55fan

I get it! I finally get it! Jim3033, I didn't understand how the rodent fit in with the Predators. I am a hamster lover and couldn't figure out how Franzen biting a cute fuzzy little hamster would apply to Nashville. Then I got it...rodent...rat...Erat. That's funny! Unfortunately, I tried so hard to fit it in with Predators that I will forever be cursed to think of the team as the Nashville Feudin' Varmits.

I need to correct myself on a couple of points. The record was 54, not 52. This was in 1995, as you guessed, but the interview was from 1996, so this is not current. I guess I was reading too fast last time. Al also stated in that interview that the average per game is 25. Back to the drawing board for more ideas. Here's the link: bottom of page It's under octopus.

Cool! Mine say GOWINGZ. I had to get the Z because all the good ones were taken. On topic: I can't understand the negativity. Sure, one can say what they'd change as far as lines, or defensive pairings; or say who they'd like to trade for whom, but I don't get the gloom and doom stuff. Of course, I've spent the last 4 decades rooting for the Lions, so maybe I have a different perspective of what losing is.

I was googling and found out that the record number of octopi thrown on the ice in one game was 52. Take that times $10,000, and that is a bit much. Of course, that was a record day. Let's say, to pick an arbitrary number, that the average is 10 per game. I really have no idea. If someone does know, please jump in here. So 10 octopi that can't be twirled... 1) Hold the octopus in place and have Al twirl himself around it. 2) Have the music people play a polka and dance it off the ice. No twirling in polkas that I know of. At least not around your head. 3) Have twirling ice babes escort Al out to get the octopus. (That one's for you, guys.) 4) Claim it was actually a squid and refuse to pay the fine. 5) Have Al get the octopus off the ice without twirling it, but have the players make twirling motions over their heads as he brings it off. 6) Same as 5, but have the fans do it. 7) Hold the octopus stationary over his head. Do not twirl. Have players/attendants run out and twirl Al. 8) Slip Bettman some LSD so everything appears to be twirling except Al. 9) Throw Bettman on the ice and let Al twirl him. 10) Twirl the thing and have everyone yell, "Bettman...Bettman...Bettman...YOU SUCK." Take up a collection to pay the fine.

I'm relieved to find that this will only effect one area of the country, and that they are given options to watch the game. Let's remember that this isn't the Pope's decision; it's NBC's. One of the other networks could have gotten coverage of the Pope, but only NBC has hockey. It was their choice, not the Pope's. If I seem too calm about this, it's because last year my local NBC station pre-empted game 3 of the SCF for a telethon benefiting a local hospital. What really frosted my miniwheats was that I had been at my parents' house, 2 hours away, and had driven back for the game. I listened to it on NHL radio, just like I do every other game that isn't on NBC, and life went on. Disappoinements happen. Fortunately, this is not going to be a disappointment. The game is still on. Now if Jesus comes back, I expect full coverage, preferably on ABC. I don't trust any news from a network that advertises that you can CBS. I see enough BS anyway.

I think that would be me. I guess you don't know me, but I'm a hardcore Ozzie fan. I also think that Dom is a great goalie. Which one is better depends on which night you're talking about. I love Ozzie. He's funny, sexy, adorable and a great goalie. Not to mention he popped Wahhhhh a few back in the day. Dom is the only goalie in the whole NHL I would even consider starting over Ozzie. What I was suggesting was playing the goalie who has had the greatest success against a particular team, or at least a paritcular style of play. Play the goalie who is hot at the moment. Give them both some rest. Keep them both fresh. Keep them both in the action in case of injury to one or the other. One of the many reasons I love Ozzie is that he is the ideal backup. He can come in with only a moment's notice and play like he never sat on the bench. This may seem to contradict what I was saying in the last paragraph, but my point is that Ozzie is hot against the Preds. Keep him in. Next series, depending on who we play, start one for a couple of games and then let the other play a game or two. See who does the better job against that particular style of play, and go from there. I have no plans to coach hockey. You can be relieved about that. All I'm doing is offering an opinion, which you are free to take or leave.

No one. That's why it's being broadcast on earth. Sorry, couldn't resist.

Ozzie was great. The offense would have scored more had the Preds defense/goaltending not been solid. (I know, obvious statement.) The defense was there for Ozzie this game. That was great to see. Kronner says they don't care who starts. As well as Ozzie has played against the Preds, I say keep him in this series. Rest Dom until the next round. Repeat. With 2 goaltenders of this caliber, we'd be silly not to use them both. Go Ozzie! Go Wings!

My local NBC has "to be announced" for game time. I'm extremely fond of God, but not being Catholic, I'd rather watch the Wings (no offense to Catholics). I suppose there are more Catholics than Wings fans. Definately more than Preds fans. They gotta go with the ratings. Pity, though. Maybe we can convince the Pope to twirl an octopus around his head?

So, what are you doing Sunday? We may just have to take up a collection for you. Keep up the good work.

Duct tape on the bracelets, and we held it together. Go Wings, and congratulations to all of you who are doing your part.

Since we won, I won't give you any crap, not that you'd take it. Just wait until the next round and start a tradition of making a new one for each round. Or something. Cinnamon...hmm. Nah, can't have my hamster gnawing at my wrist. Could be real blood (and yes, I did consider using real blood to dye the floss, but I realized the colour turns funny).

Signed it with my real name. Didn't know we had an option not to I would encourage all who leave comments to leave ones that will reflect well on the Wings and show that we are a solid group of fans, and not sound like immature teenagers. I realize that right now we are probably interested in swearing at Bettman, but that sort of thing gets nothing done as far as getting through to the stuffed shirt type. Not telling anyone what to say, just asking people to think about it before they go off.

One more quick word of advice: Since I'm using dental floss, I have to colour the red ones. My advice is this: Make sure you are using Permanent Marker. When mine broke last night, people thouht I was bleeding because my wrist was red. This message has been a public service announcement.

That depends- what song do you have in mind? Not "I like it, I love it, I want some more of it". Oy, I'll never be able to listen to that song again. Wait. I never liked it in the first place. Maybe we could just get a Let's Go Red Wings chant going? Can't wring our hangs when we're clapping, right? The president's trophy is not a good sign, but it does prove that we have talent. That's where I was going with that one. Be gone, O daemons of the past! And take your little curse with you. Besides, Nick didn't touch it. He just smiled for the camera and shook hands and skated off. Don't worry about the guy at the door. He took one look at me and ran off leaving a trail of pamphlets in his wake.

Sammy did look better during the playoffs last year. That's as far back as my memory goes (old age). All of our guys need to get it together and play like they have at various points this season. Sammy, if you come through for me, I'll be cheering loudly, just like I did last year. I think I set off the neighbour's dog when he scored. Go Sammy! Go Wings!

I share the blame. My playoff bracelet broke at work and I had beads with the initials of each player who had scored a goal, and I lost the H from Homer. I have since remedied the situation by re-enforcing the ends with the Ultimate Power in the Universe, aka Duct Tape. I'm taped, your're hirsute. All is well and the Wings will win tonight. Oh, and if you want me to say half of those Hail Gordies and take some of the wet noodle lashings, I'm game. It's only fair. But I'm not shaving any furry woodland creatures.

I have found the answer. I was at work again last night and one of the white threads broke. I saved all the beads this time. There wasn't enough string left to tie it back on, so I used the Ultimate Power in the Universe . Yes, Duct Tape. I restrung the beads, taped the ends of all the threads together at each end, and now I have an unbreakable band, held in unity with the silvery miracle representing the silver of the Cup that we are all united in our Quest to Win. The tide has indeed turned. The Wings are destined to win. I have a faith as strong as Duct Tape. As a side note: I was stringing the beads and the last one had the letters PDPD since Pavel scored twice in that game. My friend, who doesn't follow hockey looked at it and asked, "Who's Popo?"

Hold on just a cotton-pickin' minute here! Are you suggesting that the Wings might win even if we don't rant, rave, tear our hair out, or get dyspepsia? Might they actually have a faint glimmer of winning if we don't freak out and lash out at our housepets/family members/coworkers/strangers knocking at the door selling politics, religion or carpet cleaners? Could the team that won the President's trophy actually win the first round of the playoffs without us having to be sedated? Hmm, interesting concept. I must consider it after I've killed the guy at the door... Carry on. Oh, yes, and... GO WINGS!

I will be stunned. Anyone who hates homers can put me on ignore right now. This is my team, and I believe in them until the bitter end. We have a whole roster of guys that have come through at various times in the season. What we need is for all of them to pull it together and all play like they have when they were hot. We have the talent. We need the drive. It can be done, and I believe it will.

Excellent point! Let's get the Joe rockin' with positive energy! Go Wings!

Last night was my fault. I broke my bracelet from game 2, our last win. Now I have NEW, IMPROVED bracelets and the Wings will WIN! No more bad luck. No more bad karma. Positive energy, and the best team in the world! Unbeatable! Go Wings!

You guys, I am SO SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night I was at work (during the game) and my bracelet from the second game broke and I lost the H from my Homer beads. I actually lost both the T and the H, but I found the T. I work in a plant that makes PVC pipe fittings, and I'm in the injection molding part, so we have plastic pellets going into all the machines that are the size and colour of my beads. We literally have silos full of them. Everywhere you look, there are little white pellets the size of beads in the floor. I swept under the machines (I'm guessing for the first time in years) and there was no H. I came home and remade all my bracelets with dental floss, which is stronger than thread, and I am using only one strand per game rather than one per goal, with them tied together per game. Hopefully this will bring us better luck. No one asked me what the bracelets were for until I was in a panic looking for the H, now everyone at work knows. It's all my fault we lost. I was so afraid that I'd come home and find Homer was injured. OK, new bracelets. Strong bracelets. Good, strong bracelets for the WIN.

Up until your last paragraph, I thought that maybe the issue here was with the use of the word "equivalent". In that case, I could see that we were arguing semantics. Is an "equivalent" something that is the same, or is it something that is used when the original is not feasible? I thought that in this case it was the latter, you seem to have considered it to be the former. The last paragraoh, however, made it clear that you consider it to be neither, but rather an inferior attempt to rise up to your level. No one would argue that eating pizza is a tasty way to celebrate, and if one is not at the game, one just might consider eating a slice of pizza for each goal, although the cheese would get nasty if the game went into overtime. The label "scared-y-cats" definately set a tone of superiority and distaste for the alternative, and, by extention, the alternative of wearing bracelets over growing beards. You have an issue with red-for-win, white-for-loss, claiming that you don't trim your beard after a loss. Well, we don't take off the bracelets either. I believe the dual colour scheme arose from someone not wanting us to be confused with a religious group who wear red strings. Perhaps you would have been more comfortable had the thread been named "Alternative to the playoff beard" or "For those who can't grow a beard" or something along those lines? After 12 pages, I'd say the idea has gone over well.

Just throwing this in here: I saw a cartoon not long ago. A bunch of guys dressed like lumberjacks are standing by a fence. Inside the fence is another lumberjack holding a red cloth and a bull is coming toward him. The caption reads "Canadian bullfighters" and the bullfighter is saying "Ol, eh". I've had that running through my mind this thread since Olay isn't on my mind any more. That could be an anti-Cheli chant.