"That,": Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said, "was officially heartbreaking." Backstrom knocks in winning goal for wrong team.

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 07:53 PM - 8 comments

A Pro Hockey Player, a Noise Label, a Dream Realized: Boyd Devereaux grows tired of the usual Nickelback and Bon Jovi pre-game pump up jams and begins surreptitious nightly excursions into the underground psych and noise scenes, which will lead him to found his own record label.

posted by qbert72 to culture at 09:09 AM - 6 comments

'Hubba Hubba and Other Grunting Sounds': That's how 18 year old high school pole vaulter Allison Stokke was introduced to the world a couple of weeks ago. Hours later, she had already achieved sex-symbol status, in classic Internet meme fashion. Will she ever get a normal life back? Will the Washington Post front page help? Is there any hope of avoiding this kind of situation for an attractive female athlete?

posted by qbert72 to culture at 11:52 AM - 98 comments

The "old NHL" lives on.: Two of the most skilled teams in the league went at it Broad-Street-Bullies-style last night. After a questionable late hit to Chris Drury, all hell broke loose. Senators goalie Ray Emery, back from a 3-game suspension, celebrated by fighting Sabres keeper Martin Biron and enforcer Andrew Peters. Does the NHL need more or less of this?

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 02:20 PM - 59 comments

Vote for Rory!: This grassroot fan initiative has made journeyman Rory Fitzpatrick the fifth highest vote getter at his position for the upcoming All-Star game. If he can climb up to #2, he'll be a starting defenseman, alongside Scott Niedermayer or Nicklas Lidstrom. He's not sure he likes the idea.

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 08:15 PM - 6 comments

The end for Jacques?: Villeneuve is not in Hungary for this weekend's Grand Prix, in what looks to be an early and quiet exit from F1. Meanwhile, Québec media are buzzing about the prodigal son coming to NASCAR in 2007. Apparently, there is already a conditional deal with a team. It's silly season all right.

posted by qbert72 to auto racing at 10:10 PM - 5 comments

Why did Shumi do it?: At the tail end of Saturday's qualifying session, provisional pole sitter Michael Schumacher apparently decided to park his F1 in the middle of the track, in order to prevent Fernando Alonso from having a shot at first place on the grid. Keke Rosberg called it "the cheapest, dirtiest thing I have ever seen in Formula One", while Max Mosley wants us to "take this thing in its context". The most successful driver in F1 history is no stranger to controversy.

posted by qbert72 to auto racing at 07:03 PM - 29 comments

Who needs Joe Thornton: when there is Shawn Horcoff? The hard working centerman has risen to the occasion for the 8th seeded Oilers, who eliminated the San Jose Sharks yesterday, to complete the NHL semi-finals picture. None of the last 4 teams standing made the playoffs last season.

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 11:09 AM - 12 comments

Booing:: not just for Canadians anymore!

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 11:26 AM - 84 comments

"I'm an athlete, I can walk up the stairs": or so thought rookie sensation Clint Barmes. He's out for 3 months, with a broken clavicle. No word about the state of his groceries.

posted by qbert72 to baseball at 08:33 PM - 6 comments

"That's the oasis right now,": Thrashers center Marc Savard said. "You get out there, and there is only the hockey." The Atlanta players began the season with their longest unbeaten streak in history, after losing two teammates. Professional athletes too can find solace in sport.

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 03:32 AM - 7 comments

The soft goal to end all soft goals?: The Mighty Ducks got their first win against the Devils, in the fashion they've won a lot of their playoff games so far: in overtime and getting all the lucky breaks. Does Ozolinsh's fluke goal signal the return of the Disney magic, and the beginning of true series, or is this just a bump in the road to the Devils' coronation?

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 08:00 PM - 15 comments

"This is not a hockey team, it's a cult.": Who's afraid of the Minnesota Wild? Canucks' GM Brian Burke, for starters. Second round playoff action begins tomorrow, and features a lot of unexpected teams. Four of the eight teams left have never made it past Round 2. Is one of those four teams poised to make a run at the Cup, like last year's Hurricanes? Or will they roll over, and leave us with a Dallas-New Jersey final? What are your predictions?

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 10:33 PM - 28 comments

Ducks win! Ducks win! Ducks win! Should they be considered the new Cup favorites?

posted by qbert72 to hockey at 02:41 AM - 24 comments