Twenty Years

Twenty years sounds like a long time ago.....Yet it went by in a flash...Twenty years ago Forrest Gump came out...Along with Ace Ventura, Reality Bites, Dumb & Dumber, Pulp Fiction, and The Santa Clause...

Portishead's album Dummy came out 20 years ago...So did Weezer, by Weezer, Dookie by Green Day, Under the Table and Dreaming by DMB, Pearl Jam's Vitalogy, and Jeff Buckley's Grace...

Twenty years ago O.J. Simpson was arrested for double murder...

Twenty years ago, Major League Baseball had a lockout/strike that killed any chance of an amazing Cleveland Indians versus Montreal Expos World Series...

Twenty years ago, I graduated from high school...

And the highlight of 1994...The New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup!

After suffering my first 18 years of life as a Rangers fan, I saw a winner...And lets be honest, I was seeing any winning growing up in Cleveland for a long time...It had been 54 years since the Rangers had won the Cup, so as for being a long suffering Rangers fan...I had some catching up to do...But since 1994, the Rangers haven't been back to the Stanley Cup Finals...Hell, they've barely even sniffed the Finals since then...But here we are, twenty years later, and the Rangers are going back to the Stanley Cup Finals...

The Rangers will face the LA Kings...The LA Kings and the NY Rangers...The Marketing department's dicks are so hard right now...The Kings are good...Their Goalie, Jonathan Quick can go toe-toe with Lundqvist...They skate well...They're fast...Plenty of talent all over the ice...I'll be honest...I'm nervous...I have doubts...But that's nothing new....

 I didn't have a lot of faith in this team for much of the season...Early on, they seemed to struggle with adjusting to a new coaching staff, and system...They didn't seem as tough, physically, even though it was mostly the same team as the year before...But Henrik Lundqvist can always carry the team through a rough patch...Oh, wait...The he started out slow...His game even seemed off...But it came around...Slowly other pieces came around...But the offense was often lacking...

At the trade deadline, the Rangers traded their captain, Ryan Callahan to Tampa Bay for their Captain, Martin St. Louis...I hated this trade...St. Louis was 8 years older...Not a physical presence...And seemed like a bitch demanding trade after not getting selected by his GM to be on Team Canada's Olympic hockey team...And demanding to only go to the Rangers...Yet, the Rangers overpaid, giving up a 1st and 2nd rounder, plus Callahan...

Then St. Louis went 11 games without scoring a goal...While Callahan continued to play his steady, two-way game in Tampa Bay...I HATED this trade...Then came the playoffs...St. Louis' mother suddenly passes away...He seems to be playing on another level...Multiple, huge Game changing/winning goals...The rest of the team is feeding off of it...Now we sit here, heading into the finals...Looks like a good trade now...

I still HATE it!

Yes, I'm thrilled the Rangers are playing for the Stanley Cup...But there is a part of me that feels like it's screwed up that Callahan isn't there...Along with Lundqvist, he was the face of the Rangers...He was home grown...He played Ranger hockey, the way it's suppose to be played...But sports is a business right...Yes, yes it is...And the Rangers decided to make a move for business now, and risk some of the future...2 high draft picks and the captain, for an aging scorer who has one last push left in him...

Big picture, I still think its a bad trade...

But do I really want to wait another year or twenty?

The Beeze.

Oh Captain, My Captain

Yesterday, the New York Rangers, traded their captain, Ryan Callahan to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Martin St. Louis...

The last Rangers captain to be traded was Mark Messier (the rights for) in 2003 to the San Jose Sharks for a 4th Rd pick...That pick became...Ryan Callahan...Just an interesting fact for ya...

So, from what I've seen from most Rangers fans on twitter, and blogs, and what I've heard on NHL radio, they are happy about this trade...Yes, Martin St. Louis at 38 years old, still scores...He's always been a talented offensive player...Everyone keeps comparing their offensive numbers...

Well why is a little guy like ST. Louis able to keep scoring? Well, he plays little defense, while Callahan is a defensive thorn in people's sides...Callahan, checks...Finishes every check...Drives star players crazy, by running them into the boards...Callahan blocks shots...He blocks them with precision...Like it's a fucking art form...And if he has to, he'll drop the gloves...

St. Louis has always shied away from these parts of the game...But the constant talk is about scoring...Well people, there is a lot more to Hockey then just scoring...

But for me it's not just about the difference between the two players...Lets look at the trade...

St. Louis wanted out of Tampa Bay because his feelings were hurt, because Lightning GM Steve Yzerman who was the GM for team Canada, didn't pick St. Louis for the Olympic team...(St. Louis did go, as he took injured teammate, Steven Stamkos' spot) Then St. Louis said the only team he wanted to go to was the Rangers...Wanting to reunite with old teammate, and fellow old man, Brad Richards...

So why the hell did Rangers (overrated) GM Glen Sather give up so much for a 38 year old guy with another year on his contract? So much you ask? Besides Callahan, who is ten years younger, Sather gave up a 1st round and a 2nd round draft pick...If Callahan resigns with Tampa Bay, that 2nd round pick becomes a first...

What the fuck!?! St. Louis is a 38 year old with hurt feeling only willing to go to your team...Why give up the two high picks along with your Captain? Yzerman doesn't like, tell him to go screw...San Jose was interested in Callahan...Talk to them...Tell Yzerman San Jose is giving more, or asking for less, or both...These GM's always say it's a business...Well treat that way...Too bad is Yzerman is stuck with a 38 year old who is sad, and only plays one part of the game...Not your problem!

And why were the Rangers shopping Callahan? They couldn't reach a contract extension with him and his agent...Everyone says he was asking for too much...Why were they saying this? Because all they look at is scoring...Not the everything else that is just as important...And maybe it was bit high...In the end, the talk was 6 years, near $6 million a year...But the thing that killed the deal for Sather was Callahan wanting a no trade clause...Really? The captain of your team wants to finish his career with you and that's no good...People say players should give the team a "hometown discount," that they should show that loyalty...Why the fuck shouldn't the team show it as well!?!

As a lifelong Rangers fan, I hate this trade...As a Callahan fan, I hate this trade...As some one who tries to use common sense, I think Sather should be fired for getting raped by Yzerman, who St. Louis painted in a corner...

Long term, the Rangers lose big time...Short term, the Rangers lose...St. Louis may add offense, but makes them softer, and takes a away a key defensive asset...And in the Spring, he turns 39 when the Rangers will be trying to make huge playoff run...I recall Brad Richards (33) looking old and out of gas last year in the playoffs...So out of gas, he was scratched for the last 3 games...

Martin St. Louis is not the missing link who will save the Rangers and take them to a Cup...But those high draft picks could have been, skating beside Callahan...

You won't see that 38 year old doing all of this...





Best of luck Captain Cally...Tampa Bay is going to love you!

The Beeze

Old Time Hockey in NYC Monday Night

The New York Rangers and new Jersey Devils have had a great rivalry for many years...And this year, with the Rangers on top of the Eastern Conference for most of the season, their opponents have tried to come at them with a tougher game...Problem is, no team plays tougher then the Rangers...Hard-nosed, grinding hockey...Everyone checks...Everyone blocks shots...Everyone forechecks...And a number of the guys will drop the gloves if needed...

So Monday night the Devils came into Madison Square Garden, and their douchebag coach, Peter DeBoer thought he'd try to send a message with the starting lineup he submitted...He put his thumpers, Cam Janssen, Eric Boulton, and Ryan Carter out there...Pissed off about this, Rangers coach John Tortorella didn't hold back, and he sent Mike Rupp, Brandon Prust out there...Oh, and he sent big defenseman, Stu Bickell out there to play Center...

Here's what happened next...




Way go DeBoer...Not only did you fire up the Rangers squad, but you got the Ranger faithful all fired up too...MSG was rocking from the opening brawl and seeing Carter's blood scraped off the ice...

And then, less than a minute and a half later, The Rangers scored...Momentum was on the Rangers' side all night...

As the game continued, it came out that New jersey's David Clarkson kept running his mouth...So finally Mike Rupp told him, "If you keep talking, I'm going to knock you out on National TV." Rupper rules!

Rupp didn't get to pound Clarkson, but the Devil douche took some hits...


The game had a playoff atmosphere...Which most Rangers/Devils games do...But it was clear, the opening fight sparked the entire team...Every player was skating with a purpose, and playing with the highest level of intensity...Just what they needed to stop a minor skid they've been on...And with their 4-2 victory, they clinched a playoff spot...Thanks DeBoer!


Nothing with guys like Callahan and Del Zotto getting healthy, and Ludqvist over the Flu, they're looking to hold onto the top seed...

So for the rest of the NHL, playing the Rangers is going to be hard enough on you...Don't be stupid like the Devils, and make the night even harder on yourselves...

Oh, and Toronto, way to show about against your rival, Boston Bruins...Maple Leafs, how does that 8-0 ass beating taste...All of Canada should be pissed that the Leafs are such a fucking Joke...

Later, the Beeze.

Monday Moaning

Well here we are again...The beginning of the week comes quick...The past week has been filled with a lot of tragedy...Tornadoes ripped across the country causing chaos, death and destruction...In North East Ohio people dealt with the aftermath of the Chardon High School shooting...Thursday good in people was on full display...I wrote about it HERE...And the Saturday, the people of Chardon formed a human wall to block the threat of assholes from the Westboro Baptist Church who planned on protesting...Those Westboro fuckers are complete ass-hats!

Then there was THIS news about the Browns Friday...What a joke!

In Sports there have been a couple stories out there...The New Orleans Saints possibly having a bounty system...I'm not sure why people would be shocked by this...It's Football...It's a violent game, and there are opponents that get under people's skin...And Football being a violent game, where you try to hurt opponents, makes it easy to hide the fact that you may be trying to actually hurt some one...

Spring Training is fired up, but I can't get excited for Baseball just yet...And the Indians have annoyed me already...This off season they didn't pick-up their option on the always injured, grossly overrated, strikes out too much, Grady Sizemore...Good I thought...He ain't worth $9 million...Then they signed him to a $5 million deal...Still not sure why since he was rehabbing a couple injuries...So what happens...He fucks up his back again...Has the same surgery Peyton Manning had on his neck, done on his lower back...Looks like he's done for the year...$5 million down the drain...

But there is one think that I really need to get out there...I fucking hate Basketball...I'm in my car, listening to Sports Talk Radio, and when local dolts aren't talking about what the Browns should do in the draft, they along with ESPN and FOX dolts are talking about Basketball...And Fuck Jeremy Lin! Seriously!

You fuckers in New York, and on the major networks need to wake up...There is only one sports team in New York worth talking...


That's right fuck-stains...The New York Rangers...42-15-7 is a hell of record, and they sit on top of the NHL standings with 91 points...With the best goalie around, Henrik Ludqvist, and a core of talented, young defensemen...Offensive threats like Marian Gaborik, Brad Richards, and their captain Ryan Callahan, who does everything on the ice...The Rangers roster is full of grinders, and brings a few thumpers with them...

They are all lead by their coach John Totorella...A no bullshit kind of guy, who expects the best out of all his players...He expects his players to have each others backs...And everyone on his team blocks shots...It doesn't matter who you are...You block shots, or you don't play...

The Rangers have been the most consitent, hardest working team in hockey...And they've done it all quietly it seems...Even many of the NHL talking heads haven't given the Rangers the time, and respect they deserve...Well it's time to wake up...The Rangers are on the road to the Cup, and they're a real son of a bitch to play against...Right Bruins? How about you Flyers? Yeah Philly, the boys in Blue own your ass!

That's it for now...

Have a week...And watch Hockey...

Later, The Beeze.

Monday Moaning

So it's Monday again...It always seems to get here too soon...Well, this week I'll start with a couple of sports highlights...

First, Sunday I got to sit around and be lazy, and watch the Rangers vs. Flyers game, with my little molls...She really digs the constant color movement of hockey games...


The Rangers beat the hell out of the Flyers, 7-0...Including a hat-trick from Ryan Callahan...Before the game Callahan had made a point of saying how he, and the team really needed to step up if they want to hold onto a playoff spot...Dude has tons of grit and gets it done in all aspects of the game...



And of course with Rangers, Flyers, you always get a bit of fighting...



Hopefully this is the spark that gets Rangers into a strong playoff spot...

Then I heard on the Radio that the Miami Heat have been struggling in big games...You know, against teams that are good, as opposed to rolling the Cavaliers...I don't follow basketball, by I do like any bad news about LeBron James...Word is he has been choking at crunch time, late in games...Yeah, we've seen that before! I guess Sunday was no different, and reports started flying around about a few Heat players crying after the game...No, really! Fucking crying!

Hey fellas, you don't see Charlie Sheen crying...You know why? Because he's WINNING!

Then, I came across this story...Girls High School Basketball coach, Amber Branson gave birth Friday night, after having contractions while coaching her team's state regional Tournament game...Less than 16 hours later, she was back on the sidelines coaching her team to a come from behind victory, that puts them in the State Tournament...

She has gotten great praise from her players, and from many others for her dedication to her team...Umm, I'm not going to praise her for that...Yeah, maybe it's impressive to deliver a baby and coach a basketball game 15 hours later, but know what would be more impressive...Being in that hospital with your newborn child...Those girls on the basketball team most likely would have understood the dedication it takes to be a parent, especially to a child that has only been alive for 15 hours...But after this example will they understand what type of dedication it takes to be a parent?

Coach Amber Branson, in my opinion, you've done more harm, than good by coaching that game...And if your dedication to basketball outshines your dedication to your children, well then your kids are fucked, because their mother is a morally, and emotionally bankrupt twat!

Okay, after that I need a laugh, and I can't get enough Charlie Sheen, and WINNING!



Have a week...

later, The Beeze.