55fan

That was directed at Micah. At the time, I thought he was criticizing Nick and Pavel for not catching a plane they didn't know they were supposed to catch to attend an event at which their presence was not required, and did not know that their presence was required until after the fact. He called them douchebags for doing so. Later, he clarified his position that he was criticizing Nick for not playing. I disagree with that, but that's his opinion. He also retracted the douchebag statement. I then retracted that paragraph as it was no longer an accurate analogy of his opinion. Follow along. It isn't hard.

Now there's a statement with which I can whole-heartedly agree.

I have to miss it, but I can't wait to read the GDT after it's over. I so hope we win that game. I also hope we win the Cup and Betty-boo has to give Nick the Cup and Pasha the Conn Smythe. The person below me still has issues with acne on occasion.

Why do women have bad depth perception? Because we've been told that this is 8 inches. (Also explains the need for faking... Get it over, please, just let it end.)

You forgot serving drinks in cute little outfits and getting your coffee at work. Three cheers for the working woman! (Men- they need us to remind them of everything.)

Micah, since you retracted your "douchebag statement", I also retract my last paragraph. It was intended to show that people are coming down on and calling out Lids and Dats for not attending something they had no idea they were expected to attend, and my opinion that this is stupid. It was pointed at you because you called them douchebags. I'm glad we can at least agree that they are not douchebags, even if we disagree on whether or not they should have been there.

Nothing wrong with looking at girls in shorts. Even the guys wear shorts on the ice. Just different stockings and different chest pads. I think that since Sobotka can't twirl the octopi, they should have an OctoTwirl Girl. Kind of like a Baton Twirler, only slimier.

Just a slight correction: His wife was not giving birth at that time. She was on bedrest due to a difficult pregnancy, and was staying in Florida with her parents. He just went for a visit. I supported his decision then and I still say he made the right one. Oh, and Micah, I'm miffed that you didn't come for breakfast this morning. Fargo has an airport. You could have just gotten on a plane and been here. Surely you are aware that I would be eating breakfast. If anyone on my friends list had called me and asked to come, I'd have gladly let them watch me eat. You didn't. Therefore you are not tough and are a douchebag. What? You didn't know about the invitation to attend until now? You didn't realize that just because other people were eating that you would be expected to come and watch them eat? Now that it's too late to catch that flight? No one told you? Hmm. Maybe I've been too harsh on you. Maybe I should reconsider telling everyone how you are not supportive of LGW.

Got out of a warm bed, realized it was garbage day, ran the trash out in my nightgown in North Da-frigid-kota at 9:00 in the morning on a day when the temp was 18 below zero. I'd have to say I was cold then, but I've warmed up now. The person below me has a picture of a donkey in their house.

I'd like to see the Wings win in OT, get the 2 points, give Columbus a point, and then have Columbus beat out Edmonton for the 8th spot in the playoffs by 1 point. Lowe stood up for Dats and Lids, Burke bashed them. Cue round 5 (or is it 6?) of Lowe vs Burke. Drama at its finest.

Are you saying they should have defied doctor's orders and PLAYED INJURED just to prove how tough they were? That was the issue at hand when they made their decision not to go. The question was not "Do I attend?" The question was "Do I play?" Both answered "no", as have dozens before them who were injured and didn't want to risk complicating their injuries in a meaningless (standings-wise) game. Did anyone question Zetterberg when he missed due to injury? Was he a soft Euro who didn't have the balls to play? No. Did anyone expect him to show up even though he didn't play? No. Because until Friday- hours before things began- NO INJURED PLAYER HAD EVER BEEN EXPECTED TO ATTEND. Even when Holland was informed, Nick and Pavel weren't. Holland didn't call them to tell them about the sudden change in both rule and protacal. To put things in perspective, last year when Luongo missed to be with his pregnant wife, the people who posted here were overwhelmingly supportive of his decision. Even those who don't like him personally agreed that family should come first. That was the only debate that year; not if injured players should go. That was never in question. We are sitting here dragging two of the classiest guys in hockey through the mud for doing what players have done for generations: They were injured, so they didn't go. They had replacements. The replacements were there to do their job, which includes playing, smiling for the camera, doing interviews, shaking hands, signing autographs, etc. Had Crosby not called Bettman, who then changed his mind hours before the events started, we would not be having this conversation. They would have been like virtually every other injured player in the history of the ASG. We'd be saying, "gee, would have been cool to see them, but, oh, well, better they get healed up." Did you consider Zetterberg to be a soft douchebag last year when he didn't go? If so, you need to get your priorities straight. The players health and well-being is more important than PLAYING in an exhibition game. The "just show up" clause came after the fact.

Always do puzzles in ink. I have trouble seeing pencil. Not to say I haven't become adept at changing letters to look like other letters. The person below me hates to vacuum.

Hey, I've been looking around the web for information about this rule- how it came about, what it says exactly, all that stuff. Would you mind letting me know where you found that? I'd be interested in reading the whole thing. Thanks!

It is considered proper octiquette to aim for a part of the ice where there are no players. It is done as a show of support for the Wings, not as a weapon of messy destruction. Don't aim it at people. Turtles and lawyers are fine.

Does the company you work for also find a replacement for you if you call in sick, and then later call your supervisor, tell him to tell you to hop a plane and come and watch your replacement work, and run your name through the mud because you didn't come to work after you called in sick and were given permission to take the time off? Just because one of your co-workers broke the precedent of not coming to work sick and showed up anyway? And your supervisor didn't even call and tell you that the boss wanted you there because he knew you were sick? Sure, you have to use your sick time. You knew that when you called in, and you were prepared to deal with that. But now you get called out for being a selfish prima donna for not showing up after you called in and were given permission to be gone? Find me one All-Star who has ever been expected to attend just to watch the game, despite being injured after a replacement has been found. Before Friday morning when Crosby hopped that plane no one has. Not arguing with the suspensions. They knew that was going to happen. Just arguing with the notion that they somehow knew 2 days in advance that Bettman was going to change the rules in the middle of the game, only giving them hours to act, despite no one calling them and telling them that they had the option.

Happy birthday, Cheli. Now sign Kristi's jersey already. She's waited 6 years.

First thought: Why is Dom looking bored and the chick in the background checking out the blonde's butt? Shouldn't it be the other way around? Second thought: Those are some peculiar panty hose. How in the Sam Hill did she do that?

:clap: :clap: Yeah, let the Ducks' stars come and go as they please. Make the Wings' stars rebook flights for families of 3-6 people after they cancelled them, find hotel accomodations after they cancelled them, replan their weekends after they had remade their plans. Then call for their heads if they don't do this within hours of being told it is expected of them.

Just waking up, so some residual sleepiness. The person below me is fluently bilingual.

Baby Face- Brenda Lee

Due to physical problems I never wear socks unless I'm bowling, which I've done 3 times in the last 10 years. I don't know when I'll go again, but I have the socks for it. The person below me has spent more than 20 hours online this weekend defending Nick and Pavel. (and boy, do I need a nap!) I'm counting all day Friday as part of the weekend since that's when this all started.

I would have been perfectly happy had Bettman said that there was a bit of confusion about the new rule, and that if a player chose to, the player could attend without penalty; but this was not made clear to all involved in a timely fashion, and as such, there will be no suspensions this year, but there will be in future years. Just for him to admit that he messed up. I could even live with the suspensions if he admitted that he handled this poorly. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I could live with it. I don't know how the BOG feels about it, but the article I linked in my last post (which was dated Saturday) had this quote: I wonder what was said.

As it stands right now, we who are attracted to men have Lilja, Homer, Nick, Nik, Pavel, Hank, Lebda, Ozzie (and others- these mentioned are the top in a poll I'm currently taking in the Hottest Wings thread. This list reflects the current standings, starting with the hottest). Those of you who are attracted to women have Karen Newman. Ice girls might even that out a bit. Just make sure they can grow good playoff beards It's about team spirit.

Basically. Just a few corrections/comments. Crosby called Bettman EDIT: Found the article here The gist of the article was that Bettman/NHL was upset that he wasn't going to be there. He called to "smooth things over" (direct quote). Holland was called by Bettman on Friday (after Crosby hopped the plane) and told that Lids and Pav had to be there, even if they didn't play. Holland had told them that they could take break and did not have to go. He had no reason to believe that their presence there was wanted or required as replacements had been found, and "it is unusual for an injured player to attend" (I believe that's from the same article). The call to Holland came just hours before the festivities would begin. I can't speak for others, but I was upset about the suspension until I heard about the rule. Then I was understood why they had to miss a game. What upsets me now is that Lids and Pav are being cast in the role of Selfish Prima Donna, when they are 2 of the last people who fit that description. Never have players been called out for missing due to injury. Never have players for whom replacements have been found been required to attend. They were not given notice that this would be the case, although Bettman had 2 days to do it. The league and GMs may have voted that players miss a game if they didn't play, but Bettman took it upon himself to change the rules in the middle of the game. I'm sure he didn't call all of the GMs or owners to get their input, or Holland/Illitch would have known. I understand those who think that it would have been a good thing for them to go. I disagree with it; but I understand it. The people I don't understand are those who think that the guys aren't really injured and that they are faking it to get out of it. Their track record, especially Nick's, speaks for itself.

Given the choice between the two, Sid is the boy I'd take home to meet my parents; Ovie is the guy I'd take out to meet my friends (except Ruth- she's quite reserved). Different strokes for different folks. Market a bunch. There's no shortage of talent.