Monday, February 26, 2007

CYA - and we're not saying good bye just yet....

Many people want to know my opinion on what my former employers did this weekend.

My dear Atlanta Thrashers have been in a horrific free-fall for the last 30 days and it hasn't been pretty. They are hanging on by a thread to a playoff spot, but are still only a few points away from winning the division title.

So with that in mind Don Waddell went out and picked up Alexi Zhitnik and Keith Tkachuk for the stretch run. In return Waddell have up three picks (fourth one doesn't matter because they won't resign Tkachuk) and Glen Metropolit for Tkachuk. To be honest, that deal is fine with me... never know with draft picks and Atlanta hasn't been the greatest in drafting at this point in time. It was the Cover Your Ass weekend - at least he made the trades and did everything he could to help this team win ... the coach would go first then him.

The trade that bothers me is the Zhitnik trade where we gave up on Braydon Coburn. Bob Hartley is a tough man to play for, just ask Peter Forsberg why he told Philadelphia he didn't want to go to Atlanta? But how can you tell me that Coburn was given a fair chance?? I'd rather have him learning on the ice than to put up with Andy Sutton and his 2-million dollar shenanigans. This kid is going to be an All-Star in the league and I know Waddell is only concerned with his job know and he should be. If he and his staff gotten the right players before the season started, they wouldn't be in this position. Last year, the team started poorly and ended strong. This year, they started well and are finishing weak.

Here we are seven years into the franchise history and Waddell's tenure, and this team makes some of the same mistakes that a Curt Fraser team made. Different players, different coaches and the same sad results so far. That is just horrific in my mind and if they don't make it, Waddell needs to be held accountable. Which is why I think there's one more trade to be made. After all these years of sitting on the sidelines, if he doesn't make a move now, the next one will be out of the Atlanta area.

As bad as that is, wouldn't it help if we had an ownership group that wasn't a complete disaster? Maybe we are better with Steve Belkin? Not like the Hawks are any better under the "Spirit."

At the end of the day, the chemistry of this team was wrong before the trades and I don't see it being any better now. So, I only hope and prey that the Thrashers can sneak into the playoffs and find its mojo.

But if I were Charles Barkley, I wouldn't bet on it.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Happy Friday!

Here's a gross game for you to play - sounds make it better!

http://www.lilgames.com/acne_zit_popper_game.shtml

Also - Jeffrey Chodorow – from Rocco’s fame … has started his own blog after running an ad in the NY Times to talk about how he felt he was treated poorly by the NYT critics…

It’s an interesting way for a restaurateur to deal with this…

http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/pdf/Response_NYTimes.pdf

http://www.chinagrillmgt.com/blog/index.cfm?s=1

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The train is on the tracks....

And the million dollar question is whether or not the Atlanta Thrashers will get off the tracks before getting hit by the train.

They started the season with their best start ever. But they just came off a 2-4 roadtrip and are now going to start playing a lot of games within the division. They are now in 6th place and they are tied with Tampa for the division lead. But they are also four points away from missing the playoffs.

ESPN.com's Scott Burnside wrote a great piece about my former boss and his murky situation if this team comes up short.

Unfortunately, I have seen the script before except it's backwards. Usually this team starts poorly and comes on strong at the end only to fall short. Well, this year they need to hang on and what's scaring me is that they are a better team that still plays many nights as if Mike Stapleton, Damian Rhodes and Ed Ward were still playing on the team.

As much as I like Andy Sutton as a person, watching him play is painful. He's making a nice living and looks like a deer in headlights many nights. Kari Lehtonen is no question going to be one of the best netminders in the game, but is getting beat on a lot of shots that don't even go in because of posts.

I don't have a good feeling on the ending, and I swear I hope I am wrong. The East is weak and the Thrashers should have enough talent to sneak in. But don't expect Don Waddell to pull off a big deal - with the ownership disaster of the Atlanta Spirit and his track record, Eric Belanger is as big as they come.

That being said, they are still a heck of a lot better than the Atlanta Hawks. They are fighting for title of worst franchise in sports.

From the funniest thing I have seen in a long time, the Atlanta Falcons are having a Leadership Training Camp. Is it me or is it an oxymoron for those guys to teach leadership to others when they can't even lead their franchise quarterback to stop smoking and carrying pot through airports? Just wondering if it's me???

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Guys, tell Hallmark to kiss your ..

Many, many years ago, when I was a writer at the Lansing State Journal I wrote a point/counterpoint piece ripping Valentine's Day. I was the curmudgeon just ripping Hallmark for telling me I had to be nice to my girl on this specific day.

My problem then, and still, is that if you need a card company to tell you this once a year, then your relationship is screwed. You should be doing things for your significant other on a regular basis.

Perfect example - why buy flowers today? They are twice as much today as any other day. So if you do it on the other days when they don't expect and you aren't in the doghouse, the gesture means a heck of a lot more.

Anyway, bah humbug Hallmark! Just move on to St. Patrick's day and get over it.

OK - Anna Nicole still dead and still headlines on Fox and CNN websites. UGH! What's the over under until it's all over? Three months? A year?

Wanna send a Valentine's Day email - check this out from my mom http://www.careerbuilder.com/monk-e-mail/default.aspx?sc_cmp2=JS_MONK-E-MAIL

Classic. Happy VD to all!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

The new era begins

For those of you buried in the snow, I am soooo sorry. NOT!

Ya know you can move South where it rarely snows and people are friendly. But if you do that, then I may have to move again to get away from all those Damn Yankees!

OK - so last night I was about to have dinner with the family when I sat in the home office to go through some things. Right before standing up to go eat, I checked ESPN.com and saw one of the greatest things these eyes have ever seen.

"Luke Petitgout cut by the New York Giants."

All I could do was smile. I was in total shock. Jerry Reese has done more in one day than Ernie Accorsi did in years for Giants fans. Now all he needs to do is fire Tom Coughlin and we are set!

I stood up and walked in the kitchen with a huge smile on my face. Wife looks at me and asks why the smile? I tell her the happy news and she looks at me and laughs. She is happy because she doesn't have to listen to me complain about 77 anymore taking false start or holding penalties.

Ralph Vacchiano talks about the Giant Purge in the NY Daily News.

Anna Nicole Smith is still dead - can't this story just go away! I don't care about her sleeping with some politician in the Bahamas or anywhere else for that matter. BTW - anyone think that kid of hers is going to need therapy?

For those of you hockey fans, BU beat BC in overtime of the Beanpot last night. In true Huskies fashion I was rooting for the roof to fall in ... KIDDING! Northeastern beat Harvard in the consolation game. I will go on record by saying I will see Northeastern win at least one more Beanpot in my lifetime.

Anyone watch 24? I was about to give up on it before the season started, but man have they got me back in with a passion! It's a must see even though you know that Keifer Sutherland gets in tough situations all the time and still can't die because he's the star. Great twists this season so far and I know there are more to come.

Going to the Circus this weekend with Abbie and some of her friends. Should be a blast ... I will give details on Monday.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Monday, February 05, 2007

Validation wasn't needed, but it doesn't suck....

While watching last night through the pouring rain, I could only laugh thinking about Peyton Manning walking out for the game and looking up at the sky and saying, "got any locusts to add to the flood?"

One of the greatest passers in NFL history when it's all said and done, period. Many folks questioned Peyton and whether he really was that good. After last night does anyone have any more questions? He is on track at this point of his career to break all the records, he's won two MVP's and now a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP. Mark Chappell from the Indianapolis Star puts the conversation to bed.

Now, he wasn't the best player(s) on the field last night, but he was the most valuable. He is a great leader and a team player. Listen to him after the game and tell me he wasn't humble and thankful? Peter King of SI.com sums up Manning very well in his Monday Morning Quarterback.

What about Marvin Harrison? What about Tony Dungy? Tell me you'd rather have guys like TO who is all about me?

Last night wasn't about validation of one man, it was the validation of the team. Tony Dungy was validated as one of the great coaches of the last twenty years. Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star talks about Dungy's victory being a milestone for Dungy more than anyone else.

And the one person that NO ONE has talked about being validated is general manager Bill Polian. The same Bill Polian who built the Buffalo Bills teams that couldn't get over the hump. He finally gets his due in building his second great organization and finally getting his ring.

The two best moves he made? Bringing in Adam Vinitieri. Most points ever in a playoff run this year and the best clutch kicker EVER. If he is NOT a first ballot Hall of Famer, then I don't know a kicker that is. The other move was letting Edgerrin James leave via free agency and bringing in Joseph Addai via the draft. How do you think Edgerrin felt last night watching the running game dominate the Super Bowl? Who would have thunk it possible? ESPN.com's John Clayton talks about the rookie and how he made a difference right away.

FYI - the last four teams to lose the coin toss have won the Super Bowl.

You can rip Rex Grossman all you want, but where was his defense last night? How many times did they have a chance to get the Colts off the field and failed to do so. The Bears had a great season and nothing should be taken away, but this team needed Trent Dilfer last night and got Tony Eason. Jay Marriotti of the Chicago Sun-Times talks about how the "Bad" Rex showed up and it's not what the Bears needed.

How would you have felt if you paid $2,000 and up for a ticket and sat in the rain all night? Heck Prince even sang Purple Rain last night... theme night in Miami.

In nine Super Bowl's in Miami, it's the first time it has even rained. What are the odds of that? Seems like it rains there every day for 30 minutes.

BTW - the Hall of Fame voting in the NFL is a joke. If Art Monk isn't a Hall of Famer, then I don't know why they have this place in Canton. On top of which, this secret society crap about not telling anyone what was said in the room is cowardly. If you had any guts voters, you would tell the public why people do or don't get in. This is one part of the NFL that needs to change, sooner rather than later!

The one thing I take away from last night, other than Atlanta should be able to get the Super Bowl again (it won't rain in the Georgia Dome!), is that I was happy to see a Manning win a Super Bowl. The New York Daily News even caught up with Archie Manning who thinks watching last night was good for Eli. Watching, that's what Eli is going to do until he gets a new coach!!!

Friday, February 02, 2007

PICK OF THE LITTER ...

Here it is, Friday before the big game and everyone is making their picks.

Why should I be different? I have an opinion, I think? Maybe I should ask my family what I think, they might know better.

Nah. I know this one. It's easy to pick this game.

For the last few years, the Colts have been the favorite and they have blown it. Well this time they won't. It's their time and Peyton has been average at best so far throughout this playoff run. His time comes on Sunday in the Florida sunset. Tony Dungy has spent many years in the NFL as a head coach and has never won the big one. He's endured professional and family issues over the years to finally get his due.

The one curveball for me is that the game is on grass, not turf. Hurts the Colts speed, but they will pull out a 34-30 win. So if you are going to bet the game, take the points and the Bears. I know it's not easy to bet on Rex Grossman coming through, but he's got a solid running game and defense. I just think that destiny on the side of the guys who wear the horseshoe on the helmet.

I know the folks in Baltimore are rooting hard for the Bears and I appreciate and understand it. Seeing an Irsay lift a Lombardi Trophy makes many ill, but it's not about them this weekend.

All I hope is that the game lives up to the hype and that we get some good commercials.

Enjoy the weekend and the game.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

FIRST BIG RACE OF 08 TAKING SHAPE

It's not funny yet, but you know it's going to be fun to watch.

Al Franken is about to jump into the fun of the Minnesota 08 Senate Race versus incumbent Norm Coleman.

While I am a fan of Norm, I know many people aren't. Some even read my blog once in a while and some live in Minnesota.

It's going to be a race to watch in 08 as the Democrats will be going after Norm hard. A lot of money will be going towards this race and because of Al's name will be on national television often.

Still a distant second to the presidential race - but there are going to a bunch of races to watch.

If you don't know who Terry McAuliffe is, here's a quick wikipedia on him. He's been a major part of the Clinton machine for a long time and now he's jumping in with the Hillary machine for 08. You will see him on television for the next two years on a daily basis. He's one of the best fundraisers on the Democratic side, but when he ran the Democratic Party, he just didn't have the magic touch. Now that he is back with a Clinton, will be fun to see him work it.

Here's the laugh of the day - Frank Caliendo is a great impressionist and funny as can be -
http://www.frankcaliendo.com/index.php?page=video