My Pick for the Stanly Cup and the latest member of the Entourage...

Yes that is correct, it is time to pick who I think will win the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I was 50% last round. Not great by my standards. In fact I have not been that great at all this year. I was 50% in every round. Not good at all. I need to get back to work on my statistical ANALysis of the NHL and how much I know. No, really I just need to stop picking who I want to win and start picking who WILL win. I picked too much with my heart this year.



Anyway, for the finals I will let you know that I am again going to pick with my heart. In fact as I sit here I am listening to one of my Favorite bands of all time, Nobody's Children, and they are inspiring me to pick not with who probably has the momentum, but to pick with the team that I think deserves it and needs it more.

Anyway, on a related note, the Children are getting back together for a gig in Minot next summer and I am stoked. I can't wait to see if Todd Holdman can still kill the bass, if Micah Scott can still shred, oh and if Adam G can still pound the skins. Check this link to find out more. Oh and here is the music video I did for them back in the day...

Stare - Nobody's Children from hamiltongbp on Vimeo.

Okay back to the task at hand. I cannot wait for Lord Stanley's cup to be handed out and Gary Bettmann gets booed at centre ice. I love that...

STANLEY CUP FINAL

Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs Philadelphia Flyers (6)

I know that Donnie Granato said that the Hawks just did not have the depth in goalie to take it all, and I have been picking against that all the way to where we are now. So I have put in a call to Don to see if he would revise his stance or if he is now on the Hawks and picking them to win. Please wait here while I give him a call.

I just got off the phone with Don and he told me that the two things he was worried about for the Hawks in the post season was Goaltending and the playoff grit. They have answered the bell on both accounts. He said that grit is where the Hawks have had the edge in all series so far but in this round it is gonna be the key because both teams have some much grit right now the ice will be leveled on this count.

He also says that the match up between Byfuglien and Pronger is gonna be the key in this series because if Dustin can get to Pronger it will go towards the Hawks. If Pronger can keep up with the kid the Flyers will be okay but if Dustin can get Chris into the red zone advantage Hawks. He says that Niemi has answered the bell as far as his goaltending goes so he does not even question that. Donnie also said that the city of Chicago is buzzing and he will be at the games this weekend and can't wait to see how this will turn out. He thinks this is a series that is gonna be great because of the grit involved. I agree.

My observation is that Niemi looked a bit rough in the first rounds but he has looked awesome of late and the goal scorers on the Hawks have picked their game up. Guys like Kane, Seabrook, and Sharp were a bit slow coming out of the gate but have gotten better as the playoffs have gone along. J Toews is a beast. Leading the playoffs in scoring and leading his team to the promised land. Might I add he is a former UND Fighting Sioux. Oh and as far as I am concerned they will always be the Fighting Sioux in my book. They can try to change the name but it will never change in the minds of the fans. Byfuglien is a guy who plays the way I would play, well, if I could actually skate worth a damn. He hits everything that moves, scores, and looks like he is having fun while doing it.

As for Philly, as I said earlier, they are team with huge grit. The Hawks could get under the skin of the Sedin sisters and Joe Thornton easy. Those guys need to add grit to their game. The Flyers have Richards, Briere, and my boy Ian Laperriere. As for their goaltending, again as I said in the last round, I keep waiting for him to crash to earth, but he hasn't. Donnie thinks he won't. He also said that the Hawks had Leighton in their system for a while and when he was in the AHL he owned it and knew that it would be that way when he got the chance in the NHL. This is gonna be a great series.

My prediction is that Dustin is gonna make Pronger very angry and Pronger will take a bad penalty that will cost him a game and the Flyers the series. I am taking the Blackhawks in 6. Read it and weep. One bonus to the Hawks winning the cup is a former Gambler will finally get his name on the cup. Adam Burish used to play for the finest team in the USHL the Green Bay Gamblers. Get on it.


There you have it. Call your bookies.



NEXT:


Our next member of the TundraTalk Entourage is none other than the man himself, Cory Blashill. Cory has been in the NHL trenches now for the past few months slogging from airport to airport bringing you all your inside look at what the players are thinking from game to game for Rogers Sportsnet. Thank you Cory for bringing this service to us every year. Oh, also did I mention he also does a helluva lot of drinking as well? Well he does. He is a pro at both of his spring endeavors, drinking and following the Stanley Cup to its final resting place for the year.

As far as I am concerned this guy could have his own Entourage if he wanted to, but he doesn't and that is why he made mine. Cory is also the first Canadian picked to be in this illustrious Entourage. He is a fixer as you would say in the biz. You have a problem, he fixes it. Whether it be you need a bottle for some mixer or you need the hookup to get tickets to the game. Cory knows everyone and everyone knows Cory. Cory is extremely loyal and is one of those guys you want on your side when the going gets tough. I am extremely proud to have him in my posse.

Cory is also a bit of a rebel. A guy who is not afraid to call it like he sees it. I cannot tell you how many times he has called me a jackass. Wait, everyone calls me a jackass. Cory calls me a Jagoff. Cory is also the guy who took the picture of the Ugly Jacket. He took huge heat for that moment in TundraTalk history. Huge heat. He was kicked off the Oilers team charter. His boss was called, as was mine, and he stood tall thru it all. He will not be intimidated. Not at all.

Cory is also the guy who did the great video for me when I got my citizenship to Canada. That was an awesome thing to do. I was really proud that day to have him in attendance at that ceremony. He took time out of his schedule to put that together for me. Killer Job. Here is a link to the video of you want to watch it.

Cory took some time last week out of his busy schedule covering the Stanley Cup to share his feelings on being selected to this posse. I guess you could say he won his own Stanley Cup by being selected to this posse...

As I received at my hotel my letter of acceptance I had to sit down and take a big breath. You might be thinking that I was so to touched by the honor. But I actually had to stop myself from punching Nick Kypreos in the chicklets due to the fact Hauser was picked first, then Nordic Man was 2, with Weiser being selected 3rd. How does a guy with my resume get picked after those guys? That is so weak.

I am now going to play the nationality card. You always draft a Canadian first. We take care off business. When it comes to the Entourage you need a good cop and a bad cop. Guess what I was selected for. Do the math donkey. Don't worry crew I got ya back.

Canadians always come in to clean up the mess!!! I am a one man wolf pack that now has 5 new wolves in my pack. Run free a wild my friends and stay thirsty.

I'm out

C

Cory, well done my friend. I will tell you why you were picked later in the draft. Drama. Pick Cory first, NO DRAMA, pick Cory middle DRAMA. Just remember Cory you and Marty are THE foundation of this Entourage and will be the mainstays. Well, we have two more guys to pick. One for the main crew and one more alternate. Who will it be? Stay tuned for the next 30 or so years and you may find out.

NOW HAVE A GREAT LONG WEEKEND AND GET BACK TO WORK!!!

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are here. Here are my picks, call your bookie.

It is that time of year again. The time of year when multi-millionaires skate around on artificial ice and wow us with their skill of pushing a circular vulcanized rubber object into a net. Yup I am geeked. It is also the time of year when I put on my prediction cap and let all of you know just who is gonna win this dog and pony show. Time for you to call your bookie and make yourself some mortgage money.

Oh, how can I forget, it is also my favorite time of the hockey season when Gary Bettman gets his ass booed at centre ice. I absolutely love that. I also get to root against satans team, the Detroit Red Wings. I hear that Brent Favre is considering a playoff run with them this year. Only appropriate, the biggest douchebag on the planet playing for Douchebagtown USA.



This years playoffs are a bit more interesting. There are 4 new teams in it this year. The Godless Flames are not there, NICE. The Oil are not also. The Kings, Coyotes, Avs, and Sabres are in this year. As you all know, I only missed one series last year in the first round, and the year before I got them all right. How am I gonna do this year? Only time will tell. I do know that former Gambler and always Stanley Cup runner up, Ty Conklin is not in the playoffs this year so I will not have to deal with that mojo. Former Gambler Matt Greene is though so I do have to deal with that. Okay, lets get this party started...

WESTERN CONFERENCE

San Jose Sharks (1) vs Colorado Avalanche (8)

Here is the deal, I love the Avs. I am down with them forever. The Sharks are perennial regular season juggernauts and post season choke jobs. My homeboy, TONY FREAKING GRANATO was the coach of the Avs last year. I am not really happy with how they did him when they let him go. Tony is now working with the current Stanley Cup Champions the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tony laces them up with Sidney Crosby every day. Not a bad fall back. Think about that. Tony has played with the Great One, Coached Burnaby Joe Sakic, and is now working with Sid the Kid. Awesome. Normally I would express some anger with the Avalanche and how they fired Tony, but since Tony is doing alright and the team had a great year, I will be the typical fan and let it slide. With that said, I will take the upset, Avalanche in 6.

Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs Nashville Predators (7)

It is so good to see the Blackhawks back in form. I love to hear the noise in their barn in the playoffs. The National Anthem is an amazing spectacle at the United Centre. Of course if you listen to the Podcast that does not suck, TundraTalk, you would know that. Don Granato and Tony Granato have detailed that extensively. I spoke to Don recently and he gave me his assessment of the Hawks playoffs. He says that they are not deep enough in goal to win it all but will have some success in the early rounds because of their depth elsewhere. There you have it.

The Hawks have the Nash Vegas Predators. I guess I really did not know that they still played hockey in Nash Vegas. We all know that they should not still be there, so screw 'em. Never root for a southern based team. Gary Bettman can go get bent. Blackhawks in 5.

Vancouver Canucks (3) vs Los Angeles Kings (6)

Now here is where I contradict my self and become the ultimate hypocrite. I just got done saying that we never root for a southern team. Just to spite Bettman. He is a tool. I guess LA would be the exception to the rule. The only exception. After all Marcel Dionne played for LA. Wayne Gretzky played for LA. TONY FREAKING GRANATO played for LA. I saw my first NHL game at the Forum back in 1981. That's right, I said it, the Forum. Back when they still had those goofy purple and yellow jerseys. Check the price and the location of the seats. No way you get into Staples for 14 dollars now.

Flash forward to now. Matt Greene is on LA. TT vetran Jarret Stoll is on LA. Ryan Smyth, of the Ugly Jacket Smyth's, is on LA. How can I not root for this team. A Gambler, a TT legend, and the guy who got my blog 600 hits in three hours. Plus the Canuckleheads always choke. They suck. LA in 7.

Phoenix Coyotes (4) vs Godless Detroit Red Wings (5)

Now here is a tough one. The Phoenix Coyotes are the example for the rule as to why NOT to root for southern teams. Bettman has a guy, the owner of the Blackberry empire, who wants to buy the team. Wants to give him more than what it is worth, but wants to move it to Winnipeg or Hamilton. Bettman gives a lame ass speech that he does not run out on the fans of NHL teams. FU bettman, you run THIS F'N TEAM out on the fans of WINNIPEG. I hate Bettman. I also hate Detroit. Detroit sucks balls. Their goaltending is suspect and they wear those stupid red jerseys. They will however get past the flash in the pan Phoenix Coyotes. Preacherman and Doroshenko get their way. Again like last year, I hate myself, Detroit in 5.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Washington Capitals (1) vs Montreal Canadiens (8)

Alexander the great versus Montreal. Hmmm this is tough. Caps in 4.

New Jersey (2) vs Philadelphia Flyers (7)

Not a big fan of the Devils and Martin Brodeur. I am still pissed that he did not continue in net for Canada at the olympics. He really should have been the guy for Canada. This series presents some difficulties also. For the Flyers everyone's favorite dirty player, Chris Pronger, is playing. Not a fan. But Ian Laperierre is also playing for the Flyers, he is cool. Former Av and a guy who used to bust my balls back in Edmonton every time they came through. This one is gonna be a barnburner. I like Philly in 7.

Buffalo Sabres (3) vs Boston Bruins (6)

Randy Hawke, of the Madison Hawkes, is a HUGE Sabre fan. HUGE. They have been playing well of late and the Bruins had to fight just to get in the playoffs, so I am going to take the Sabres in 7. You are welcome Hawke.

Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs Ottawa Senators (5)

This one is easy. Ottawa just has not gotten over the Ty Conklin jinx of a few years back. They have had one problem after another. The Penguins have not been playing well down the stretch, BUT Sid the Kid is coming off his Golden Goal from the Olympics (dick) and he always seems to step it up when he needs to. Preacherman has a man crush on this guy. I will take the Penguins in 5.

There you have it, my predictions on the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Take it to the bank. But as you know, any losses you have based on my predictions are all on you. I take no responsibility on your lack of picking prowess. If you lose, YOU LOSE. Not me.

Now, have a great day and
GET BACK TO WORK

Preacherman sent his picks in and as usual they are wrong...

Western

Sharks vs. Avs
Avs in 6, are you kidding me!??!?! With players like Marleau, Ortmeyer, Thorton, and Blake the Sharks won’t have much problem with the sucky Avs. Oh yeah, I forgot one thing, Joe Pavelski. He is the best player I’ve seen come through the USHL and he should have won the Hobey Baker when he was at UW. When it is all said and done, Pavelski will be the greatest power forward ever to play the game. Sharks in 5.

Blackhawks vs. Predlies
I agree. It is great to see the Blackhawks doing good again. I have been to the United CentER and heard the National Anthem, very cool. I can only imagine what it’s like during the playoffs. The Blackhawks have way too much talent for Nashville to handle. Mr. Everything, Jonathan Toews, will have an unforgettable playoffs. Blackhawks in 4.

Vancooter vs. LA
Not really sold on either of these teams. I guess I’m leaning towards Vancooter because of the Sedin sisters and Yan Stastny. Vancooter in 6.

Phoenix vs Detroit.
How the hell can you play hockey in a desert!?!? Even though my Wings aren’t too good this year … 16 games until my Redwings win the Stanley Cup!

Eastern

Washington vs Canadians
They just might call this one after three games. Washington is WAY too much for the Habs to handle.

Devils vs Flyers
I am a Brodeur fan and he should have been in net for Team Canada. This is going to be a chippy, dirty series. I hate the Flyers and Bob Clarke. Flyers are just talentless punks. Devils in 5.

SabERS vs Bruins
I haven’t seen much of either of these teams this year. But I know if Tim Thomas was in net for the Olympics, USA would have won the gold. But still have a bad taste in my mouth with the Bruins because of the traitor Phil Kessel. Once again Sabers in 6 just for you Hawke.

Pittsburgh vs Oh Ottawa
This is one awesome series!!! Where do I begin? Is there anything Crosby can’t do??? Youngest to ever wear the C and hoist the Cup. He is the closest to perfection we’ll ever see. Malkin will lead the playoffs in goals. But it won’t be that easy, Pittsburgh is going to run into a roadblock named Chris Phillips, Anton Volchenkov, and Brian Elliot. Spezza will be great like always. Game on!!! Pittsburgh in 7

Mike Banaszynski

Little H is on the way, and happy birthday Gene...

FIRST: Johnny H has just informed me that he is on the way to the hospital to welcome into the world a junior H. Go get 'em Johnny. Good luck and whatever you do, RESIST THE URGE TO HAVE A LOOK. There are just some thing dudes do not need to see. That is at the top of the list. Let us know how this whole thing comes out. Get it, comes out. I am sooo funny.


NEXT: Just so you know, Jeff Finger, of the Green Bay Gamblers Finger's, is now up in the show. That's right, my favorite Gambler is now playing on my favorite team. "Give'em the Finger" was one of Sign Boy's favorite signs back in the day. In fact up until last year in the Avalanche media guide Jeff Finger listed that phrase as his favorite. Nice. He got his first NHL goal of his career the other night against Colorado. The pic to the left is just after it. The Avalanche have a back to back here in Edmonton on the 21st and the 23rd so I hope he sticks long enough to be reunited with his biggest fan, me. I am currently shopping for a new Av's jersey to get signed by number 6. My old Av's jersey was recently signed by Joe Sakic so I think it would be bad form to have him sign that one also.





NEXT: Do you recognize the guy in the pic to the right? Neither do I. I found it in slide form on the floor behind my computer desk. Not sure if this is a guy that Donna is seeing on the side, or if this is my arch nemesis. I need to know. The guy must obviously live in a big city because the camera he is using in the photo is way high tech. One of those new 3/4 inch tape jobs. Way, way, way new technology. If you have any idea who this guy is let me know. I also have this pic for you to look at....


Not sure who the hell that guy is either. Lots of hair. Keith Murphy, of the Dead Moines Murphy's, describes him in a 'Molly Ringwald Phase". Again, if you know who this is let me know.




NEXT: In the wake of the Ryan Smyth trade I have been given the go ahead to use the infamous 'Jacket' photos again. So if you want to see what all the hub bub was about last year, go to the right and click on Ryan Smyth under what we talk about and all the posts are there again. Just so you can see what went on. I did a search recently on Google for "Ugly Jacket" and these LINKS came up. They all link to TundraTalk and discuss the jacket and the controversy following. Kinda funny how all that stuff happened. Not funny all the heat Cory and I took for it. It is also kinda funny how all the heat went away as soon as Ryan was Traded. How did I find the pics when I said I had given all copies to the Oilers? I did a search on the home computer and they were still there. I deleted all the pics from the laptop but forgot to delete them on the iMac at home. Enjoy...

Hot-Oil.blogspot.com

Proicehockey.about.com

Bleeding blue and Gold.blogspot.com


Someone sent me the picture at the right with the title, the guy most likely to kill Kevin Lowe. Very funny. "Ryan Smyth is my inspiration" , that shit is funny.

LAST: On Friday Donna and I went to Gene Principe, of the Edmonton Principe's, 40th birthday party. It was a suprise costume party. The theme was 1920's gambling casino night. We rented Donna a costume and I put on a suit, egad, I own one. It was held in the Eskimos locker room. Very cool. We gambled with fake money, pretended to be gangsters, not gangstas, and drank all the free booze. Lots of fun for all.

Cory of course took care of Cory and was the bartender. He mixes a killer Julian (rum and coke). Gene got way too drunk and did a lot of stuff that he will regret and Cory made sure he got pictures of all of it. I got to do the invite for the party and I will show you the 'Limited Edition' of the invite. Gene's wife did not like this one. Have a look...
THEN GET BACK TO WORK!!!!

The Jacket Controversy revisited...

Okay, so it has been a while since I posted, mostly because I am pretty busy. I also was waiting a bit for all of the Nation to get their passwords. I know that it sucks but I need to do this so that if I put something up here it is just for us and not for the rest of the mainstream media. That is the funniest thing about this whole thing, the fact that someone out there actually referred to TundraTalk as media. Funny stuff.

I have taken heat, Cory has taken more, and we are just about done talking about this issue. In fact, Dave Mitchell took some heat also. He deserves it though, just look at him. Ha, got a shot in at Mitchell. I rule. Anyway, I do not want to risk my credential with the Oilers, because if it goes away, so does my job. Cory the same. The pic was posted just so you, the TundraTalk Nation (about 50 to 100 of you) could see a cool moment in time, but it became a story for the local and then the national media. Why, well, it is interesting. The players see it as an internal thing and do not want to discuss it. Why they played along with the media, I don't know, but it is over and no one has talked about it for a while so I am happy. The last one to use the pic was FSN during the Detroit Oilers game last week. Hope fully that is it.

Now, what follows is the media storm that followed the posting of the pictures of Ryan Smyth wearing the jacket...Oh and this is the last time I will address this issue...I am sooo tired of talking about it...

THIS IS THE FIRST POST, of course minus the jacket pics...

RYAN SMYTH AND THE JACKET...


TSN

Great game last night at the rink. Oilers versus the San Jose Sharks. A lot of talent on the ice. Johnathon Cheechoo got a natural hat trick in the first, and then in the third Ryan Smyth of the Oilers got a natural Hat Trick also to win the game. He scored three goals in 2:01, besting a record by number 99. Gretz took 2:18 to do it. Just a very exciting game.

To explain the jacket that he is wearing, well, I can't. No one would tell me the story behind the jacket. In fact, Ethan Moreau told me that he would have to kill me if he told me. It is a team secret. Ryan came out of the room just like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Strutting.

Matt Greene, who had a fight in the second that rallied the team to the victory, would not tell me even after I volunteered to let him speed bag me for fight practice. Matt Greene would kill me, but I would take one for the team just to find out the story behind the jacket.

Oh well, I have to cover the Esks today so this is a short one. If you happen to know the story behind the jacket let me know, it is driving me crazy.

Have a great weekend.


NEXT POSTING -

TUNDRATALK STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS...


Reid usually wears pink

In our search for answers about the jacket, Ken Reid, of the Edmonton Reids, writes...

that's gotta be a jacket belonging to one of the oielrs form back in the day
- maybe mess or gretz. liklely gretz. maybe if you put in a gretzky-esque
performance you get to (or have to) wear it home

Reid

That is a good guess. We are now in a search for a pic of one of the old Oilers wearing that jacket. TundraTalk Nation, find it. I know you can. That is Ken Reid who works for CTV.

So in TundraTalk's quest to find out what the jacket that Smyth was wearing meant, we created a media firestorm. Most local networks in town today caught wind of the pictures and the question and took it to the players at practice yesterday. In the meantime the picture that Cory took made their newscasts. I can imagine that it will also make Hockey Night in Canada tonight. The Oilers play the Avalanche in Colorado.



So now that TundraTalk is a huge media monster and YOUR source for all the news that is important. No, wait, YOUR ONLY SOURCE for legitimate news and information. You can take that to the bank. Just watch the local stories.

Have a look at the stories...

CTV Dave Mitchell...



CTV Smytty on Vimeo


CBC Mark Connely...



CBC Smytty on Vimeo

TSN Farhan...



TSN Smytty on Vimeo

TSN's Website...


This is why the pictures got taken down

On Monday TSN put the pic up on the front page of their website and gave a courtesey to TundraTalk. This is when the crap hit the fan. Ryan Smyth and the Oilers did not want the picture out there any more so I took it down. In fact I do not even posess a copy of the pic anymore. I gave them to the Oilers. The pic is now Oilers property and I have washed my hands of it. It was put up here for my 50 or so friends to see because I thought it was cool. I thought it was cool that Ryan wore this jacket on the night he beat a Gretzky record. This picture I figured would become part of Oiler lore and captures the moment perfectly. It adds a human element to the story.

I had no idea that the mainstream media would latch on to it and turn it into a circus. The TSN website pushed around 600 hits to my site on Monday. It usually takes me several months to get that much. So obviously this site is not a 'media' site, it is a site to entertain my friends in the United States and here in Canada. By no means do I purport to be 'media' with this site. I pretend to be media. That is the joke. A funny one I might add.

So there it is, the 'Ugly Jacket Saga' comes to an end. I hope.

As you can see by the comment below, the Edmonton Sun was looking for me on Monday. Well Tuesday the pic ran in the Sun. Great, it just wont end.

TundraTalk still searching for answers...

Reid usually wears pink

In our search for answers about the jacket, Ken Reid, of the Edmonton Reids, writes...

that's gotta be a jacket belonging to one of the oielrs form back in the day
- maybe mess or gretz. liklely gretz. maybe if you put in a gretzky-esque
performance you get to (or have to) wear it home

Reid

That is a good guess. We are now in a search for a pic of one of the old Oilers wearing that jacket. TundraTalk Nation, find it. I know you can. That is Ken Reid who works for CTV.

So in TundraTalk's quest to find out what the jacket that Smyth was wearing meant, we created a media firestorm. Most local networks in town today caught wind of the pictures and the question and took it to the players at practice yesterday. In the meantime the picture that Cory took made their newscasts. I can imagine that it will also make Hockey Night in Canada tonight. The Oilers play the Avalanche in Colorado.



So now that TundraTalk is a huge media monster and YOUR source for all the news that is important. No, wait, YOUR ONLY SOURCE for legitimate news and information. You can take that to the bank. Just watch the local stories.

Have a look at the stories...

CTV Dave Mitchell...



CTV Smytty on Vimeo


CBC Mark Connely...



CBC Smytty on Vimeo

TSN Farhan...



TSN Smytty on Vimeo

TSN's Website...


This is why the pictures got taken down

On Monday TSN put the pic up on the front page of their website and gave a courtesey to TundraTalk. This is when the crap hit the fan. Ryan Smyth and the Oilers did not want the picture out there any more so I took it down. In fact I do not even posess a copy of the pic anymore. I gave them to the Oilers. The pic is now Oilers property and I have washed my hands of it. It was put up here for my 50 or so friends to see because I thought it was cool. I thought it was cool that Ryan wore this jacket on the night he beat a Gretzky record. This picture I figured would become part of Oiler lore and captures the moment perfectly. It adds a human element to the story.

I had no idea that the mainstream media would latch on to it and turn it into a circus. The TSN website pushed around 600 hits to my site on Monday. It usually takes me several months to get that much. So obviously this site is not a 'media' site, it is a site to entertain my friends in the states and here in Canada. By no means do I purport to be 'media' with this site. I pretend to be media. That is the joke. A funny one I might add.

So there it is, the 'Ugly Jacket Saga' comes to an end. I hope.

As you can see by the comment below, the Edmonton Sun was looking for me on Monday. Well Tuesday the pic ran in the Sun. Great, it just wont end.

Ryan Smyth and the Jacket...

The Infamous Jacket

Great game last night at the rink. Oilers versus the San Jose Sharks. A lot of talent on the ice. Johnathon Cheechoo got a natural hat trick in the first, and then in the third Ryan Smyth of the Oilers got a natural Hat Trick also to win the game. He scored three goals in 2:01, besting a record by number 99. Gretz took 2:18 to do it. Just a very exciting game.

To explain the jacket that he is wearing, well, I can't. No one would tell me the story behind the jacket. In fact, Ethan Moreau told me that he would have to kill me if he told me. It is a team secret. Ryan came out of the room just like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. Strutting.

Matt Greene, who had a fight in the second that rallied the team to the victory, would not tell me even after I volunteered to let him speed bag me for fight practice. Matt Greene would kill me, but I would take one for the team just to find out the story behind the jacket.

Oh well, I have to cover the Esks today so this is a short one. If you happen to know the story behind the jacket let me know, it is driving me crazy.

Have a great weekend.