Tootoo Update

Apparently the "powers that be" didn't see things my way. The NHL suspended Tootoo for 5 games. But what timing they have... his first game back will be against non other than the Dallas Stars. I have a feeling that's going to be a really fun game.

Also, apparently the Predators organization hurt the feelings of the Dallas Stars President by not honoring Mike Modano's record setting goal. Give me a break, do you really think that at that point in the game (right after the Tootoo hit/Modano slash) the fans would've done anything but boo that goal? The Sports Zone guys (on 104.5) said on the Darcy Hordichuk Show this evening that there was in fact a special presentation planned but because of the circumstances they decided against showing it.

The Tootoo hit

I went to the Predators game last night against the Dallas Stars. Thankfully, the Predators were able to get back on the winning track. And I even got to witness a record being broken when Dallas's Mike Modano became the leading American scorer in NHL history.

However, there was an ugly incident near the end of the game. You can go here to see if for yourself (sorry for some of the language of some of the posters). The whole scrum happened down on my end of the ice. Jordin Tootoo leveled a big (yet very legal) hit on Modano. When Tootoo was getting up he saw a Dallas player coming in to "defend" the star, so Tootoo... um... punched him (live it just looked like he pushed him). Unfortunately the punch completely knocked the guy out. But then Modano swings his stick at Tootoo. I won't defend Tootoo, he got what he deserved (4 minute penalty for roughing) & the Dallas player got the penalty he deserved (2 minutes for charging plus a bit he didn't deserve in a concussion). However at the game, when I saw the referee call a penalty, I thought it was going to be on Modano for slashing Tootoo with his stick because you just DO NOT use your stick as a weapon. Yet in this case, no penalty on Modano & when I watched the highlights on ESPN last night, the only thing that was mentioned was that Tootoo "suckerpunched" the guy (well that & that Modano broke the record... you woudn't even know the Predators had won from how they covered it).

You have to wonder... would this have been spun differently if the cast of characters had been reversed. I for one think it might have been. I guess you can't have a guy break a record & get such a penalty in the same game huh? Now, I've been reading media types saying that Tootoo deserves at least a 10 game suspension... good grief. All I know, if the league does suspend him, they best be handing out some punishment against Modano as well.

Let's just say, the Predators now have another team that does not like them. The Dallas fans on the message boards I read were calling the team & fans classless. Partially because they didn't acknowledge the record being broken in the arena & partially because we were taunting & booing Modano. As far as the fans go, I think most everyone the arena was very respectful while they were tending to the hurt player. It wasn't until the game resumed and they announced the penalties (or lack thereof) that the crowd let Modano know what we thought of him... that he sucked & that he was a sissy. We just called it like we saw it. And you know, when Dallas returns later this month, I'm sure we'll continue taunting him.

March Madness

What a day... First, the Vols played a very scrappy game & are going to the sweet sixteen for the first time since 2000! I can't help but love this team & I'm going to really miss Dane Bradshaw next year. He has been the heart of this team since Bruce Pearl became the head coach.

Then the Lady Vols play their first round game. After shaking off the rust from not playing for 2 weeks, they dominated the 2nd half of the game. I was starting to feel a bit sorry for the other team.

Here's what I'm really proud of... the State of Tennessee produces some really good basketball (teams & players). In the NCAA this year, there are 4 men's teams (UT, Vandy, Memphis, & Belmont) & 5 women's teams (UT, Vandy, MTSU, Belmont, & UTC). So far, everyone but the 2 Belmont teams & UTC are still in it.

As for the MTSU team, I must admit I have a soft spot for them. You have a head coach who's already a legend in high school basketball in this state. But it was a hiring that many people questioned. The media types around here really wondered if he could coach & recruit at a high level. So far so good. And now the national media's starting to notice. Here's a piece I found this afternoon. What I loved most about it, the writer actually compared their game yesterday to hockey. Describing how Gonzaga looked against MTSU...

"The Bulldogs looked like a team trying to kill an opponent's power play for most of the night. At times, simply throwing the ball into the frontcourt might have made more sense. After all, there's no icing in basketball."

Happy March Madness! Do like I'm doing the next few weeks & enjoy some basketball!

Trina

Keep Trina in your thoughts & prayer this week. She's on a spring break mission trip this week to Scotland. It got off to a bit of a bumpy start with her group getting stranded in Newark on Friday. Last night they were finally able to fly out & I got a call this morning from my mom that she had arrived safely.

I can't believe it

Now I've read a few positive articles about the Predators. I have not read too many positive articles about the town & fans of the team so I was shocked to read this one.

"Now, no one will mistake this column as an economic viability study, but from my vantage point in section 218, row G, seat 17, the Predators are a team worth rooting for and there are more than a few folks in Nashville who are having fun with NHL hockey."

My only wish after reading that sentence... why didn't I buy seats in that section? That way, the last part of the story would've been about how a woman was taking her dad to see his first hockey game (& her sister to her 2nd game). The story about the mother & son was good but a story about my dad would've been great! I think dad enjoyed the game even though it made for a long day. If nothing else, I think he understands why I enjoy it so much.

For Better or For Worse

I don't know what anyone else thinks but For Better or For Worse is the best comic strip ever. So imagine my shock when I read that the creator Lynn Johnston is going into semi-retirement. To allow herself to have a life, she's freezing time. I've been reading this strip religiously for years now. One of the things that I've loved is that stories don't arch over weeks or months but sometimes it takes years for things to happen (just like real life). I'm very conflicted on this...

Darfur

Isn't it strange to see a celebrity truly use the spotlight they're in to do good for their fellow man? Usually all you see is some kind of benefit where everyone is very fabulous looking & throwing their money at a situation. While that's all well & good, there's something to be said about a person who will actually get in the middle of dangerous situations in order to transfer their spotlight to that situation. When I first heard about Angelina Jolie becoming a spokesperson for the United Nations I never thought she would be person who would be willing to get her hands dirty. For that I applaud her (& let me make it clear... I don't approve of all of her life choices).

I found an editorial piece she wrote for the Washington Post yesterday. To read it in its entirety go here (unfortunately registration is required - but worth it). Here's just a sample...

"As the prosecutions unfold, I hope the international community will intervene,
right away, to protect the people of Darfur and prevent further violence. The
refugees don't need more resolutions or statements of concern. They need
follow-through on past promises of action."