Very Sad--If It's True

The school I graduated from was VERY small. In fact, the entire school had just a few more students than were in The Youngest's graduating class. The stars of the school were the athletes, the basketball players. (Other than track, the school only had basketball.) I don't think a basketball player could have gotten into trouble if he had beheaded someone in front of the district superintendent. That is how much power the athletes had. And I found the same mind-set when I went to the local university--only THERE it was the hockey players than were worshiped as gods. And so it goes at every level of our country: athletes can get away with anything. And so we come to today's story of Patrick Kane's arrest.

By now, I think everyone--at least hockey fans--have heard the story. Kane and his cousin took a cab ride, the cabbie didn't have $.20 in change to give them, the cousin and Kane beat the guy and took their $15 back from him. The kids were arrested and now the waiting begins for 'the rest of the story (?).'

Thinking that ANYONE would beat another person over $.20 is ludicrous. To think that someone making the kind of money that Kane does, is beyond belief. However, it is almost implied in some of the reports that alcohol may have been a factor in this incident. (The area of Buffalo where the two were picked up is the night-club district.) Most people don't beat someone up just because they are drunk, but a lot of people do stupid things while drunk--especially when very, very young. (I still, even at my advanced age, can embarrass the hell out of myself if I have too many drinks.)

If the real reason this happened--if it proves to be true--is because Kane feels entitled as an athlete, then I hope he gets knocked down so low that he would need a ladder just to see the underside of a snake's belly. But, unfortunately, too many athletes--professional and non--believe they are entitled just because they can run, jump, hit, shoot, etc, better than most other people. And too many times, they are proven right.

I don't really expect anything to come of this incident--for Kane, anyway. I think there is a better than even chance that the cousin will take the fall and the cab driver will get hush money. Patrick Kane will have an NHL career for as long as he wants--or as long as he can score goals.

Calder Winner?

The Hockey News has listed the top five Calder Trophy candidates for the 2009-10 season and Ville Leino is listed as number 4.

"Ville Leino is the most mature among our top crop and will be counted on to provide offense in Detroit."

It's nice to see him getting recognition for his talent, however, this can backfire as well. Some players can't handle the pressure, but I don't think--okay, I HOPE--that it isn't a problem for Leino. He is, after all, older than most rookies and was a star in Finland before coming here, so he knows what pressure is all about. He showed a maturity when he stayed in Grand Rapids last year instead of taking the option of returning to Finland when he didn't get to stay in Detroit. He has some work to do, but should do well this year. Calder winner? We can only hope.

The other four in the top five are: 1) Cody Hodgson, 2) John Tavares, 3) Nikita Filatov, 5) Simeon Varlamov.

The Smile Is Getting Bigger

When I read yesterday that Hossa had a small tear of the rotator cuff, I smiled. Not that I want him to be hurt, mind you, just that this seemed to be a small bit of payback for the way Chicago screwed the Wings. Today the smile definitely got bigger when it was announced that he would, after all, have surgery to repair the damage and would miss the first two months of the season. Whoa! Let the imploding begin?

Huh?

mLive.com has several stories about Hudler's move/non-move to Russia today--and I STILL don't understand what the hell is going on. It seems as if the more it is explained, the more confusing it is. At one point in my reading, I got the understanding that Hudler WILL be staying in the States--with the Wings or through a trade to another team. At another point, it seemed as if he will be going to Russia. As George Malik said, 'something's getting lost in the translation.' Hopefully all of this will be resolved sooner rather than later--and Hudler will be allowed to go to Russia.

Just For Laughs

(Off The Mark by Mark Parisi)

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I TOTALLY understand this woman--I'd be upset if a Wings' game was interrupted, too. (From Not Always Right.)

Customer: *on the phone and angry* “HOW DARE YOU RUN AN EMERGENCY ALERT DURING THE RED SOX GAME?! BASES LOADED!”

Me: “Ma’am, I’m sorry for the inconvenience. We have no control over the emergency alerts.”

Customer: “CAN’T THEY DO IT AT NIGHT?! I’M TRYING TO WATCH THE GAME! BASES ARE LOADED!”

Me: “Again, ma’am, unfortunately the emergency alert will broadcast during an emergency situation; we have no control over when that will happen.

Customer: “WELL YOU BETTER GET SOME CONTROL OVER IT!” *click*

Next Season Schedule

The schedule was announced today and there really isn't much to talk about--they play, that's about it. The home opener will be against Chicago, so that should produce a lot of interest and, possibly, venom to start the year. Pitts and Detroit will play twice again this year and Washington will play in Detroit. While they will play on my birthday, they won't be at home, so no going to the Joe as a birthday gift for me. The Hubby says we WILL get to see a game this year, but I've heard that one before--I'm not holding my breath.

Hmmm...

So, what exactly does it mean to the Wings that Stan Bowman is the new GM for Chicago? Hard to say, but I certainly see Scotty's hand in all of the changes going on there. Despite the fact that Scotty lead the Wings to the Cup, he rubs me the wrong way. I really don't think I would like the guy in real life. Just saying. This season is going to be interesting, to say the least.