...randomness surrounding Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, and other great indie rock bands; a quasi objective look at "my" sporting teams; the random horror film; plus other crap as we see fit...all with a Pittsburgh based feel.
Tom Renney (puke) has one of the youngest teams in the NHL. They were also eliminated from playoff contention in December. So what better way to groom his young club (with nothing to play for) than to implement the neutral zone trap. Don't play hockey. That would be the wrong thing to do. Teach them how to dumb down the game.
Yesterday's Pens game against Edmonton was pretty much the mirror opposite of Saturday's loss to Montreal. The main difference being the Pens scored first, forcing the Oilers to play the game. Edmonton had a whopping 2 SOG's in the 1st period. From that point on...game over.
The Pens stay 3 pts back of Philly (2 games in hand), so that's still a steep hill. But staying ahead of Tampa Bay for home ice in the 4 vs. 5 match-up would be nice. They're currently +3 on Tampa, and the Bolts have a game in hand.
Great team effort. Even Chris Conner, who was a healthy scratch the last 2 was buzzing all over the ice. Kris Letang looked better, but that dude is a tired man. PK was phenomenal again, killing a 5-on-3 for almost 2 minutes without conceeded 1 SOG. PP was pretty miserable for most of the day, again, at least until James Neal fed Kunitz with his 2nd of the game. Hopefully, that's a sign they're jelling.
#1 Star - Kuni. 2 goals. I love my Kuni. #2 Star - Staal. 1 and 1, +2. #3 MR. KENNEDY. Kennedy. 3 helpers.
my French isn't the greatest, so piss off. What we're trying to say is...that was the worst Pens effort of the year. Yeah, it was Montreal. And yeah, we sucked again. The Habs get the early goal, go into their little shitty trap...and it was a puke fest for the entire 60 minutes.
Kris Letang may have played the worst game of his season. He should be forgiven, though. He was getting hammered over at our place Friday night, spinning records, rocking out all night. Clearly he was hung over. Turns out he's a huge Devo fan, though. So that's cool. He also says UTBUTS is a better album than Universal Truths and Cycles.
the limited edition 7" is available through Kill Rock Stars HERE. Also...after finishing their Euro tour with the Coathangers (Yast's favorite), they will be hitting the road in June with Matt & Kim. No Pittsburgh date...sigh.
per KRS:
The video for The Thermals' latest single, "Not Like Any Other Feeling", was filmed over the course of 6 months in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington.
Primarily animating in chalk on a 20x40 foot portion of the wall surrounding the Sound Transit Construction Site at Cal Anderson Park, a team of over 50 volunteers worked with the members of the Seattle Experimental Animation Team (SEAT) under the direction of animator Clyde Petersen.
Frame by frame, on the wall and the command modules in the park, the team animated both their bodies and control panels to create a historic revision of the famous first visit to the moon. It was shot both in digital stills and Super 8 film, and later composited into an edit that Petersen then rotoscoped stars, the moon and space barf on top of for the final results.
especially when GBV plays there. APRIL 29-30th. TWO of the greatest nights of our lives. TWO back-to-back nights of Guided by Voices sans travel. This is going to be pretty not bad. TIX go on sale next Friday, March 18th.
I don't watch nearly as much college hoops as I used to. But one thing hasn't changed. I still have no idea what is and what isn't a foul. No wonder all these hoops coaches look like nut jobs.
Had to feel for former Bobby Mo guy Mike Rice yesterday. Rice was too busy going crazy over the plethora of missed calls (justifiably so) to realize the real blunder with 1.7 seconds left. After gaining possession on the Rutgers inbound, some Johnnies player took a sprint with the rock out of bounds, and basically, all 3 refs looked like deer in headlights. Game and season over for Rice.
Hockey and footie refs get a lot of razzing for missed calls, but imho, the basketball zebras are the absolute worst.
In other hoops news, our beloved Bob fell to Long Island last night. It was a great free throw contest that went to OT, but in the end, our Colonials couldn't shoot as many free throws as LIU. Nice rookie season for HC Andy Toole. The Bob is young...they'll be back.
In September, I spent one of the best weeks of my life in NYC with a crew of great friends...sipping brew, eating pizza, and rawking Central Park with my 2nd favorite band for 4 straight nights. This is a sneak snippet from the upcoming Ragman ProductionGratification to Pavement. So jackt for this...
Tonight at 7:00 on ESPN2. Your Robert Morris Colonials look to become the first team in NEC history to win 3 straight trips to the Big Dance!! This will be their toughest task. Long Island is at home, and have won 21 of their last 22 games. Meanwhile, RMU has been playing without their leading scorer Karon Abraham, who was lost back in February.
But super soph Velton Jones (below) and frosh Coron Williams have been stepping up big time, and while this team is pretty young (HC Andrew Toole, at 29, is the youngest in the country), I think they're crazy enough to win this thing.
MONSTER game from James Neal last night. The consensus was that Neal played his best game Saturday night against Boston. He bested that against Buffalo, and had a hand in all 3 Pens goals. The 1st one was a beaut, and Neal's first G as a Pen. You could see the weight lifted off his shoulders as his new teammates were all smiles around him. Neal then assists on Zyb Michalek's 1st goal in 337 games (and 1st as a Pen). He then aids on the clincher with a great hustle play, keeps the puck in the zone, before Michalek let another one fly on net...this one getting deflected by Test Tube. 1 goal, 1 assist, +3 on the night. #1 Star.
#2 Star goes to Michalek. What a stud of an off-season signing from Ray Shero. Michalek is like having a second goalie on the ice, and isn't counted on for much O. But he's got a great head up ice, and is exceptional at getting the puck out of the zone, and into the forwards' hands. He's the perfect fit for Bylsma's system, and makes us all forget about Rob Scuderi. 1 goal, 1 assist.
#3 Star for Fleury. What a human being. Dude needs serious Vezina Trophy consideration. The Hart is also a possibility. Fleury's heroics with all of the man games lost is the definition of MVP. If teh Pens surpass Philly for Eastern Conference supremacy, the argument gets even stronger.
also...
welcome back Chris Kunitz. Solid game. We missed ya.
Power Play was 0-for-23. That needs to change, otherwise, teams will take liberties. And you never want your opponents to take liberties.
3-0 Footie Day!! bury your man!
As I mentioned elsewhere, if there's been a better futbol player than Lionel Messi, I need to see it. The Barcelona attack is pure joy to watch. Arsenal is not a shabby team, yet they spent the majority of the match (I think the possession was something like 95/5 in favor of Barca) on their heels, holding on for dear life.
Sorry, but that's just sour grapes. Barcelona scored all 4 goals of the 3-1 win (just 1 was in the wrong net). They were the better team, and in a big way. I guess I didn't realize it, but Arsenal had 0 (ZERO!) shots on goal. Tough way to win. And if you don't want to leave a second yellow in the ref's hands (V Persie), don't be an ass bag and take your first yellow.
Must admit, as much as Barcelona dominated the statistics, being only one mistake away from being ousted (and out 4-1 odds) had me sweating a bit. But they advance, WINNER.
I love watching my Barcelona.
The Shak put Roma out of its misery, 3-Nil. (WINNER). The biggest moment for me came in the 87th when Eduardo slipped the 3rd goal past that powder puff Doni. OVER! (WINNER). Actually, it should've went over a while back, but Borriello choked all over his PK attempt. Roma was cooked at that moment. And Shakhtar Donetsk will be an underestimated but tough draw for anybody in the next round.
TODAY's PICKS:
I've already got Valencia to advance, and while Raul's 1-1 tying goal gives Schalke the advantage coming back home, I'm gonna let this ride. No attempt to hedge, no great feel for this...Abstain.
Tottenham. WINNER. I've got the Spurs with the odds to advance, and I'll take the small odds here on the WIN as well. AC Milan looked like a defeated squad last time out, with Gattuso going all berzerker and stuff. When's the last time that ponce Ibra did anything in this competition? Never? Tough times for Serie A in the CL this week.
standing at 5-5 currently (with a small minus after odds). Today...back in black.
It's another month, which means it's time for another Robert Pollard album. Uncle Bob's 3rd release of 2011, and it's not even porch time yet. Mars Classroom combines Bob, Gary Waleik of Big Dipper, and Robert Beerman of Pell Mell.
You can pre-order (3/29 release date) The New Theory of Everything at the Factory of Raw Essentials. It's probably going to kick your ass.
2nd legs start up today, and the match everyone will be eying is Arsenal taking on my Barcelona back at the Camp Nou. Arsenal made this return leg very interesting with their shocking come from behind 2-1 win. Getting the W was a must...and puts them in much better shape to advance than last year's home draw did.
Sounds like Spaniard Cesc Fabregas will be back in the starting 11 for the Gunners. That'll help. But the absence of Van Persie (doubtful) and Walcott will not. My heart says Barca gets it done today. My money says I'm abstaining from the game's action. Besides...having laid the 4-1 odds for Barca to advance will have me sweating enough in my Xavi jersey. I may even break out the old Deco shorts for this one and sport the entire home kit :)
The Over 3 at a whopping -155 says the experts call for a lot of goals. I concur. Not enough to play it, but I concur. Without center backs Pique and Puyol on Barca's back line...I'm worried even more.
In the "other" match of the day, with Shakhtar Donetsk leading 3-2 against Roma and heading back home, I'm gonna call the Over 2.5. Roma needs to open it up and score (at least 2 goals to advance). This will most likely make their suspect defense even more suspect. Shakhtar playmaker Fernandinho will return, and they will miss defender Olexandr Kucher...both good factors for the Over. While Roma will be without the suspended Jeremy Menez (lazy), Italian striker Marco Borriello should return to his starter's role. And with 4 G's in 7 GP's...that's a good thing. And if all of the above doesn't spell Over...there is the John Arne-Riise factor, who is always good for at least one OG.
I've already got Shaktar to advance, so I'm gonna abstain on the side.
TONIGHT! Just a heads up if you plan on going to this...get there EARLY. Last time he was in town, we headed over to Mr Smalls at the regular time, @ 8:30-ish. We walked in, and saw JR do his last two songs. Oops.
kind of a cool video to the Modern Lovers "She Cracked"...
Due to the hangover from the previous night's Pens celebration, I decided to skip Pipers, sleep in, and DVR the 8:30am Liverpool / Manchester Utd game. Watching it "live," a few hours afterwards, and clear of Jagerbomb head seemed more appropriate for this Sunday morning.
WINNER!
Dirk Kuyt gets the hat trick. I love that guy. Luis Suarez provided some magic. Liverpool legend Phil Thompson was pumpt...
The Kop was amped. Andy Carroll made his debut. And there was a great moment late in the game, when the Kop could be heard singing happy birthday to Kenny Dalglish. The King responded with a big smile and wave to the crowd. It was bitter sweet.
When the household is divided in its support of this fixture, there is added excitement. And there is extra gratification when your team embarrasses their team. From what I was hearing on the other side of the living room, I doubt Jess will be getting a Nani jersey any time soon.
Watching Nani roll around on the pitch, crying...was humorous at the time. Sure...Jamie Carragher's tackle was pretty vicious and could have been a red. But seeing Nani get up, sprint to the ref, and then tumble again...sorta detracts from the sympathy. Our official standpoint is he felt shame. Combined with the gash, the shame from assisting on Liverpool's second goal...
led to tears...
Upon further review...appears the Nani injury is pretty substantial, as these brutal pics will verify (thanks to RandoMango for the link). I probably would've cried. That said, footie haters will have a laugh at this, and again point to the flailing and embellishing of prima donna players.
Odds are against my Reds getting higher than 6th in the Prem. They're 6 points back of both Tottenham (1 game in hand) and Chelsea (2 games in hand). But this win was huge for the confidence and the future. Man Utd was flat, but the Liverpool attack was very impressive. For at least one day...we rejoice with a massive W over our biggest rival. While they remain stunned...
Due to the conflicting RMU Playoff game across the river at the Island Sports Complex (they lost), we decided to DVR the Pens / Bruins game Saturday night and watch it "live" 3 hours afterwards. Tough to stay misinformed about a Pens game in Pittsburgh, at a hockey game...but with some tactical hands plugging ears, eyes straight forward (the ISC has TVs airing the Pens game), and cell phones off...WE DID IT!
The mission was rewarding: booze, pizza, and maybe the best Pens game all year. Fleury was back in form. The hitting was hard, clean and all over the place. Shawn Thornton got his ass kicked. And James Neal, although remaining goal-less in a Penguin sweater, absolutely creamed big Z. Somewhere, Don Cherry was creaming, too...as Milan Lucic was also dishing out the physicalities. (I'm on record as saying I'd like that guy on my team...despite Cherry's man crush on him).
After a great 1st period from our Beloved, the B's strike first and everything in our world sucks again. 3 minutes later, Staalsy!!!...remain calm! 1-1. Tough to tell who took the bigger spill: Staal, who got cheapshotted into the cross bar after the goal...or Yast, who went flying across the living room as he raced for the goal lamp. For the record: Yast blamed "new socks" on the slippery wooden floor.
1 minute later, Dustin Jeffrey puts in his 6th of the season, and all of a sudden, we're going back to the Stanley Cup Finals. The energy inside 1512 Center was crazy. Up 2-1 against one of the best teams in the East in their house. We were flying high.
Of course Boston would pull Tim Thomas and get the tying goal with @ 30 seconds left to play. Of course.
OT again, what else is new. 1 point, and it felt like pending doom again. No fear, Dustin Jeffrey is here. WINNER. FCKYA!!!
DJ is nowhere to be found on the 3 stars list, but he gets our #1 Star.Fleury was a beast all game long...he's our #2 Star. And because I was boozy, I can't decide who was better...Michalek or Paul Martin, so they split my #3 Star. Even more impressive, noting Martin logged 35 minutes of ice time the night prior in New Jersey.
James Neal played a great game...and his goals will come. Niskanen continues to impress.
What a huge W. And if they go on to do anything in the playoffs, we can go back and point to this one. On the road for a 2nd straight night, and they outwork the Bruins for much of the night. Shots aren't everything, but 29 SOG thru the first 2 periods was pretty massive.
Making it even bigger, the Flyers have some sorta flu bug going through the locker room and have now lost 4 in a row. A look at the standings shows the Pens a mere 2 points back of a possible #1 seed (albeit, 2 games in hand for Philly). We've got 2 games left against Philly (3/24 away, 3/29 home)...circle them. A look at the next 4 shows very winnable games: Buffalo, Montreal (hot), and Edmonton at home...followed by a mailed-it-in-early Senator squad on the road. Somebody's pumpt.
