy on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In...

- The two "songs"..."It's Clobberin' Time" (done by Green Jelly...who I know better for doing "Anarchy In Bedrock" on The Flintstones movie soundtrack) and "Flame On" (by Brian Austin Green...rumor had it that he was using his brief stint as the Human Torch's voice to spawn a singing career. Why he thought that instead of his role on the highly successful Beverly Hills 90210 would land him in the music world is WAY BEYOND me).

- Speaking of songs...the opening and closing theme songs: "Call the Four! Fantastic Four!" Imagine that and other piece of cheese lyrics about the FF getting their powers and saving the day being sung in a happy sing-along voice...yeah, that screams 'action show'!

Despite all of that, I love the first season in all of its cheese, along with the far superior and cool second season. Best FF cartoon evah.

- Ok, one more Canes related thing...have you seen the ad with the dude in the cubicle pretending he's Brindy kissing Lord Stanley? You know how the computer keeps saying "Brindy! Brindy! Brindy!"? It just dawned on me that the voice on the computer sounds like a combination of Mini-Me and Mogwai (y'know, from the Gremlins movies?)... o_O

Current "Music": The "The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus Part 1" episode of the said cartoon.