Random thoughts for the day.

Top 10 (completely random) things from Round 1

1. Watching San Jose, yet again, crap out in the playoffs. Seriously, who didn't see that one coming this year.
   
2. John Tortorella loses mind... again.
   
3. Sean Avery is an idiot... again.
   
4. Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins are very very scary good.
   
5. learning that Adam Burrish was a guest security guard on Jerry Springer. Insert own joke here.
   
6. Maybe the kids are alright. One of the youngest team in the NHL with an average age of 26.8, the Chicago Blackhawks pick off the Calgary Flames and made it look damn easy.
7. Alexander Ovechkin actually undressed several New York Rangers. No.... literally. It was a sexy time.
8. Carolina Hurricanes score with seconds left in game 7 to take the series. Someone kick Martin Broduer please.
9. Because of said late third period goal... Washington plays Pittsburgh in Round 2. I think Washington Coach Bruce Boudreau said it best... "we're playing Pittsburgh, welcome to the circus."
   
10. Does this mean Eric Staal is good again?
    

There's the old Torts we all knew and loved.

throwing shit at fans... playing "next question" with real reporters.... distracting his team into blowing a series against Washington....

But the weird thing is... he apologized.

"It was a bad mistake and I regret it," said John Tortorella. "I put the Ranger organization in an embarrassing situation and I'm embarrassed by it."

The old Torts woulda said "eff it! that fan is a moron and I wish i gotta hold of him like that time the fan fell into the box with Tie Domi. I woulda effed him right up."

tsk tsk Torts. TSN made you soft. You've lost your touch.


Update — Epic Beard Battle.

Epic = Saddest

May 1 morning skate: Day 17

May 2nd Post-game: Day 18

The Most Epic Battle of them all — update.

Toews — Post-game April 16, 2009 (Day 1)

Crosby — Pre-game April 17, 2009 (Day 3)

Ready, set, grow!

The season officially ended yesterday and we have our matchups for round 1. So let's talk about the most epic battle of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The young guns. The captains.

Toews versus Crosby.

Beard edition.

Last season we had the privilege(?) of seeing what Crosby can bring. It wasn't pretty.

So will the NHL's newest young captain be able to do a better job at growing a playoff beard then our buddy Sid. Or will Sid step up his game this year?


bring it on.

The world has gone mad.

CBC has dropped the Hockey Night in Canada theme song (see story below). Is that allowed? If the Canadian government blocks the sale of the Canadarm to the United States, how is the Hockey Night in Canada theme allowed to be dropped from Hockey Night in Canada. Isn't that sacrilegious or something? Apparently there has been a raise in the royalties being asked for the tune and the network couldn't afford to keep it. Answer me this? Where else do the royalties for this song come from? Is it really wise for this silly company "Copyright Music & Visuals" to charge so much that their only customer gives them the middle finger and says... Peace out homies. We'll get the Tragically Hip to write a song? Who else is going to buy this song? The odd documentary, sure. But Hockey Night in Canada provides steady income...every week. That is now gone. Stuuuuuupid. My guess is the company will cave for a cheaper price.

Dolores Claman the composer of the song also seems like a real peach. Back in 2004 she sued the CBC for copyright damages but was all smiles when the station decided to do a story on the 40th anniversary of the song.

Just out of spite. Please visit this.

Hockey Night In Canada to ditch famous theme

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Thu. Jun 5 - 5:42 PM

TORONTO — The famous Hockey Night in Canada theme that has introduced thousands of great games over the years may not be heard again when the puck drops next season.

The agency that represents the song's composer said the CBC will no longer use the familiar hockey anthem.

CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore would not comment on the claim when reached at his Toronto office. The network was expected to issue a release later Thursday.

The licence agreement CBC had with composer Dolores Claman ended with this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, which wrapped up Wednesday night.

John Ciccone, whose company Copyright Music & Visuals controls use of the song, said he was given a deadline until noon Wednesday to reach a new agreement. The CBC sent him an e-mail later in the afternoon telling him they would not renew the contract.

``We looked at it every different way we could,'' he said. ``Whatever it takes, let's try and come up with something.''

It cost the public broadcaster about $500 every time it used the theme, but Ciccone doesn't think it came down to an issue of money.

One of the ideas Ciccone said he offered involved maintaining the same contract for two years, then increasing the rates by about 15 per cent, an increase he calls an industry standard.

He says he has yet to hear back from the CBC, but that he would always be open to starting negotiations again.

``We're always here,'' he said. ''They've got our number.''

Claman could not be reached for comment but released a statement on the website hockeytheme.com.

``I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada theme after our lengthy history together. I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction.''

Claman wrote the song in 1968 after it was commissioned by McLaren Advertising. The company was looking for something big, adventurous and brave to go with the broadcast.

Some good news. The Penguins lost the Stanley Cup, but hey, at least Sidney Crosby can finally shave that greasy stash he's got going on.

The Detroit Red Wings are expected to have their Stanley Cup parade on Friday. I have found no word on what kind of accident the Cup has endured this year. It's only a matter of time.