tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213271592011-12-18T16:25:12.398-05:00The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comBlogger7351100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-16199062000671279242011-09-02T22:52:00.002-04:002011-09-02T23:01:47.442-04:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I'm taking over as the Ottawa correspondent for NHL.com. So, what does this mean? Well, first off, I'm part of the media again (you can stop laughing at any time). But it also means that the blog can't continue in its current form, for obvious reasons. After giving it some thought, I've decided to use this space to write about my experiences in

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-34813001321902953102011-06-28T14:41:00.008-04:002011-06-29T03:05:37.786-04:00

On paper, the trade that Bryan Murray made to acquire Nikita Filatov from Columbus in exchange for a third-round pick in this year's draft, seems low risk. Filatov is in the final year of a two-way, entry-level contract, and LW has always been a thin point for the Sens. That said, with only 36 games of NHL-level action under his belt in the past two years (and that little side trip to the KHL),

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-3312617594573421522011-06-23T22:08:00.003-04:002011-06-23T22:24:43.122-04:00

"Marshmallow" is one of those words I can never spell correctly, which always pisses me off. Marshmallows also once pissed off Claude Julien, coach of the Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins last summer, but for an entirely different reason.Julien was playing in a charity golf tournament, and ahead of him was a foursome with a tendency to play practical jokes. After they putted out, they would

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-1763024193670161032011-06-01T09:00:00.004-04:002011-06-01T09:00:01.448-04:00

This is my friend Seanny. 5-time Smack-Off champion, sports radio superstar and soon-to-be diabetic.When I found out that my old friend Sean Pendergast would be dropping the puck at the AHL Calder Cup Finals between Binghamton and Houston, my head started spinning. Sure, I knew Seanny followed hockey (he's a diehard Whalers fan and even attended the Whalers' Fan Fest just this past summer). But

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-46242291729764640512011-05-31T13:32:00.002-04:002011-05-31T13:37:08.868-04:00

As Winnipeg is finally -- finally! -- awarded a team today, here's a dose of obvious from the old Sun column that I wrote in January, 2005: Winnipeg might be a city most of us fly over and rarely think about, but at the World Juniors, some of their residents caught my attention.The between-period segments on TSN were mildly amusing. The network showed shots of fans on the concourse, clutching

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-27368354573928745922011-03-27T21:51:00.005-04:002011-03-27T21:55:58.403-04:00

T-shirts, hoodies and more can be found here. The designs are super simple, with no mention of myself or the blog anywhere on the gear. That's the way I like things, and I figured you'd feel the same way. If you have any special requests, hit me up and I'll add them to the store. Enjoy.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-75251666536158922242011-03-15T09:00:00.001-04:002011-03-15T09:00:08.827-04:00

...because it's been way too long. (Yeah, yeah...I know. I'm sorry.)Last night I had a dream that the only way I was able to get proper NHL intel was to hide under a pile of coats at the GM's meeting. Sadly, when it comes to obtaining information from the source, bloggers often come up on the short end of the stick. That said, being associated with traditional media doesn't always ensure open

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-69306471922710972352011-02-11T08:48:00.001-05:002011-02-11T11:56:11.723-05:00

I'm glad he's gone. He wasn't a bad player, but he was never going to be what fans and the club both wanted and needed. Initial reaction to the deal? Sure, that'll do. Talk to me after a) the picks develop or b) they're flipped for something more immediate (and no, while it may not happen this year, it's not out of the realm of possibility).Anything left to say can be revisited in this post from

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-81881094191788809772011-02-01T22:17:00.002-05:002011-02-01T22:20:09.442-05:00

Super simple, just answer in the comments:If you're a Senators fan, what do you get out of watching this season's games, particularly when the team appears to be at its lowest ebb? Please be honest - I'm not looking for humour or sarcasm here.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-28944076223535897872011-01-20T09:59:00.003-05:002011-01-20T10:25:31.798-05:00

A quick thought on Don Brennan's column suggesting that Ottawa Senators fans show up to games with paper bags on their heads...Sure, it'll be good for a two-second lead-in to the game highlights on SportsCentre, but then what? In the past few years, the Senators have shown little interest in quelling fans' white noise, regardless of whether it comes in the form of embarrassment, disgust or any

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-62579672851599802102011-01-07T15:21:00.005-05:002011-01-07T15:27:52.598-05:00

From last night's genius via The 6th Sens, and now Malkin to the Kings has blown it up. Look out...it's the Huge Euge. You might want to go and secure any nearby brick walls.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-29915267843471787892011-01-06T19:35:00.004-05:002011-01-06T21:19:30.261-05:00

This is an idea I pilfered from my dear friend - and Sporting News Radio superstar - Sean Pendergast (um...I mean Brian Beckner...), but tweaked just a bit to make it my own. (You can take the girl out of traditional media...) Anyway, I think you'll catch on quick. Let's get started, shall we?* Hockey ultimately benefits from Canada losing at the World Junior Hockey Championships, because

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-30459868780414155622010-12-20T22:26:00.000-05:002011-01-02T22:38:18.536-05:00

The New England Patriots are once again favored to win a Super Bowl.So, what else is new? Are you going to tell me that Pats quarterback Tom Brady is married to some hot supermodel and that head coach Bill Belichick is still donning the grey hoodie?Oh.Well, to no one’s surprise, the NFL super bowl picks provided by BetUs and their odds makers are expecting the Pats to win it all again. If you

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-33284371026028828442010-12-16T12:49:00.003-05:002010-12-16T13:06:18.340-05:00

Oh my, Ottawa - this is the stuff of your worst nightmares. A well-known hockey name has been broadcasting to others that the Senators GM position is his "dream job", and he's just biding his time until he gets a proper crack at it. But why wouldn't he want to be in the city he's more associated with? That's easy - they hate him there. Now I didn't say he's in the running...just that he wants it

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-49649675164108060492010-12-09T22:58:00.005-05:002010-12-09T23:23:40.121-05:00

As if the Ottawa Senators needed to find new ways to embarrass themselves -- get ready, because here comes "Flickgate."You are probably aware that Matt Carkner is not my favourite player on the team. But personal dislike has nothing to do with this. As the video shows, Carkner wipes his forehead post-scrap, and flicks his fingers as he skates by the Rangers bench. Whether it was sweat, blood or a

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-79139036885099427992010-12-08T00:40:00.006-05:002010-12-08T01:01:35.641-05:00

Via Twitter, from super blogger, The 6th Sens:"Is this how The Driver feels being a Chargers fan? Want (the) team to lose (so ownership has no choice but to) gut the braintrust?"In a word, yes. He doesn't want his team to lose, per se, but he knows it's the only way to get things to change. Plus he's totally sick of looking at the slouchy knee-high stocking around Norv's neck. It's the exact same

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-92111021977616791422010-11-29T13:10:00.002-05:002010-11-29T13:32:59.299-05:00

* I've been asked if a post on Dany Heatley is coming, in conjunction with his first visit back to SBP this week. The short answer is yes, but it will be appearing on Yahoo!, not TUC. Watch for the link on Twitter on Thursday.* Mr. Eugene's short conversation with Elliotte Friedman prior to the Leafs-Sens game on Saturday left me wanting to jam my head into a snowbank. "Buckle up - we're going

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-91740777409089355372010-11-22T12:32:00.000-05:002010-11-22T13:00:21.843-05:00

I just got off the phone with Ottawa Senators' VP of communications, Phil Legault and Chad Schella, the team's director of player services. Both were willing to speak on the record to me and offered an official explanation regarding the Daron Richardson press release, which was discussed the previous post.According to Schella, the Richardsons came to the decision to release the details of Daron's

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-14820745328363152602010-11-22T08:43:00.001-05:002010-11-23T04:04:53.084-05:00

The past week has been the hardest one in my short writing career, which is ironic for two reasons: 1) Nothing happened to me and 2) I didn't write anything.It was the events and the indirect actions of others that left me confused, angry and altogether unsure of my place and ultimate future in this business. Even now, I can't discuss the situation completely because of the repercussions it may

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-35308558223772208032010-11-10T16:18:00.002-05:002010-11-10T16:25:26.542-05:00

OK, so with travel (Vancouver and Houston), work and now the flu, I've been out of commission for a while. Sorry about that. Much thanks to Dany Heatley Speedwagon for holding up the fort at Yahoo! while I was flying around the continent like a maniac. Anyway, post to come in the next 24-48 (hopefully) on the last week or so - travel, the sports reporters panel at Carleton University this past

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-90435310643923456312010-10-24T17:04:00.009-04:002010-10-27T01:38:06.029-04:00

...because I get to listen to Theo Fleury sing in just under 3 hours. Who wants to sit like bumps on logs and not call Jason Spezza's off-season conditioning into question, because he's been saddled with a groin injury so early in the season? Sounds like a good time, yes? It's not like they could really use any offensive presence, seeing as Ottawa is 29th in the league in average goals per game

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-60751777026650365712010-10-14T02:10:00.005-04:002010-10-14T02:32:27.971-04:00

Yesterday, the Ottawa Senators announced that there were fewer than 4,500 tickets available for tonight's game vs. Carolina. Yes, you read that number correctly. Naturally, the excuses started rolling in. "It's a mid-week game!" Uh, Thursday games have been commonplace in Ottawa for years, and people have continued to show up. "It's early in the season!" If you are part of the majority of fans

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-73050676299699735832010-10-07T21:52:00.003-04:002010-10-07T22:08:54.235-04:00

The news is out: I'll be contributing a consistent dose of snark and estrogen representation over at Puck Daddy. The dear Mr. Wyshynski, a man who, on occasion, has seen me far drunker than I'd like to admit, was kind enough to take a chance on this bitter Quebecor reject, and for that, I salute him. If you'd like to bookmark my vitriol over at Yahoo!, use this link. Meanwhile, here are my

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-38181215222109715082010-10-03T15:01:00.004-04:002010-10-03T15:32:57.701-04:00

Another year, another power-play perimeter game from the Sens. We all know the drill: Passes along the boards/blueline, shoot it to the man down low on the right side, and await the garbage goal. It's the Greg Carvel special. The thing is, the man down low used to be Dany Heatley - remember? Well, it's interesting to look at the stats before and after No. 15's departure in the power-play

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-75267013643960416342010-09-23T16:42:00.003-04:002010-09-23T17:00:44.383-04:00

Just a thought...Instead of backsliding into the bloggers v. traditional media debate (round 3,189), why don't we start discussing where the true advantages lie for people in this business? What's more important to a writer - the prestige of an established outlet like a national newspaper, or the eyeballs that come with a highly recognized website? Would you rather make more money with a print

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-88558726495076710052010-09-14T14:02:00.004-04:002010-09-14T14:35:29.461-04:00

Regardless of what your political affiliations are, it's humourous to hear some say that they want the federal government to back off funding for a Quebec arena, because they want the money to "stay in their pockets." Aww, that's adorable. Do you need a refresher on which country you live in? Money will always be demanded from the taxpayers, regardless of which party is in power. If it's not this

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-33373416693800711812010-09-06T22:53:00.003-04:002010-09-06T23:08:28.317-04:00

The local gossip this weekend has revolved around the rumour that Ottawa may finally be getting an All-Star Game. Obviously one of the biggest hold-ups has been the lack of proper facilities downtown, but with the completion of new convention centre next year, the city should finally be prepared to hold the event. A couple of things:1) Many people (both locals and out-of-town media) love to bitch

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-76441458458869990222010-09-06T00:00:00.000-04:002010-09-06T00:01:14.861-04:00

Come for the potassium - stay for the rage. Here's a mish-mash of topics that have been irking us lately:Remember that ridiculous exercise in satire a few weeks ago known as the NHL Research and Development Camp? One of the biggest potential changes setting the Internet ablaze (or a-Twitter, to be more specific) was the discussion of doing away with shootouts, and returning to straight ties. At

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-44512148888798144512010-08-09T17:38:00.000-04:002010-08-09T18:52:05.828-04:00

When the cops were talking, and his teammates were melting down on golf courses about the issue to my best sources [a much-belated ironic hint - his number contained a '6'], I knew it was time to tackle the story as best I could. This was a difficult time for me - information was flying thick and fast, and I even had the location given to me where this supposed nonsense was going down. In the end

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-78173237237056319732010-08-08T19:03:00.003-04:002010-08-08T19:22:21.002-04:00

Looking back, this whole incident is cringe-inducing for yours truly. To flesh out the tale even further: The Sun's union (SONG Local 87-M) had been without a CBA for some time, and was on the verge of a strike...right in the middle of a Cup final featuring the Ottawa Senators. Seeing as I wasn't unionized, there was no reason why I couldn't be included on the accreditation list if they walked (

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-21415013866223027452010-08-07T19:40:00.004-04:002010-08-07T19:45:47.756-04:00

This fan did, and sent me a photo as proof. Have at it, Leafs fans. This is hardcore (originally posted November 7, 2006)Here's an excerpt from some reader mail that I received in response to the November 5 column:I live in Brockville where the teams are split between Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal. The Leaf fans I know are religious fans, standing beside there team regardless of how they play,

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-51660513133934488462010-08-05T18:50:00.005-04:002010-08-05T19:04:20.724-04:00

Here's where I mentioned that I had received a terse e-mail from a member of the Sens' front office about a column I wrote (now that he's gone I'll tell you - it was Mlakar). I then brought up a prior incident involving local radio where, during a guest hosting stint, I was warned not to say anything disparaging about the team. William Houston - then with The Globe and Mail - somehow got ahold of

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-35915378631104201172010-08-01T23:31:00.002-04:002010-08-01T23:38:18.694-04:00

Recent, yes, but there were some very strong feelings surrounding this post, so I figured it was worth a revisit.Erin on Erin: Through The Sports Media Peephole (originally posted on July 21, 2009)When I first heard about what happened to ESPN personality Erin Andrews -- my natural reaction was one of horror. Erin's privacy was violated during a moment when her guard was at its lowest. She was

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-90957352694535982592010-07-25T21:50:00.002-04:002010-07-25T21:58:47.161-04:00

This one makes the list, because it's my favourite post of all-time. What can I say? I have a soft spot for King of the Hill references. ***What's Swedish for "Where's my shin jelly?" (Posted September 18, 2007)When the hell is this going to end? Now Bryan Murray is enlisting the help of Daniel Alfredsson in an attempt to woo Peter Forsberg to the capital with a well-timed phone call. What is

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-28336020908076396302010-07-15T00:24:00.005-04:002010-07-15T03:25:40.564-04:00

(The Driver: Better than you; funnier than anyone. Also pictured: Miss Eleanor Southworth Ewing, the superbeagle.)Since my very first days in sports media, people have been trying to find out about my personal life -- specifically if I had a boyfriend or husband. If I did, what was he like? Well, after so many years, I figured it was time to pull back the curtain a bit. The Driver (real name:

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-12189383098506129112010-07-14T23:29:00.004-04:002010-07-14T23:40:18.264-04:00

The most popular post in TUC history owes everything to our dear friend Colin, who tipped us off to this story. How two TiCats cheerleaders go from discussing fitness to riding a Sybian (website NSFW) is beyond comprehension, but hey, it was the Howard Stern show.Four years later, readers are still Googling this story. Check it out here (SFW).

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-72051151224794352952010-07-12T01:20:00.004-04:002010-07-12T01:27:38.442-04:00

Jim Lampley nails a troika of whiskey, vodka and pot, then chases (and manhandles) a former Miss California around his couch while his 14-year-old son watches. Welcome to one of the most popular posts in TUC history.P.S.: The first comment? DAMN. And you guys thought I was harsh...

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-43084047696148322902010-07-07T23:48:00.007-04:002010-07-08T13:31:05.159-04:00

No, I didn't write this. But I do love it. Again, this is a cluster of posts from the period when the Senators thought they should (or rather, could get away with) charging their fans for games on pay-per-view. I got into a fair amount of trouble for these posts, both with the Ottawa Senators and Sun Media. In hindsight it doesn't seem like such a big deal, but at the time it surely wasn't

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-58958978717846750002010-07-07T00:11:00.004-04:002010-07-07T00:43:11.284-04:00

Ah, "Dress Up Jake." The madness, the mayhem, the use of R-rated accessories.Dress Up Jake came to me one night as I was sitting in my office, staring in total contempt at my Jake Plummer inaction figure after another brutal Denver loss. Plummer, the No. 1 QB of the Broncos at the time, could best be described as a mercurial, inconsistent fusspot. Basically the kid got on my nerves more than

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-62585535236906741732010-07-06T23:39:00.005-04:002010-07-07T00:15:52.017-04:00

The premise is a simple one: TUC is counting down 10 of the most (occasionally) memorable posts from the blog's history. Choices will be based on popularity, controversy and maybe a couple of my personal favourites, with a little write-up on each on my current feelings towards the posts (possible regrets, changes in opinion etc.). Please enjoy it --hopefully it helps to fill the time while we

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-1523056617258112232010-06-28T13:58:00.004-04:002010-06-28T15:16:03.968-04:00

'Cause it's not what you've done/It's what you've beenIf you fuck up/I'm telling Tim-- I'm Telling Tim (NOFX)Regarding the "anti-Spezza" posts on Tim Baines's new blog: 1) Don Brennan and Bruce Garrioch are big boys - one would hope they could defend themselves;2) Don't you wish this blog was around in 2008? It would have been interesting to see Baines take up for his writers when this was going

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-16870295122769218072010-06-22T09:08:00.000-04:002010-06-22T09:08:00.578-04:00

Semin. Brodeur. Spezza. Huselius. Brassard. The fourth-round pick.Stop spreading it. Why are you giving him the publicity he obviously craves? And don't start with the, "We need to expose him as the fraud he is!" How long has he been doing this - at least five years now? Nearly everyone knows that he shouldn't be taken seriously. This is no longer about him. It's about the people who insist they

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-41891397353303249562010-06-17T21:17:00.004-04:002010-06-18T15:57:10.620-04:00

Why are hockey fans getting so upset at Jay Mohr? I know he's recently unemployed, but I'm sure he didn't ask the NHL if he could host their awards. If the guy doesn't like the sport, that's his prerogative. Is it hypocritical for him to take the gig? Probably, but someone's got to keep Nikki Cox in Rystylane (seriously - Google some recent photos of her). If anything, it's the NHL that's coming

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-91664645287978826762010-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:002010-06-15T09:00:02.217-04:00

You know this is the type of thing I live for. You may have heard that a pocket of Senators fans are planning to have a rally in support of Jason Spezza. According to their Facebook page, the gathering is to take place this Saturday at Parliament Hill (as of the writing of this post, there were 131 confirmed guests). The Ottawa Citizen was tipped off on the gathering, and Allen Panzeri wrote an

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-89288067588475004612010-06-13T22:17:00.004-04:002010-06-13T23:56:09.203-04:00

Please note the poll on the right-hand side, and vote accordingly. Nothing huge -- just short videos of yours truly opining on whatever might be going on (that's sports-related, of course). Thanks for your input.P.S.: I refuse to include nudity or use the word "vlog." Sorry about that.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-3101049035637550452010-06-09T09:20:00.000-04:002010-06-09T09:23:00.798-04:00

If you ask some women, the answer is "yes." My answer is "no."I created a bit of a stir last night on Twitter when I wrote that I wasn't upset by yesterday's photo from the Chicago Tribune. Some women have viewed the photo as sexist, and one of the loudest voices on the subject was from Christine Brennan of USA Today. To paraphrase, Brennan is tired of seeing feminine traits/characteristics

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-23361208142144579482010-06-04T09:00:00.002-04:002010-06-04T09:00:10.210-04:00

Jesus tapdancing Christ. I don't need this (expletive). Jason Spezza? Seriously? Woman, please. It's pretty much common knowledge that a few years ago, I allegedly went to Bryan Murray and asked him to lock up Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley to deals, because I wanted to be sure that I had someone to play with long-term. We know how the latter part of that bargain turned out. I dealt with Heatley

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-12129100236114082962010-05-05T09:03:00.003-04:002010-05-05T23:23:31.528-04:00

Since 1994, only eight NHL teams have failed to make it to their respective conference finals. Would you like to guess the teams? Go ahead and put in your call to Liam Maguire. I'll wait.Give in? Here they are:Boston, Columbus, L.A., Nashville, Phoenix, Atlanta, the New York Islanders and...Montreal.Of course, the statistic becomes even harsher when you realize that Phoenix was awarded a team

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-42774101583457014152010-04-28T09:00:00.000-04:002010-04-28T09:00:02.559-04:00

Random question of the day: Who's less deserving of a job in media? Those who resent the protection that keeps them employed in the first place, or those who can't do their own jobs without resorting to outside assistance? (i.e. "Hey readers, I'm interviewing ____________ in an hour. What should I ask him/her?")As for the Senators, please view the following photo:I'm not doing this again,

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-13914308082955233492010-04-21T18:27:00.005-04:002010-04-21T18:36:36.082-04:00

Seeing as TUC has had a lot of dictionary-related discussion over the past 24 hours, I figured it was fitting that I pass this on. From urbandictionary.com, it's the "Spezza Pass". When a hockey player swings the puck with their stick behind their back in the hopes of making some incredible passing play to their team-mate, and it instead goes tape-to-tape on the stick of the opposing player who

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-60814162453893756012010-04-20T15:16:00.007-04:002010-04-20T15:27:59.966-04:00

Ottawa head coach Cory Clouston in the post-practice scrum on the difficulty of shadowing players: "You used to be able to almost rape a guy." How is this appropriate? Sens PR, we await your response. I hope it comes with an apology. Credit to Dan Seguin's Twitter for this.P.S.: And before anyone makes an "oversensitive" remark, you might want to take a look at your daughter, wife, sister or

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-17363209873146873192010-04-20T13:36:00.004-04:002010-04-20T13:42:28.051-04:00

We also refer to them as the "taxi squad", but I prefer the old-school term. From the 2006 TUC archives: Enjoy. (Thanks again to Liam Maguire for his help with this.)

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-90637746658555064482010-04-19T15:53:00.005-04:002010-04-19T16:56:28.787-04:00

...because I have Steel Panther's Community Property stuck in my head. Don't. Trust me. Just...don't. From the Twitter account of the Senators' PR rep, Phil Legault : "Young series is 2-1, yet pendulum of media desperation has swung again in the other direction."Oh, dear. First off, I'd like to meet the media who were initially ensconced on the other side of the fence, and I'd like to know

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-58363844880339971652010-04-11T21:20:00.004-04:002010-04-11T21:37:09.381-04:00

Let me preface all of this by saying, yes, Alyssa Milano is still attractive. However, the 2010 offerings for her sports clothing line, Touch, still leave a lot to be desired. Case in point: I'm pretty sure 99% of female sports fans have never thought the following..."I'm a woman. I'm a sports fan. And I have a monumental urge to wear two 'P''s on my asscheeks, because dammit, I'm that big

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-3529061142666738652010-04-05T13:02:00.006-04:002010-04-05T14:53:46.501-04:00

What are my arms doing on a blog from the Minneapolis Star Tribune? Come find out.(Rack bump to Michael Rand for his generosity with textiles, Lifter Puller wisdom and for kicking so much ass.)Here's RandBall backstage at the Bad Religion show in Vegas on the 26th of March. Bonus points for my crazed expression and looking like I'm missing a front tooth. Blame it on too much action in the pit..

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-19722570848580990752010-04-01T20:56:00.005-04:002010-04-01T23:33:13.419-04:00

Poor Daniel Alfredsson...you've got to feel for the old boy.Sure, it looks like he's going back to the playoffs, but he knows in his mind that this is going to be an uphill battle -- even moreso than usual. He's done everything in his power to be a proper face for the Ottawa Senators (minus some snafus here and there than only his haters like to obsess about). The man even gets booed in his own

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-748595668014606172010-03-31T00:00:00.006-04:002010-03-31T10:25:29.069-04:00

From Ian Mendes's Twitter last night: "(Alex) Kovalev on scoring OT goal to break 12-gm point drought: 'I didn't have a slump. That's what you guys call a slump. I'm just doing my best.'"Oh, alrighty then. Nice to know his best involved sucking up air on the bench for 12 games, to the tune of $731,707 (give or take -- he also gets a stipend for hair products). It's odd how things can trigger

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-37897259401261789692010-03-28T12:50:00.003-04:002010-03-28T12:53:31.586-04:00

Please note the following change: I am now known on Twitter as @erinnicks. The other account was lost, so if you wish to keep following, add the new name instead. Sorry for the inconvenience.More later.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-26240940637456949942010-03-16T10:23:00.005-04:002010-03-16T11:15:13.774-04:00

...because I have the "talking pillow." It's rare for an incident involving Steve Downie to get lost in the NHL shuffle, but it seems like that's exactly what has happened over the past few days. In the midst of another round of Ovechkin-mania (involving his hit from behind on Chicago's Brian Campbell and subsequent two-game suspension), Downie's slew-foot on Sidney Crosby received nowhere near

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-11362557714119184682010-03-11T09:00:00.001-05:002010-03-11T09:00:02.897-05:00

Mall purchases, check. Spare tire, check. Dude in a hockey bag...um....We've all done it: You're hanging out with friends, you have one too many rye and gingers, then you come up with the brilliant idea of attempting to stuff your smallest friend into a hockey bag. And that's fine -- as long as you don't try to smuggle him across the border in such a fashion. Two sisters from Virginia have

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-90787563783960112582010-03-09T12:25:00.003-05:002010-03-09T12:37:59.325-05:00

For all the talk about head shots in the game -- what's clean, what's not and so forth -- there's a highly relevant issue being overlooked.How many NHLers are truly wearing their helmets correctly, in order to protect themselves from injury?The most improperly used piece of equipment on the ice today isn't the referee's whistle; it's the chinstrap. Think of all the times we have seen a player

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-6017432100569097612010-03-08T15:02:00.008-05:002010-03-09T00:33:25.917-05:00

You never really know what you're going to find in your junk mail these days. Today's offering: A portrait on Linda Staal in a mini-magazine/advertisement for cheese. (No, really.)Linda's feature included the prerequisite impish photo of her foursome in their younger days, and tales of how the boys used to go through three bags of milk -- that's 4 litres -- a day. (Confused by the "bagged milk"

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-36253926061864319402010-03-08T14:04:00.006-05:002010-03-08T21:09:28.636-05:00

Bad things happen when you let your D thin out. The babyface is back for another go.22-year-old Brian Lee was signed to an extension by the Senators today. Details of the deal have yet to emerge -- I'll update this post as soon as they come out. One would assume that it's got to be either a one-way contract, or a half-and-half (first year two-way, second year one-way). For the record, Lee has

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-78826352259917846942010-03-03T09:38:00.004-05:002010-03-03T09:43:25.103-05:00

All microblogging, all the time...or at least for part of it. Click here to follow along. Come for the freak, stay for the food.(P.S.: There will be no food.)

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-24179094372425152142010-03-02T22:29:00.004-05:002010-03-02T22:35:25.656-05:00

An incredible aural experience, taped from across False Creek. The big moment happens at 1:20, but it's worth watching the entire video, as you can hear Cuthbert's call and the chants for Roberto Luongo.(Rack bump to Elliot P. for the find.)

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-4145127918491646682010-03-02T13:22:00.005-05:002010-03-02T14:02:22.833-05:00

Filip Kuba. Erik Karlsson. Matt Carkner. Brian Lee. Chris Campoli. Chris Phillips. These are your other defencemen as of today. Feel confident? Yeah, I know. Me too.I know what the rumour mill is churning out, and I find it exceedingly hard to believe. If the Senators are to be taken seriously by their fans, they need to not only make the playoffs, but at least make their presence known

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-90424719322450467322010-03-01T09:00:00.002-05:002010-03-01T09:00:12.554-05:00

When I think back on the last 17 days in Vancouver, there was one athlete who resonated with me the most, and it is Olympic women's bronze medalist, Joannie Rochette.Sure, I can be happy for the hockey players -- both male and female. I can get into snowboarding, ski cross and bobsled for a while. But I'll never understand what their Olympic experience was really like.Granted, I've never been

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-75500618938160891742010-02-25T09:00:00.002-05:002010-02-25T10:05:13.555-05:00

There's no debate that the games from Vancouver were choice, but the off-ice drama last night came courtesy of Mike Milbury after Team Canada's 7-3 victory versus the Russians. Milbury, never one to hold back -- or verbalize anything of relevance, for that matter -- offered this opinion regarding the Russians' performance:"I was shocked that this was this one-sided and I was really disappointed

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-43969457614025376662010-02-17T22:14:00.002-05:002010-02-17T22:20:59.453-05:00

Remember when the '06 Olympic team couldn't find the net to save their lives? Worth a review for the old-school photo of a drunk Mats Sundin and Eddie Belfour having a bro moment. Enjoy.P.S.: The Finlandia Club is a notorious bar located above an even more notorious restaurant called The Hoito (in Thunder Bay, naturally).

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-21004424413219447522010-02-13T14:28:00.008-05:002010-02-13T15:03:05.450-05:00

The hydraulic malfunction of the Olympic flame in Vancouver last night is a moment that won't be forgotten any time soon, and thanks to the various telecasts, we got a glimpse of the discomfort at stage level. Let's have a look, shall we?Keep smiling, Steve. Just think about soccer. Or basketball...I guess.Nancy Greene Raine, with the facepalm felt around the world. Catriona Le May Doan,

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-59752472266767854142010-02-11T15:46:00.003-05:002010-02-11T15:58:22.393-05:00

Let's take a walk down TUC's memory lane, shall we? In honour of the Olympics opening tomorrow in Vancouver, here's a post from February 2006 I did on the opening ceremonies in Torino, Italy. Cows on wheels? Photos taken via Mesozoic Era cell phones? Oh, you know you want some of this. Enjoy.P.S.: Note the tone of the Senators bit. That was in 2006. Just saying.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-60763168390436458142010-02-09T13:00:00.002-05:002010-02-09T13:14:23.080-05:00

Since 2010 began, many Ottawa Senators fans have been happy to throw out a phrase to anyone who they deemed a naysayer: "Mental toughness."The ironic thing is, mental toughness doesn't truly display itself when you're riding a double-digit win streak. Everyone's mood is happier, their step is lighter and it's not the most difficult situation for a team to be in, trust.And that's why the latest

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-45542688612429974762010-02-05T15:37:00.004-05:002010-02-05T15:43:02.087-05:00

Damn, I want to believe Flyers fans are this committed. Here's the last letter from Bill Simmons's mailbag today:A couple of weeks ago at a frat party, I began to get with a pretty cute girl. As the night wore on, and the drinks started flowing, she took me back to her apartment. When I entered her room, the first thing I saw was a giant Sidney Crosby poster. Without saying another word to her,

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-65081029028752825442010-02-03T09:15:00.000-05:002010-02-03T09:15:00.328-05:00

Check out this gem from Mike Fisher's future wife on the NHL's available awards (starts at 1:38). Can Bettman start handing out a wreath this June, because that might be sweet. Also, I hope their new home has plenty of room for the "plaques." Please tell me there's a "Mike Fisher -- Participant" among them. Love those.P.S.: Obvious joke: "She was talking about trophies for the Senators,

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-70793861723549105232010-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:002010-02-01T09:00:08.643-05:00

Part of being a cynic/Senators realist is that you're always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Sure, happy days are here again in the nation's capital, but when it comes to the Ottawa Senators -- what goes up must come down. And we're looking at you, Brian Elliott.In the midst of all this euphoria, did anyone stop to think that some of the Manatee's ways may have rubbed off on No. 30? And

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-16687510377598927732010-01-28T13:54:00.004-05:002010-02-01T04:47:35.845-05:00

The media has already begun to ponder Cory Clouston's odds in the Jack Adams race at the end of the season. The latest coach of the Senators has seen some success during this season, working with a hodge-podge of a club that at the moment, is in the playoff hunt (although the likelihood of any post-season triumphs is obviously questionable).Take your chewable in small bites this week: 1) Will

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-63863082515327183962010-01-19T09:10:00.002-05:002010-01-19T10:58:54.549-05:00

Which high-ranked player has decided that he's worthy of superstar treatment before he reaches the NHL?Oh, those junior boys. When they show a spark, the grateful masses are willing to kowtow to them, and perhaps even break the law. You'd think said players would show a little low-key gratitude. Think again.Nothing really new under the sun here. A local bar is looking the other way while this

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-10416487676709792252010-01-15T09:00:00.001-05:002010-01-15T09:00:03.378-05:00

An injured girl lies on the side of the road, as she is attended to after an earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo)Last night, Montreal Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque dedicated his first goal as a Hab "to all the Haitians who are looking for (family and friends)."Your question of the day: Do you think this little girl in the photo -- or any others searching within

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-5948933644971823612010-01-08T15:20:00.006-05:002010-01-08T15:32:59.962-05:00

Do you require a figurative wallop to your genitalia in order to close out the week? This might do it. These futures lines were taken from the MGM Grand in Vegas by yours truly, on the 18th of January, 2009. I'd like to believe (and The Driver would tell you) that the Chargers at 10-1 look mighty tasty right now. But I don't know -- it's hard for me to trust a head coach who wears an

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-4164101108375822532010-01-04T11:16:00.000-05:002010-01-04T11:17:53.062-05:00

Can anyone tell me why this is acceptable:DON BRENNAN: Speaking of being on the road, I'm on my way to Frisby tires on just 3O of them. Excuse me a second. "HEY LADY. DON'T LEAN ON YOUR HORN AND SCOWL AT ME. THERE'S A REASON I'M DRIVING SLOWLY, YOU B---H." I don't see the Spezza and Alfredsson injuries slowing the local heroes down too much. They can plod along well enough to stay in the thick of

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-18275358616481572442010-01-04T08:00:00.006-05:002010-01-04T08:53:58.772-05:00

Generations of Kings fans across the street from Staples Center, at L.A. Live. I also saw some extremely novice skaters texting on a packed rink. If that's not SoCal, I don't know what is.Welcome to 2010, Cynics. This month marks the fourth anniversary of the blog (ack). If you're old-school, thanks for sticking around. Neophytes, continue to come around and make your presence known.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-2004298964287344572009-12-17T11:31:00.005-05:002009-12-17T12:01:43.900-05:00

The following was sent this morning to myself, several bloggers (including Scarlett Ice and Puck Daddy) and the majority of local media. Commentary is open, so feel free to chime in:***RSA: REAL SENS ARMY(REF: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&gid=18029289557#/group.php?v=wall&gid=18029289557 )When I read about the RSA on online forums and discussion boards, the comment made most by

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-18048086062845696192009-12-13T18:17:00.006-05:002009-12-17T11:41:54.690-05:00

Upsetting reports coming from overseas regarding former Ottawa Senators goaltender, Martin Gerber. From Greg Wyshynski and Russianhockeyfans.com:Troubling news from the Kontinental Hockey League, as former NHL goalie Martin Gerber suffered a neck injury while playing for Atlant Moscow -- one that's going to keep him hospitalized for months, according to Russian media reports.***According to

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-23308554039212460862009-12-12T17:43:00.003-05:002009-12-12T17:53:18.313-05:00

Wouldn't you like to know what the Sens are thinking when they advertise that there are less than 4,000 tickets available for tonight's game against Carolina? Oh sure, they have to get the word out. But does anything over 500 imply any kind of urgency that it might sell out? Doesn't it do exactly the opposite? I don't know about you, but when I see numbers like these, I'd be going right past

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-2319824628631161652009-12-10T01:00:00.006-05:002009-12-10T04:02:48.228-05:00

The media: To blab or not to blab -- and at what cost?I caught a bit of Bob McCown's show yesterday, and there was a discussion regarding the media coverage of Tiger Woods' alleged indiscretions.You'll notice that all of these "breaking news stories" and "exclusives" have fallen under two unbrellas: Magazine tabloids and the Internet. Traditional media was a non-factor, and largely served as

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-74034537086853788252009-12-09T05:15:00.000-05:002009-12-09T05:15:37.288-05:00

I figured I'd address this here, seeing as so many of you are e-mailing about it.Yes, my Twitter page is gone. No, I'm not currently tweeting anywhere else. I decided sometime ago that I was going to take a hiatus from the application until 2010. That might mean the beginning of January, but maybe later, depending on how I feel. Why on Earth would I do such a thing? Well, there are a few

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-40679119779256399602009-12-07T08:31:00.001-05:002009-12-07T08:31:00.049-05:00

Don't mess with a man who wears his hair in mini-pigtails.Instead of hanging out in Toronto at C'est What with Greg "Puck Daddy" Wyshynski and Dany Heatley Speedwagon (like I was supposed to), I was stuck in Ottawa last night watching this nonsense. I caught a couple of gems from Dean and Galley -- you know, before I got fed up and starting baking instead:Dean (after Matt Carkner's 6-second fight

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-18759636914845041412009-12-04T08:19:00.000-05:002009-12-04T08:19:00.393-05:00

"For every gorgeous girl out there, there's some (dumbass narcissist with too much money and obviously not enough brains in his melon) who's tired of f*cking her."-- Author UnknownMy friend JB first said this to me and I never forgot it -- but the additional bit in parentheses is mine. Here's hoping that Elin sticks it out for the bare minimum, collects her cash and re-emerges as some effed-up

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-9862426493441946542009-12-03T23:09:00.009-05:002009-12-04T01:07:01.115-05:00

* After sending a text to Bad Religion's Greg Hetson, warning him that Ottawa could put him to sleep at the Staples Center: "Thanks -- I'll bring a book." (Ed. Note: The game was actually better than expected.)* Gord Miller: "Remember, Ottawa no longer has their swingman in Christoph Schubert."Pierre: "Excellent point, Gord. Schubert was very valuable as their swingman."The Driver: "Pfft...

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-8746603581789769532009-11-27T14:09:00.003-05:002009-11-27T14:16:48.460-05:00

In case you missed it last night...Here's my favourite babyface coach (sorry Clouston) losing it on my beloved Denver Broncos after they failed to score two TDs in the first quarter. The icing on the cake: This segment was played as a taped bit. It wasn't live. (Warning: Audio isn't overly loud, but is still NSFW.)

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-41926441339086832102009-11-25T08:30:00.001-05:002009-11-25T08:30:00.142-05:00

There certainly are some interesting issues facing Ottawa Senators head coach Cory Clouston these days, but thanks to some lineup changes (yet again), it might be time to deal with the latest pink elephant in the room. On the recent "embarrassment of riches" front, Clouston seemed pleased with the performance of his rotating bench-warmers. From Ken Warren of the Citizen:While Ryan Shannon,

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-17818642218162002852009-11-23T10:25:00.001-05:002009-11-23T10:25:00.430-05:00

Place this one under the header of "Adventures in Creative Contest Marketing."I found this on the website for Wild Wing" -- a chain of Canadian restaurants specializing in the flapping part of the chicken that serves as a general accompaniment to beer. Anyway, as I clicked onto the page, the header left me rather perplexed. A contest for a No. 87 jersey -- baby blue in colour, dangerously

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-79114437045610691922009-11-23T01:00:00.001-05:002009-11-23T13:09:32.539-05:00

The rewind version...Poor, old (well, he's 34), slow Shean Donovan. It's apparently hard to give him love, which I discovered after the Penguins' Matt Cooke took out No. 10's knee for an extended period of time. Yes, the Senators eventually ended up winning that game quite handily against Pittsburgh. The thing was, the Pens ran out a D that was about as effective as a bunch of ex-ECHLers on a

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-26690091258382082532009-11-20T08:30:00.002-05:002009-11-23T02:48:56.270-05:00

You never know what's going to happen on late-night Centre Ice. I caught this as it actually occurred at the end of the Tampa Bay-Anaheim game last night, so I can tell you that the YouTube footage doesn't do it justice -- there were serious punches being thrown. For the record, Scott Niedermayer was trying to give the stick to a female fan (yes I know, insert punchline here). I realize he may

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-41075355801528665752009-10-25T21:43:00.009-04:002009-10-26T01:08:34.301-04:00

The Kings' Rob Scuderi must've decided it was Nadia Comaneci Night at Staples Center. First to experience the Pretzel Test: Jason Chimera of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here are some stills from Scuderi's low hit (Warning: somewhat cringe-worthy). FYI: No penalty was assessed on the hit, and Chimera received a 10-minute misconduct (and a fair amount of stitches due to extreme ice exfoliation).

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-73883195757395017862009-10-23T08:00:00.005-04:002009-10-23T08:31:00.064-04:00

A great read regarding Deadspin's constant need to attack ESPN -- Moderately Cerebral BiasThe lovely Meaghan of the OBC offers her thoughts on Matt Carkner -- Sens At Land's EndThe always fantastic Michael Rand of the Minneapolis Star Tribune talks to Vikings punter Chris Kluwe about his rawk band, Tripping Icarus (bonus points for the First Avenue references) -- RandBallFormer Sens President Roy

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-89620155230999759342009-10-21T16:16:00.004-04:002009-10-21T16:47:28.437-04:00

If you're a Senators fan (or a fan of any team, for that matter), who has such a problem with my opinion that you feel the need to call me a c*nt, you seriously need to check yourself. First off, it's Matt Carkner we're talking about. Secondly, let's keep in perspective, shall we? This pertains to hockey -- not world peace, nuclear disarmament or genocide. Thirdly, this is a blog that

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-38581902521206337872009-10-20T21:47:00.003-04:002009-10-20T22:22:05.276-04:00

"I'm a Sens fan, dammit! I'm inexperienced at viewing the middle ground of an opinion I don't understand, and am upset easily! Erin obviously hates Matt Carkner because she thinks he was destined for a career in the AHL! When you question a player's talent, that means you hate them! Well, that was before Bryan Murray paid him 1.4 million over 2 years! Hahaha! Stupid effing bitch, he showed

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-27697167793995275882009-10-19T19:05:00.012-04:002009-10-20T06:42:40.397-04:00

...because TUC Live is hitting Toronto and NYC this week -- consider yourselves warned.Wow, I never saw this coming -- apparently some bloggers/Twitterers are getting up-in-arms because I refuse to acknowledge the Senators' early season "successes." Naturally, these fans in rose-coloured glasses are only looking at the record on paper (currently a respectable 5-2-0, which has them sitting atop

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21327159.post-37617462543961318162009-10-09T08:18:00.000-04:002009-10-09T08:18:00.472-04:00

Hey Ottawa: Want to know what your No. 1 prospect from 2009 is up to? Enjoy.

The Universal Cynichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03205794337265829420noreply@blogger.com3