kipwinger

I'm not sure why we're having this debate again. History has shown that being evermore violent in response to things we don't like ALWAYS works out well. Absolutely tons and tons of examples when punching people has effectively helped folks achieve their objectives. That has got to be the most idiotic thing a person can think. By comparison it makes GMRwings' "I like fighting because it's entertaining" argument both honest, and sensible. Can all the fighting people just use that argument? That way we don't have to keep restating how intellectually bankrupt this "fighting deters rats" argument is. I'll even help. "For as long as I can remember, I (state your name here), have enjoyed fighting in hockey. I find it entertaining and exciting. As such, I am willing to tolerate the short and long term health risks that come along with it and believe players who engage in the sport should too." At least then your position won't be so demonstrably invalided and your justifications so blatantly post hoc.

"The notion of The Outrage Police is as hollow and disingenuous as it gets – and most importantly, it doesn’t make what Rielly said right. To repeat: he’s 20 years old and not a monster, but he said something you can’t say anymore, people let him know, and he said he was sorry. That’s the way the process is supposed to work. And the people who want to distract from that basic fact by focusing on anything other than the women who are telling us what he said was wrong are polar bears on an ever-shrinking rhetorical ice floe, letting out embarrassing death rattles as they fail to adjust to a world that’s rolling right over their prized prejudices. Clearly, some men don’t like being confronted by voices other than those of their ever-forgiving frat boy buddies. Too bad. Whether they like it or not, this issue is another example of two tectonic cultural plates pushing against one another – and, as is always the case, the progressive, fair-minded plate is eventually going to push the ignorant, divisive plate deeper into the earth, precisely where it belongs." Absolutely right.

Melen is always hurt. He seems to have good skill at lower levels, bit he can't stay in the lineup long enough to prove anything. I'd be real surprised to see him inGR. Janmark seems like a good bet though.

This is the dumbest debate I've ever seen. If punching people deterred anything then Benn wouldn't have hit Z as he'd already been beaten soundly by Ericsson. Soooo stupid.

Thanks man. I appreciate it.

I'm not sure there really needs to be a debate about it. You shouldn't belittle people, ever, if you can help it. I'm sure Morgan Reilly isn't a total dick. He just said a total dick thing. Secondly, we (as a part of the hockey community) absolutely SHOULD do our best to enforce social, cultural, and behavioral norms. It's called civic responsibility. I want my children, friends, family, and neighbors to be able to share in the sport I love...because I love it. And none of them, ever, should feel excluded because of who they are or what they choose to do. However, I can't say that I'm surprised that Frank feels the way he does. This is a guy who once said that people who don't like fighting in hockey are "homosexuals". And regularly references "sissy hockey". Fortunately people like Frank here are in the minority. Positivity, inclusion, and openness are winning. And people like him are losing. And one of these days everybody with that point of view will either be forced to come around, or else be exposed for the narrow minded, hateful, ethically bankrupt dinosaurs that they are.

Abdelkader started out with the plugs and it has served him well. There's really no recipe for success. I'm usually more bent out of shape about the way Babs uses veterans than how he uses young guys.

Pete Carroll Maple Leafed the s*** out of that Super Bowl call.

I'm not sure any Toronto Maple Leaf should be speaking in the diminutive about any other group of people. Being a Maple Leaf is about as low as it gets. You're about one rung up the ladder from the guy who mops the floors at a sperm bank.

Found it. Photoshop a Maple Leaf's sweater on this picture and it might as well be their new logo.

Haha, that is exactly right. I do it with Arabic all the time. People in the Middle East are fluent in English and I try to struggle through my Arabic with them to hilarious results.

Lol. You should totally stick to glorifying Andreas Lilja. That's one of your preferences I can get on board with.

What kind of a team was the 2008 Red Wings team that won the Cup?

We didn't trade him. He was bought out because he wasn't ever going to play. Otherwise, I agree with you (in part). I did think it was fun watching him hit/charge guys. I didn't think it was fun watching him fight 10 seconds into a game to "protect our stars" or whatever he was supposedly doing.

I travel constantly for my job, all over the world. The only place I've ever been where people don't speak English regularly, and aren't really willing to try, is Russia. It was difficult to find English speakers there. However that did not, contrary to popular belief, stop me from eating, drinking, traveling around, ordering a cab, etc. It just required marginally more effort than usual. Literally every other place I've ever been, not only DID people speak English...but they were dying to speak English to me. Because here's the thing about learning another language, once you know it you want to use it. That's the fun of it. Nobody wants to spend all the time, effort, and frustration of learning another language only to never use it again.

First it was all, "you can't even order anything if you don't speak French". Which sounds horrible...so horrible as to be almost unreal. Then, once he gets called out it's, "I'm just pointing out that it would be difficult". It's almost like he was using hyperbole, bordering on xenophobia and fear mongering, to make a point and then immediately backpedaling once it became clear that A) the point is invalid, and B) we're not as dumb as he thinks we are. Here's the thing Frank, every single place has some drawbacks. Even your beloved Newport Beach for example. The chances of you experiencing an earthquake, traffic congestion, smog, or urban decay in California are probably much greater than a millionaire being unable "to order anything because he doesn't speak French" in Montreal. Last time you were in the Los Angeles area did you not notice any of the substantial problems it has? Or do you avoid going there (and don't plan to) because of all the Hispanic people speaking a language you don't understand?

We can make the playoffs on skill for 24 straight years, but if we miss them on the 25th he'll be here saying "see, I told you we're too soft". Lol.

I absolutely love Patrick Kane. What's not to like about a mulleted smartass who skates like a cheetah, drinks like a Russian, scores goals and wins Stanley Cups? It's as if Joe Dirt were REALLY good at hockey.

I agree about their center depth. However, I think you're underestimating their defense. It's actually pretty good. Carlson-Alzner and Niskanen-Orpik are both pretty good pairings. As Babs' said before we played them last, if Mike Green is your fifth defenseman you've got a pretty good defense.

No thanks on the caps. Aside from having one guy who can win a game all by himself, Barry Trotz is Mike Babcocks kryptonite

Tell us more about this "sissy hockey".

I think the next time Kane does it Jimmy should just come out of the net and wipe him out. Let them award the goal. It would simultaneously give Kane pause the next time he faces Jimmy AND reignite a great rivalry.

I'm confused, I thought we bought all their stuff? Our stores are full of Chinese goods. Wouldn't that make us the Sugar Daddy?

Is there any team that's going to give up, lie down, and forfeit the game? If so, I want to play them. If not, I'd say we should probably just worry about ourselves. It's not like we've played all that well against any of Montreal, Tampa, Pittsburgh, NYR, Washington, or Boston at various points throughout the season.

This conversation makes me think of David Lee Roth's "Yankee Rose" for some reason. I like to think of my America as both a hot chick and a thinly veiled reference to snorting cocaine through a rolled up million dollar bill.