It's Deja-vu all over again. First pre season game and if it's not the media that chastises the Habs, it's the so called "Fans". You know which ones I'm talking about? The ones in the nose bleeds who have no idea what's happening on the ice, because they can't see that far down and need oxygen masks to breathe because of the altitude.The ones who just see a goal go in against the Habs and automatically blame the goaltender. Granted, a couple were weak, but who cares? Everyone is getting their feet wet in the first pre-season game, even the veterans. Cammy and Spacek didn't have a great game either. Where was Pouliot?He seemed okay at first,then nada. So why call out Carey Price? Why are you booing him?
People in Montreal need to realize that the more the media and "fans" become selfish, the more the team and players will not give a shit about you. That was your #1 goalie you were booing, in the first game of the pre-season! ARE YOU SERIOUS??? We all missed hockey, we were all desperate to see the Habs back on the ice and play a game. We all hoped to see a win and a great performance from the start, but that didn't happen.
We were rusty. The rookies were nervous as hell, the vets weren't perfect either.There was no chemistry, at FIRST, but as the game progressed, things got better on the ice.Yet, these "fans" still booed Pricey and cheered when he touched the puck,in what they conjured as a stop.
Get some class people. The media is not the sole reason why high end players don't want to come play for Montreal,you add to that.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Please, if I may...
I hate talking politics, but due to recent events and living in Quebec, you sometimes have no choice. If there's one thing that unites all Quebecers, it is The Montreal Canadiens.So why do some politicians find it necessary to try to make a mockery of the one thing we all have in common.
I would love to have more local boys on our team. To have our very own 21st century version of the great Jean Beliveau or Guy Lafleur, but it hasn't happened yet. We tried to get Daniel Briere and Vinny Lecavalier, but they didn't want to come here. These little details get forgotten.
I now sit here, wondering what is acceptable for the Pauline Marois's of the world? Does Benoit Pouliot fit her description of what the Habs should be? After all, we all are perfectly made aware that he's a Franco-Ontarian. Hypothetically, if I had a brother,let's name him Nick Papachristopopoulos, born and raised in Quebec and fluently bilingual....would HE fit her profile?
I think not.
So, if I may, why do those who have the same beliefs as the Marois's of the world, think it is ok to be openly prejudiced about people's ethnicity and language? Why do they think it is acceptable to do so? Why am I not considered a "Quebecoise" when I was born and raised in Montreal? Are they so insecure about their culture, that they think it's appropriate and acceptable to express discontent with everything and anything that is not French?
So, can't we all just enjoy each others company when it comes to the one thing that we do adore? The one thing that brings us together, The Montreal Canadiens!
Please leave politics out of sports.
I would love to have more local boys on our team. To have our very own 21st century version of the great Jean Beliveau or Guy Lafleur, but it hasn't happened yet. We tried to get Daniel Briere and Vinny Lecavalier, but they didn't want to come here. These little details get forgotten.
I now sit here, wondering what is acceptable for the Pauline Marois's of the world? Does Benoit Pouliot fit her description of what the Habs should be? After all, we all are perfectly made aware that he's a Franco-Ontarian. Hypothetically, if I had a brother,let's name him Nick Papachristopopoulos, born and raised in Quebec and fluently bilingual....would HE fit her profile?
I think not.
So, if I may, why do those who have the same beliefs as the Marois's of the world, think it is ok to be openly prejudiced about people's ethnicity and language? Why do they think it is acceptable to do so? Why am I not considered a "Quebecoise" when I was born and raised in Montreal? Are they so insecure about their culture, that they think it's appropriate and acceptable to express discontent with everything and anything that is not French?
So, can't we all just enjoy each others company when it comes to the one thing that we do adore? The one thing that brings us together, The Montreal Canadiens!
Please leave politics out of sports.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Best and the Worst : A Fond Farewell
Since there are 28 days until the start of the Habs season, I will take this opportunity to spill my guts out to the interwebs,for all to read.I want these feelings out of my system before the new season. I won't be pointing fingers,because it takes 2 to tango and obviously Jacques Martin & Sergei Kostitsyn(SK) were not a perfect pair.Here goes:
In January,I was lucky enough to be able to purchase 2 ice level(Sec110) tickets to a Habs vs Sens game, right in Kovy's office. I was ecstatic at the chance to see him again, in the wrong jersey however, but him, none the less.I had the privilege to go with my good friend @MaryK_27,who is an avid Habs fan and fellow Kovy lover.
I then shamelessly contacted someone,who is now my friend and shall remain annonymous, who once told me if I ever wanted to meet SK74 at a game,to let him know.SO, as promised, steps were made.
Everything started falling into place,my perfect birthday EVER.As game day approached, I ate less and less. I was a nervous wreck We got to the Bell Centre at 5pm (the game was at 7). We get to the ticketmaster & my pass wasn't there.I must have gone there 100times by 6:30,pass was still not there.The guy felt so bad,that he offered to bring it to me when SK74 called it in.We get back to our seats for the pre game skate,and then it hit me.This overwhelming feeling of fear.Thoughts like "Are you crazy?What are you going to say to him?What if he's a jerk? What if you faint and die?" I must have driven Mary crazy,poor soul didn't even tell me.I worked myself up to this intense nervousness, I lost feeling in my hands, that at that point,I hoped the ticketmaster guy wouldn't bring me the pass.But just as the lights dimmed, he came. He brought me a Montreal Canadiens invitation pass from SK74 to ME!!! ME!!!
We have the best seats in the house,I got my pass, Kovy is on the ice and the HABS score!! How could it get any better than this? Well,Mary and I got the attention of a CBC cameraman and our celebration was aired nationwide!!! ON TV!!!We're FAMOUS! LOL :)
So THE moment comes upon me. End of game,Habs lose to the Sens again...and I'm off to the meeting place.I was led through security, corridors,more security, an elevator,more corridors and finally, to a large room,with curtained off sections. There were other groups of fans waiting. I was alone...trembling.Then security guys starts calling out: "group for Cammalleri", "Group for Gionta" then "Group for Mara". I was then officially all alone,so I decided to go hang out with the guard and at least see the Habs that were there. Those visits lasted about 3 minutes. They took pictures, signed autographs, Mara gave a kid his stick, and they were off. I was still there, ALONE.
At this point,my nervousness was gone. I just felt like the biggest fool in the world.I started pacing and cursing myself, until I heard"Are you here for SK74?"I turned, and there was only the guard. No SK. Then he proceeds to say "mumble mumble mumble, he had to board the bus to New York. He's sorry." I just asked him how I can leave, he guided me to a door, said sorry, and by the time I made it to the car,where Mary was waiting,I was crying so intensely, I couldn't breathe. It was a mixture of anger,sadness and embarrassment A cry that hurt my throat so bad,I couldn't speak, until I yelled out obscenities. I called him every bad word under the sun.Then I got angrier at myself for A) forgetting the Habs were playing the Rangers the next day and B) opting to meet SK rather than Kovalev.
At this point however, it would have been easy for me to join the rest of you and despise him.But I didn't, I couldn't. I wanted to kick the shit out of him, ,but I couldn't hate him.
Then,3 months later, everything became very clear to me.I went to an autograph session and when I met him, saw how shy he really is, and the fact that he is a child, a young boy. A baby. He'd look you in the eyes,then turn away. He blushed, smiled then looked away again.I was talking with my friend, not 1 foot away from him for quite some time, and every time he heard his name or "brothers", he'd look up, smile, fidget and look away. This was a young boy, who lived on his own for so long. Got fed to the wolves in Montreal, then Jacques Martin. Was unprotected and had no mentor like he did with the London Nights or the Bulldogs. So you know what, I forgive him for January. I won't start pointing fingers or blaming anyone. What's done is done. He's a Predator now,and all I can do is hope that he is given the opportunity to play and prove himself, and that he seizes whatever chance he does get.Coach Trotz, you have a jewel, please don't rough it up.
Cheers Sergei to a fresh new start and hopefully a successful long career in the NHL.
Bye bye baby I will miss you.
And that is it for me on this subject
In January,I was lucky enough to be able to purchase 2 ice level(Sec110) tickets to a Habs vs Sens game, right in Kovy's office. I was ecstatic at the chance to see him again, in the wrong jersey however, but him, none the less.I had the privilege to go with my good friend @MaryK_27,who is an avid Habs fan and fellow Kovy lover.
I then shamelessly contacted someone,who is now my friend and shall remain annonymous, who once told me if I ever wanted to meet SK74 at a game,to let him know.SO, as promised, steps were made.
Everything started falling into place,my perfect birthday EVER.As game day approached, I ate less and less. I was a nervous wreck We got to the Bell Centre at 5pm (the game was at 7). We get to the ticketmaster & my pass wasn't there.I must have gone there 100times by 6:30,pass was still not there.The guy felt so bad,that he offered to bring it to me when SK74 called it in.We get back to our seats for the pre game skate,and then it hit me.This overwhelming feeling of fear.Thoughts like "Are you crazy?What are you going to say to him?What if he's a jerk? What if you faint and die?" I must have driven Mary crazy,poor soul didn't even tell me.I worked myself up to this intense nervousness, I lost feeling in my hands, that at that point,I hoped the ticketmaster guy wouldn't bring me the pass.But just as the lights dimmed, he came. He brought me a Montreal Canadiens invitation pass from SK74 to ME!!! ME!!!
So THE moment comes upon me. End of game,Habs lose to the Sens again...and I'm off to the meeting place.I was led through security, corridors,more security, an elevator,more corridors and finally, to a large room,with curtained off sections. There were other groups of fans waiting. I was alone...trembling.Then security guys starts calling out: "group for Cammalleri", "Group for Gionta" then "Group for Mara". I was then officially all alone,so I decided to go hang out with the guard and at least see the Habs that were there. Those visits lasted about 3 minutes. They took pictures, signed autographs, Mara gave a kid his stick, and they were off. I was still there, ALONE.
At this point,my nervousness was gone. I just felt like the biggest fool in the world.I started pacing and cursing myself, until I heard"Are you here for SK74?"I turned, and there was only the guard. No SK. Then he proceeds to say "mumble mumble mumble, he had to board the bus to New York. He's sorry." I just asked him how I can leave, he guided me to a door, said sorry, and by the time I made it to the car,where Mary was waiting,I was crying so intensely, I couldn't breathe. It was a mixture of anger,sadness and embarrassment A cry that hurt my throat so bad,I couldn't speak, until I yelled out obscenities. I called him every bad word under the sun.Then I got angrier at myself for A) forgetting the Habs were playing the Rangers the next day and B) opting to meet SK rather than Kovalev.
At this point however, it would have been easy for me to join the rest of you and despise him.But I didn't, I couldn't. I wanted to kick the shit out of him, ,but I couldn't hate him.
Then,3 months later, everything became very clear to me.I went to an autograph session and when I met him, saw how shy he really is, and the fact that he is a child, a young boy. A baby. He'd look you in the eyes,then turn away. He blushed, smiled then looked away again.I was talking with my friend, not 1 foot away from him for quite some time, and every time he heard his name or "brothers", he'd look up, smile, fidget and look away. This was a young boy, who lived on his own for so long. Got fed to the wolves in Montreal, then Jacques Martin. Was unprotected and had no mentor like he did with the London Nights or the Bulldogs. So you know what, I forgive him for January. I won't start pointing fingers or blaming anyone. What's done is done. He's a Predator now,and all I can do is hope that he is given the opportunity to play and prove himself, and that he seizes whatever chance he does get.Coach Trotz, you have a jewel, please don't rough it up.
Cheers Sergei to a fresh new start and hopefully a successful long career in the NHL.
Bye bye baby I will miss you.
And that is it for me on this subject
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Like a mule!
Anyone else fed up of the constant reminders of Habs players past actions? I, for one, can't take it anymore. The amount of stupidities I've heard the last two days about Price are simply unacceptable. Everyone remembers the famous pictures of him on vacation, right? RIGHT! How can we forget those when they are constantly being slapped in our faces.The irony of some media members is disgusting. Do we really care what Price did on vacation 3 years ago after winning the Calder Cup? What does that have to do with today? What significance does the actions of a 20 year old on vacation have on the man he is today? Why don't some of these media types just focus on relevant facts rather than trying to stir the pot.It is because of these biased people that some "fans" will boo once a mistake is made,or a soft goal is let it. It is because of these people that more fragile players run out of town, and why other players are reluctant to come here. In the famous words of Craig Rivet regarding Montreal "it is a what have you done for me lately "place. For that Craig, you have to thank the stubborn mules that focus on irrelevant issues of the past and fill our air waves with nonsense and "EXPERT"opinions,add the "fans" who have no opinion of their own to that list.
Let it go already
Let it go already
Saturday, August 14, 2010
54, not THAT 54
So 54 days (not Studio 54) remain until we all get to sit in front of our TV's and laugh at the train wreck known as the Toronto Maple Leafs. 54 days until we get to see the Habs final roster for the 2010-2011 season. 54 days until we get to see the long awaited "C" on our jersey. 54 days until Komisarek gets about 18 minutes in penalties,nah just kidding. 54 days until we see what happens between Grabovski and Sergei Kostitsyn, umm, wait a sec (you know I HAD to mention my baby).
In all seriousness, 54 days remain until the demand for Paxil,Zoloft and Prosac subsides in Montreal. 54 days until the twitter hashtag #isitoctoberyet will no longer be necessary, until June 2011 of course.
In 54 days, everything will be back to normal for all hockey fans.
I for one, CAN'T WAIT.
In all seriousness, 54 days remain until the demand for Paxil,Zoloft and Prosac subsides in Montreal. 54 days until the twitter hashtag #isitoctoberyet will no longer be necessary, until June 2011 of course.
In 54 days, everything will be back to normal for all hockey fans.
I for one, CAN'T WAIT.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A previous post (Nov.19,2009) - No respect from Sergei Kostitsyn
Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Cathie and I'm a die hard HABS fan,and everything surrounding the HABS. I am not a blogger, nor did I major in English or communications, but I thought it was about time I voiced my opinion.
This morning, on a sports talk show,that I listen to on a daily basis, someone by the name of Francois Gagnon, a sports writer for a french newspaper called La Presse, voiced his opinion on Sergei Kostitsyn. He claimed he didn't like him,period. He didn't like him because he had an attitude towards the media and looked down on him. He claimed that SK74 pretends not to understand english when everyone knows he speaks very well, because of the girls he talks to at night clubs. Meh.
Well, I will take this time to tell Mr Gagnon (who doesn't even earn the respect of me calling him Mr, but whatever)I will take this time to explain to him WHY SK74 and probably his brother Andrei (AK46) & Roman Hamrlik (Hamr) don't like him very much. It all comes down to a famous,bogus story printed by La Presse last winter.You must have heard of the "mafia connection" and how these 3 HABS players were involved with a Mobster. If I remember the headline correctly, it said something about them being involved with the mafia for "gambling,women and vodka". That was the headline. Was it true? NOPE. Not one ounce of truth in that story, other than the fact that the HABS players were friends with this mobster.
I distinctly remember Francois, saying on this talk show,that due diligence was performed on La Presse's side,lawyers were involved,deep investigations were done,they had contacts in the police, hence they printed the story.They were positively sure that the story was true. Well, as it turns out, Francois, it was a sham/flop of a story.The only thing that the mobster did for them,was help them purchase LEGAL electronics from best buy,with AK46's LEGAL credit card. Even after the police issued a statement that there was nothing illegal involving the HABS (because they listened to 1000's of hours of telephone conversations), after the players were still allowed to travel throughout North America to play hockey, after they were allowed to go home for the summer, there is yet to be some sort of apology issued.
Every so often, ALL the media mention the brothers and the story from last winter, in an ironic sarcastic, media type way. Right, so it WAS true, but the police were protecting the brothers. GUH, gimme a break. You call yourselves journalists? In all this time, the media forgot that Hamr was involved too. The media is fixated on the brothers.
So you ask WHY you are NOT respected by SK74? Well because you don't deserve any respect from anyone in my opinion. You stood behind a bogus story about women, when AK46 is a married father. You protected the story by going on talk shows & TV, admitted that it might have been a little overblown, but never issued an apology. In the meantime, you've forgotten that there was a third player involved,but I guess he's not that important,because he doesn't threaten the french media's "golden boy's" position on the Habs. (We all know that Latendresse (Marshmallow) is their golden child)
So,Francois, if you don't get the picture now, you should just crawl back under the rock you came from, and NEVER EVER talk about the Kostitsyn brothers again, unless it's to say what great hockey players they are. It's really getting tired. And, do me a favor, tell all other media types that their propaganda is NOT working.
Thank you
Stay tuned for my next rant about the HIRE MCGUIRE campaign on a certain talk show in Montreal.
This morning, on a sports talk show,that I listen to on a daily basis, someone by the name of Francois Gagnon, a sports writer for a french newspaper called La Presse, voiced his opinion on Sergei Kostitsyn. He claimed he didn't like him,period. He didn't like him because he had an attitude towards the media and looked down on him. He claimed that SK74 pretends not to understand english when everyone knows he speaks very well, because of the girls he talks to at night clubs. Meh.
Well, I will take this time to tell Mr Gagnon (who doesn't even earn the respect of me calling him Mr, but whatever)I will take this time to explain to him WHY SK74 and probably his brother Andrei (AK46) & Roman Hamrlik (Hamr) don't like him very much. It all comes down to a famous,bogus story printed by La Presse last winter.You must have heard of the "mafia connection" and how these 3 HABS players were involved with a Mobster. If I remember the headline correctly, it said something about them being involved with the mafia for "gambling,women and vodka". That was the headline. Was it true? NOPE. Not one ounce of truth in that story, other than the fact that the HABS players were friends with this mobster.
I distinctly remember Francois, saying on this talk show,that due diligence was performed on La Presse's side,lawyers were involved,deep investigations were done,they had contacts in the police, hence they printed the story.They were positively sure that the story was true. Well, as it turns out, Francois, it was a sham/flop of a story.The only thing that the mobster did for them,was help them purchase LEGAL electronics from best buy,with AK46's LEGAL credit card. Even after the police issued a statement that there was nothing illegal involving the HABS (because they listened to 1000's of hours of telephone conversations), after the players were still allowed to travel throughout North America to play hockey, after they were allowed to go home for the summer, there is yet to be some sort of apology issued.
Every so often, ALL the media mention the brothers and the story from last winter, in an ironic sarcastic, media type way. Right, so it WAS true, but the police were protecting the brothers. GUH, gimme a break. You call yourselves journalists? In all this time, the media forgot that Hamr was involved too. The media is fixated on the brothers.
So you ask WHY you are NOT respected by SK74? Well because you don't deserve any respect from anyone in my opinion. You stood behind a bogus story about women, when AK46 is a married father. You protected the story by going on talk shows & TV, admitted that it might have been a little overblown, but never issued an apology. In the meantime, you've forgotten that there was a third player involved,but I guess he's not that important,because he doesn't threaten the french media's "golden boy's" position on the Habs. (We all know that Latendresse (Marshmallow) is their golden child)
So,Francois, if you don't get the picture now, you should just crawl back under the rock you came from, and NEVER EVER talk about the Kostitsyn brothers again, unless it's to say what great hockey players they are. It's really getting tired. And, do me a favor, tell all other media types that their propaganda is NOT working.
Thank you
Stay tuned for my next rant about the HIRE MCGUIRE campaign on a certain talk show in Montreal.
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