FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Knightstalker]

Wildcat11 will be in heaven next Saturday as he attends the annual Oregon Brewfest in downtown Portland.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read all of the participating breweries.  I'll be sure to raise a glass to the PP'ers around the globe.

My mouth is watering

Is it surprising that a brewery from San Francisco is offering fruit beer?

[BDB]

Wildcat11 will be in heaven next Saturday as he attends the annual Oregon Brewfest in downtown Portland.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read all of the participating breweries. 

Finsleft and I only need one participating brewery. 

[Willy Wonka]

*Warning- lengthy hockey related post ahead!

Just to ad a bit to what B-man and Repete stated.
Hockey is a very fast game. A lot of what happens on the ice is missed by the camera, the fans and more importantly, the refs, but you can bet damn well it isn't missed by the players! Intimidation did and to an extent still does play a role in the game. Intimidation does not equal fighting, but it does mean being willing and able to defend the space around you and in particular your premier players. Once again I am going to pimp out the book The Code. I don't have it here at the computer with me, but there is one story in it where a scorer talks about how before a certain enforcer/goon joined his team, he was constantly having to deal with stick work from the opposing team. They would take "liberties" if you will. Once the well known goon joined the team, just his presence alone opened up the ice. The book tells some kind of funny stories about the mind games that player would use to intimidate, like one goon who would wait until the official was about to drop the puck to announce to his linemates that he was feeling good that night and wanted to fight so they could highstick, board, and run players all they wanted. You can damn well bet that the other team's line probably thought twice about going into the corners after that!

I will admit that at some level the book made me very sad. But then I had to remind myself that hockey has its own culture. These guys have known that there is a price that they have to pay to play this game at a certain level since they were little kids. Right or wrong, that is the way it is. Most of the time in hockey fights, they are willing combatants. For some players, fighting is the way they made the team and even if I feel sorry for them, it is a choice they made that makes them a hell of a lot more money than I make. The "new" NHL has cut down on the number of players that are on rosters just to fight/intimidate. They have to now bring some skills to the table with them. I think that the NHL and their inability/unwillingness to deal with on ice transgressions in an equitable way combined with the instigator rule is just playing with fire.

I hate watching hockey but can't help from chiming in here.

Little padding? Intimidation? Goons protecting the stars? Is it just me or does this describe the NBA in the late 80s/early 90s perfectly? If Pat Riley's vision of perfection (Miamia, New York, Detroit, etc.) wouldn't have ben blunted by rule changes, these things that you glorify in the NHL would have killed the NBA. It makes me sick just thinking about watching the old Heat/Knicks playoff battles...

Oh, and Twins talk...Mongo is at the Twins game today as the first part of his birthday celebration that will continue into the weekend. If you see squinty eyes with a Circle Me Bert sign, it's probably him.

[bennie]

If Pat Riley's vision of perfection (Miamia, New York, Detroit, etc.) wouldn't have ben blunted by rule changes, these things that you glorify in the NHL would have killed the NBA. It makes me sick just thinking about watching the old Heat/Knicks playoff battles...

I will admit that I don't watch the NBA. I haven't since the hey day of the Celtics back in the late 80's. Oh how things could have been different if Len Bias hadn't overdosed...*sigh*

Anyway, as someone that doesn't watch the NBA, I would have to ask if the NBA enforces these rule changes? If they do, fantastic! One of the problems in the NHL is that fair play...or at least not overtly dirty play was "enforced" by the players. If you highsticked someone intentionally, it was known that there would be retrobution. Now that the NHL has put the instigator rule in place, players really can't police themselves and quite frankly, the NHL does a crappy job of doing the policing. I would argue that 9 times out of 10 a clean fight between willing combatants will cause far less damage than chippy, dirty play that some players now resort to. Some people will try to get away with everything they can. That is true in hockey and in life. I am not sure that comparing NBA to NHL is fair. They are two very different games with rules that allow different degrees of physical contact. A good hip check is applauded in hockey, while in basketball it will get your opponent a trip to the free throw line. I won't lie, there are things about hockey, both at a professional and junior level, that I find troubling (don't get me started..oops, you already have! ), but I still enjoy watching the game with or without fighting.

[Touchdown Tommy]

I will be out of the office to Las Vegas from Friday July 20th to Monday July 23rd.  Please refer all urgent inquiries to my exemplary assistant, Finsleft.

Thanks much

The President

Sidenote: WC11, your boy Prophet makes his first post in probably a year and you have no dig or comment.  Man your game is really slipping in the offseason.

[finsleft]

Wildcat11 will be in heaven next Saturday as he attends the annual Oregon Brewfest in downtown Portland.

I almost fell out of my chair when I read all of the participating breweries. 

Finsleft and I only need one participating brewery. 

True dat, Mr. BDB. And it's again on sale at Westside for $8.95. My neighbor was there last night picking up a few, and he heard a clerk on the phone asking when the next truck was coming because they were running out of Hamm's.  8)

And hockey without fighting? It's like me without Hamm's. Either don't watch it or get used to it. At least they fight like men and throw punches, unlike the grade-school girlie fights in baseball after someone takes one on the shoulder. Kee-rist, it looks like they're all doing the dosy-do at a square dance.

[BDB]

Fins, sounds like it's time to buy heavy into the market and get long on Hamm's futures. 

TDT, are you going to visit the "ranch" while you're out there?     8)

[finsleft]

Mr. President will no doubt be spending his time at Rehab...


..and not the Lindsay Lohan kind.

[frankrickard]

I will be out of the office to Las Vegas from Friday July 20th to Monday July 23rd.  Please refer all urgent inquiries to my exemplary assistant, Finsleft.

Thanks much

The President

Sidenote: WC11, your boy Prophet makes his first post in probably a year and you have no dig or comment.  Man your game is really slipping in the offseason.

Sounds like a lame excuse for the real thing TDT is doing this weekend...dressing up and waiting in line for the  new Harry Potter book with Willy

[bennie]

And hockey without fighting? It's like me without Hamm's. Either don't watch it or get used to it. At least they fight like men and throw punches, unlike the grade-school girlie fights in baseball after someone takes one on the shoulder. Kee-rist, it looks like they're all doing the dosy-do at a square dance.

All this talk of the NBA and chippy play makes me think of this! The broadcaster are hilarious!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QFcinlrgojk

And yes, I know, hockey players aren't innocent when it comes to the low blow!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b2VSj5TsEeY&mode=related&search=

[finsleft]

I will be out of the office to Las Vegas from Friday July 20th to Monday July 23rd.  Please refer all urgent inquiries to my exemplary assistant, Finsleft.

Thanks much

The President

Sidenote: WC11, your boy Prophet makes his first post in probably a year and you have no dig or comment.  Man your game is really slipping in the offseason.

Sounds like a lame excuse for the real thing TDT is doing this weekend...dressing up and waiting in line for the  new Harry Potter book with Willy

Well sho nuff, here he is...

[frankrickard]

Drove through Gustavus campus today...stadium is coming along nicely...should be sweet for homecoming against the in over their head johnnies.

[Touchdown Tommy]

TDT's Vegas Agenda may or may not include...

*Bernard Hopkins vs. Winky Wright fight Sat night at the Mandalay Bay (on HBO Pay per view)

*Celine Dion Concert

*A bender in the recliner at the Caesars Sportsbook

*4 hours of sleep

*Appearance at Minxx paying homage to Pac Man Jones "making it rain"

*Harry Potter campout at the Barnes and Noble on The Strip

*Lounging by the pool fighting off the dreaded Level 6 hangover (tough duty reference Finsleft pictorial)

[Touchdown Tommy]

Is Frank really talking shizz in mid July?  Are you kidding me Frank?  You guys will be lucky to keep the game within 20 pts.


Attention:  I will be happy to place all wagers for my buddys on the MIAC PP.  Just let me know ASAP...

[BDB]

TDT, let me help you with your agenda:

TDT's Vegas Agenda may or may not include...

*Bernard Hopkins vs. Winky Wright fight Sat night at the Mandalay Bay (on HBO Pay per view)

*Celine Dion Concert

*A bender in the recliner at the Caesars Sportsbook

*4 hours of sleep

*Appearance at Minxx paying homage to Pac Man Jones "making it rain"

*Harry Potter campout at the Barnes and Noble on The Strip

*Lounging by the pool fighting off the dreaded Level 6 hangover (tough duty reference Finsleft pictorial)

Make sure to bet the under on any Twins games.