What happened?

I remember my childhood like it was yesterday. I remember the music my older brother brought home. I would wonder what is rock n roll? Is this something important? Doesn't sound like neapolitan folk songs my parents played on the stereo record player? The singers sing songs that have words in english and they use electrical instruments. There were three albums my brother brought home he had borrowed from his friends that I would listen to secretly when he was in school, my parents were off to work, and I was home alone. Those were Sticky Fingers, Blonde on Blonde, and Let it Be.  I had favorites on these albums I would listen to repetitively. No doubt I must have listened to Dead Flowers, Just Like a Woman, and Two of Us a thousand times each. That's why I cringe sometimes when I hear them again. Listening to Dylan led me to read about Dylan and his folk roots and his crossing over to the electric guitar etc etc. Led me to study folk music from Leadbelly to Woody ...

The Toronto Maple Leafs had dominated game 7 versus the Boston Bruins but dramatically the Bruins came back in the third to eliminate a 4-1 lead. Into overtime they went and it ended like they call it a sudden death for the leafs. Series over. The New York Islanders were dominating Game 6 versus the Penguins in overtime when the Penguins stole the puck in the Islanders end. It ended up on Brooks Orpik's stick. He took a shot that seemed to float and have eyes. Game over, series over on a fluke shot. The Montreal Canadiens had outplayed Ottawa most of Game 4. The Senators tied the game in the last minute on a goal-mouth scramble. Early in the overtime period, Kyle Turris took a shot that seemed to float and have eyes. For all intents and purposes that was the end of the series. Sudden death is not fair. Buffalo still remembers Brett Hull and his controversial game winning overtime goal, and most people are still trying to see the shot Patrick Kane made to win the Stanley Cup for the...

Mario and PK. I love the comparisons and the potential. Balotelli and Subban have proven a lot already, but have a lot more to prove. Yes they are from different worlds european football and north american hockey, Italy and Canada, but they are joined at the hip because they are considered as enfants terrible by their peers and by the sports establishment. Pk Subban is 15 months older than Mario Balotelli. His parents migrated from the Caribbean and settled in Canada. Pk's father was a long-time hab's fan even though he lived in leaf-land. Pk had a wide smile when he was drafted by the habs. I remember Pk being interviewed during the draft and to say he was ecstatic was an understatement. Even then he was brimming with confidence and told any journalist within earshot that he was ready to play for the Habs the next season. What to say about Pk Subban's year? His flamboyant skating combined with precision passing and missile like shot have led to murmurs of a Norris. He...

Ok call me nuts but I want the Habs to win the cup. So this is what I want Bergevin to trade for in order for us to win the Cup: Kevin Westgarth- Makes $550,000, is 6'4 and has held his own versus Colton Orr and Fraser Mclaren this year. When the habs meet either the Bruins, Leafs, or Flyers he may be needed to keep the habs from taking a physical beating. A late round pick or a Travis Moen in exchange. Jaromir Jagr- Is an unrestricted free agent after this year and what he really wants is another shot at the Cup before he retires. He has played with Plekanec in the past but would look good with Eller as well. He could teach Eller a few tricks. Yes he is a bit of a free spirit but he can't do much damage to team chemistry arriving at year-end. A late round pick or a Travis Moen in exchange. Dominic Moore- Was excellent with Habs during their playoff run in 2010. He has not played all year and that is an issue. He brings speed and some scoring capability. A good 4th liner ...

A lot of people are in a dander over Carey Price including myself. I am on the fence about Carey. I have a hard time understanding the praise he gets considering his lack of accomplishments with the Habs.  I question signing Price long term after the Habs finished last in 2012. As well, the price is not right at 6.5 million per year. He had been handed the starting job over someone who outperformed him. Halak was traded away so Price could be crowned the starting goalie of the future. I always think people should earn this by merit not by pedigree or whatever. So far in his career Carey Price has won 46% of the games he has played. In comparison Brodeur has won 55% of the games he has played, Lundquist 54%, Miller 54%, Nabakov 52%,  Fleury 53%, Crawford 55%, Howard 56%, Halak 53%, Rinne 54%, and Kiprusoff 52%. Those are 10 goalies. Luongo has just a 46% winning percentage but he has played on dreadful teams in the past. People still insist on saying Price is a top 5 g...

PK Subban- The myth, the legend, the facts. Well what to do about PK. Who is right or wrong?  Tyler Myers is younger than PK Subban by 8 months. Myers has played 3 years in the NHL. These are his stats: He has played 217 NHL games, scored 29 goals, 79 assists, 108 total points, and has an overall +18. The intangibles is that he is the key to the buffalo defence and is physically imposing even if he doesn't really play a physical game. Pk Subban has played 160 games in the NHL, scored 21 goals, 55 assists, 76 total points. The intangibles are his incredible speed and his physical high intensity game. Myers never played in the AHL. Subban was forced to play 77 games in Hamilton where he had 18 goals, 35 assists, 53 points and was a wow +46. Tyler Myers signed a contract during the summer for 38.5 million for 7 years averaging 5.5 million for these 7 years. The Canadiens are apparently trying to sign PK to a short term of 2 years with a contract ranging anywhere fr...

Well it looks like we might have a deal in the hockey lock-out. It better happen for the sake of hockey not for the sake of the NHL or Gary Bettman. Even die-hard fans are beginning to be repulsed by this dreary capitalistic soap opera that no one cares about. I have observed the tweets and PR wars going on by both sides. It's easy to blame both sides when both sides earn seven figures. However, there are some economic principles involved that we cannot ignore. One thing should be obvious this is not a case of a failed league trying to salvage its existence. Gary Bettman does not earn 7.5 million a year because he is trying to rescue a sinking ship. The league's revenues have quadrupled in a decade and are now in the 3 billion range. Have the player's salaries quadrupled? Jaromir Jagr made more money fifteen years ago than Sidney Crosby makes now. The owners are paying Gary Bettman in part for destroying the backbone of the player's union in 2004 and in...