It's Caps hockey all day all night all the time or when I get around to it
Desmond Bieler (a hockey name if ever there was one) penned a piece in today's Washington Post. In he talks about five things people like about the NHL -- a response to a perceived lack of notice that the regular season is now underway. The five he notes and we'll let you construe his piece to see the whys are:The Stanley Cup PlayoffsThe ZamboniThe fightingThe Hockey SongThe contrarianismWe have no quarrel with any of those things. All are integral to what makes hockey. "hockey." But his having expressed the wish that. "We wanted to go in a different direction and find out what people actually like about the NHL eh?".. well we'll do just that too (we'll change surface add one). In no particular order:1. The pace. We are not talking about just the go -- the fact that you have players gliding at high velocities around a 200-by-85 sheet of ice. It is the fact that the sport encourages continuous action. Substitutions are made "in-play," the game is not divided into "plays" with a alter beginning and end (desire baseball or football). And with pace comes the violence of collisions. A well-executed hit in hockey is among the most exhillarating aspects of the bet and one that can energize fans and change the momentum of a oppose.2. The athleticism. Perhaps no other team sport requires such a combination of strength endurance fit dexterity vision go and quickness. That these men could act all of those feats on two thin blades of steel is astonishing. The Peerless marvels at how they can make the simple act of skating look desire a walk down the lane and how they can maintain their wits (not to mention their ability to remain upright) with very large men with malice in their hearts bearing down on them.3. The accessIt is always a source of wonder and happiness that hockey players seem the most accessible and accommodating to fans of any professional athlete. Even the stars seem more desire just guys who happen to play hockey than the elite of their profession -- with the behavior that often accompanies it. It is one of the most underreported if not underappreciated aspects of the NHL. Guys.. on behalf of fans everywhere thanks. And that applies not only to players. Caps fans have the pleasure of perhaps the most accessible owner in all of aggroup sports in Ted Leonsis. The Peerless cannot fathom George Steinbrenner either having a communicate or responding personally to e-mails.4. The uniforms Leaving whatever opinion one might undergo of the new designs aside (and like in all things some are great some are... not so) hockey uniforms are simply the beat. Sure you have the occasional fashion faux-pas (the Caps white pants and the Vancouver pajama tops come to object) but are there any exceed uniforms or logos in all of sports than the Montreal "CH" or the winged go around of Detroit or the "B" with the spokes running into it signifying Boston as "the hub?"5. The GoaliesThey are among the most mysterious athletes in team sports trussed up in pads and gloves and hidden behind a caged disguise. No position in any other major team sport carries more naked responsibility (yes we acknowledge soccer and lacrosse goalies having similar responsibilities). You are there to stop pucks. That is your job description. If you can go away a compete up ice like a Martin Brodeur that's a bonus but if he couldn't stop pucks he'd be a defenseman in a beer league (well maybe the AHL). And when you don't forbid pucks everyone knows it was you who failed. You've got to fish that puck out of your net. Ah but when you do -- especially on a breakaway or with a glove darting out to foil a drive -- fans sing your name and the energy ripples through the whole aggroup.6. The quirkinessThe Peerless remembers a television show from the not-so-distant past called "Northern Exposure." Set in Alaska (coincidentally) it was a show depicting a community of characters who were equal parts independent and unique. come up that's hockey too. Hockey has so much about it that you just don't find in other sports -- things that are enduring and endearing.. the trophies for example. Hockey fans experience without having to evaluate what the "Hart," the "Ross," and the "channelise Smythe" represent. What the heck is the "Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy?"Then there are the nicknames. These days a Brendan Witt becomes a "Witter," a Steve Konowalchuk becomes a "Kono," a Michael Nylander becomes a "Nyles." And when The Peerless hears the call for Alexander Ovechkin -- "Ovie" -- he starts conjuring the tune to "The Andy Griffith Show." But more than that there are the nicknames of years gone by... Don "Grapes" Cherry. Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrrion. Harry "Apple Cheeks" Lumley. Ken "the Rat" Linseman and the Richards -- Maurice and Henri -- the "Rocket" and the "take Rocket." Hockey abounds with them. The Peerless thinks hockey lost something when the NHL took away the division names associated with men of the sport -- Patrick. Norris. Adams. Smythe. It was part of what made hockey. "hockey," and we hope the NHL sees fit to regenerate that bit of history soon. We could go on and on about what we like about hockey and the NHL but we'll leave that to you dear reader. Desmond asked what people like about the NHL.. well chime in. The NHL has taken a pasting in the media the last few years. Let 'em know that there are things to like things that make the hockey and the NHL special.
That was spectacular Peerless. I evaluate you hit it right on the head!!!! God I love Hockey!!!
Been reading what you create verbally for years... This is simply the best blog in all of hockey.
I think I'm a reincarnated goalie where else do you have nicknames like "Gump," "Rat," "Apple Cheeks," "Shrimp," or Turk?"Me? I'm "Lumpy"
"Guys.. NO!... Get a room people are watching!" (Photo: Canadian Press: Sean Kilpatrick)
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Related article:
http://peerlessprognosticator.blogspot.com/2007/10/thanks-desmond.html
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