The Critic

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ May 11, 2010 -> 09:04 AM) The Tribune headline says that fans were booing him after the 3rd error. Really? Boo your top prospect, a 20-year old in his 4th major league game?? Wow, Cubs fans have become awfully cutthroat about their team in the past few years. I think they've been burnt by so many "can't miss" prospects that whenever a kid starts to fail, they immediately think "oh, great...ANOTHER one...." But doesn't the booing kind of fly in the face of the "nobody's paying attention to the game" stereotype?

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ May 11, 2010 -> 09:38 AM) One of the reasons I'm pulling for the Canadiens (ugh) is that I'd really love to see the Hawks battle an Original Six rival for the Cup, which would happen if they make it and the Habs face the Bruins in the East. There hasn't been an Original Six match-up in the Finals for more than 30 years. First things first, however. Frankly, I'm worried about tonight, and projecting more worry ahead for Thursday. I'd prefer Boston, but I'd be okay with Montreal. To see them eliminate Washington and Pittsburgh in successive rounds would make me SUCH a "happy human"! But first and most important things first - the Hawks need to get rid of the Canuckleheads - and do it tonight, please? I want NO Game 7 against those guys.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ May 8, 2010 -> 03:21 PM) Plus, I'm pretty damn sure that prostitution itself is illegal in New York. He committed a crime either way, so f*** him. That's all he wanted in the first place!

QUOTE (Cali @ May 7, 2010 -> 10:18 PM) I've tried and tried, but I just can not get into this album, and Alkaline is one of my favorite bands of all time. It just seems so bland and uninspired. Nothing grabs me. They may went back to their straight up punk roots, but I was kinda digging the new stuff they were trying on Crimson and Agony & Irony, which is not to say I don't LOVE the earlier stuff they're trying to go back to (Good Mourning is my fav disc) but back then, honestly, they had better more creative lyrics -- the main reason I got into them in the first place -- and hooks. I think one of my main issues with this disc is that there's too many Matt songs (what's it like 8-3? 9-2?). I like it better when there's an even split and sometimes I even liked Dan's songs better (not an opinion shared by many) I like to use parenthesis.... I see your point (about the Dan/Matt writing split), but I tend (like most) to like Matt's songs more anyway. I disagree with your point (about being bland and uninspired), though I can see why you'd say that. I think maybe I'm just a fanboy (and therefore would like almost anything they did)? I do share your fondness for parentheses (I use the plural form of the word, although both are correct). Have you heard the song "Good f***ing Bye" by Matt? Just a solo acoustic thing - I really like that song.

QUOTE (The Critic @ May 7, 2010 -> 08:44 PM) All anthem singers suck. hard.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ May 7, 2010 -> 09:08 AM) I don't even know what this means. Who said that's what Vanvouver should do?? IMO they are making the Hawks pay for being in front of Luongo...It's just the Hawks are willing to take the abuse. Buff and Taser have been getting their asses kicked for standing there. If you're Vancouver yeah you need to keep doing it. The problem is when you put your focus on clearing a guy out and make no mistake moving Big Buff demands all your focus, you're sacrificing space for someone else and inadvertantly adding traffic in front of the net. Not to mention you risk pushing him backwards into your own goalie I also agree the Canucks can play with the Hawks up tempo...but that doesn't mean they'll win. The Hawks are versatile. They are built for the playoffs in that they can play both games. They have speed and physicality. I won't speak for anyone else, but as an avid fan, I've hoped all year that they would get another physical presence in this lineup. So for anyone to say this is a goon and bruising team is someone that's not watching them. They are more of a finesse team and have been all year. They averaged 3.2 goals and 34 shots a game in the reg season....that's not a bruising team...it's an offensive team. Vancouver is right there averaging 3.4 goals, so IMO the only way Vancouver can win is if they go the finesse route, but I wouldn't necessarily call them better at it. They'll just be more breakaways happening if they play that style. Then again...that goes both ways and we have a few guys that can put it away. Game 4 should be good tonight....I have a feeling it's gonna get dirty though. I was hoping they'd acquire a physical defenseman by the trading deadline. Most hockey people I've heard have said that aside from Byfuglien, the Hawks are more of an undersized finesse team. So for Vancouver fans to suggest that the Hawks are a goon squad is pretty funny to me.

The dream of Montreal eliminating both Ovechickens*** and Crysby is still alive! Canadiens tie the series 2-2!

Are their fans racist, too? Always someone else's fault with that guy. Good riddance, and don't come back.

Bruins take a 3 games to none lead over the Flyers. I did not expect this, but I like it.

QUOTE (smalls2598 @ May 5, 2010 -> 03:00 PM) Have you guys seen the 101.9 Erik and Kathy billboards that are all over I90 and I294? I've seen 3 different ones, and each one equally wants me to punch both of them in the face. If you ever heard their show, you'd want to throw your radio at their faces.

He's only saying that to trick Holyfield into fighting him again.

Spoiler from the Impact tapings last night:

QUOTE (SoxAce @ May 5, 2010 -> 03:01 AM) Am I the only one thats shocked that Detroit is down 0-3 to the Sharks? I'm most shocked by the way it's happened. The Wings have blown late leads, and that's not usually like them. I wonder if they give Osgood a start in Game 4 out of sentimentality, because they are not coming back from this.

Is it horrible of me that he reminded me a little of Vincent Schiavelli? http://geraldofreire.uol.com.br/vincent_schiavelli.gif I don't think I'd want to live if I was that disfigured, but I guess you never really know until you're in that situation.

QUOTE (Kenny Hates Prospects @ May 4, 2010 -> 04:35 PM) BTW who here has MMA as his favorite sport? I grew up watching and playing baseball, and I'll always be a hardcore baseball lover, but I think MMA has overtaken it. Am I alone here? I can't envision anything taking my personal top spot away from hockey. MMA has nestled safely into 3rd place for me, behind hockey and baseball.

YIKES. http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/wwe/7597.html My favorite part of this story: The judge told Zavr on Monday that he could not contact WWE employees, go near it's offices in Stamford or attend any events. Zavr's actual response to this in front of the courtroom: "I'm not allowed to go to wrestling shows?" Brian.....I'm just sayin'.....someday TNA may release Velvet.....don't do THIS if they do.

QUOTE (G&T @ May 4, 2010 -> 06:06 AM) I think you have it easy if Taylor Swift is the problem. Taylor Swift is not the problem. Taylor Swift x 60,000+ listens is the problem. Her music isn't too unbearable overall. She's been through her Miley phase, her Jonas phase, and so on. She's currently in a Lady Gaga/Michael Jackson phase that can be a bit unpleasant to my ears, but I can deal with it. I know my parents were not real happy with my music around 1977 or so, when I discovered punk rock.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ May 4, 2010 -> 07:10 AM) I found it funny that Bubba the Love Sponge had his contract terminated That happened after he ambushed Kong on one of his friends' shows. She came on for an interview and Bubba the Hulk Leech came on the air and started screaming and swearing at her left, right and center. Threatening her, calling her all kinds of names, racial (although no N-bombs) and otherwise. TNA got wind of it and decided the televised GOLD that BlahBlah provides might not be worth the trouble.

QUOTE (Brian @ May 3, 2010 -> 11:45 PM) Jay Lethal's Flair impersonation was money at the beginning of Impact. TNA going back to Thursdays. Monday Night War attempt=fail I give them credit for not being stubborn and realizing the mistake before it drowned them in red ink. There aren't enough wrestling fans for a "Monday Night War" any more. TNA had a nice little niche on Thursdays, and the Thursday reruns were still outdrawing the Monday shows. I didn't see "The Dark Horse" (just made that nickname up for Lethal Flair - funny, huh? ) but I've read that he was dead-on. I'll make sure to catch the replay....like everyone else does....

All the high school girls in our section flipped out when that elf came out to the mound. My 10-year-old said "...oh no..." when she saw him. I love my daughter! (Don't get me wrong, she likes a lot of stuff I'm not crazy about, most notably Taylor Swift, but she does NOT have "Bieber Fever"!)

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 3, 2010 -> 10:32 AM) I think it was one game and the Hawks are going to come out and dominate tonight. They seem to have a tendency to follow s***ty games like Saturday's with strong performances, and I think they'll do it again tonight. If they lay down again tonight, I will officially panic.

She definitely looks like a few razor cuts down near her Everglades isn't the worst thing that's ever happened to her.

I like JD, but at this point his skill-set is redundant for this team, at least as far as replacing one of the struggling players goes. If they were going to keep him after '09, that's one thing, but once you let him go I think you kind of have to let him stay gone unless injuries force your hand. Add to that the fact that the two players who essentially replaced him, Rios and Jones, are off to decent starts, and it adds up to "he's not coming back".

QUOTE (PlaySumFnJurny @ Apr 29, 2010 -> 04:33 PM) Very cool story. Almost makes me feel bad for the Caps. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsb..._a_tire_af.html Ovechkin would have opened his passenger door to sideswipe their car. It's the automotive equivalent of sticking your knee out when someone's going to avoid your check.

QUOTE (Controlled Chaos @ Apr 29, 2010 -> 03:17 PM) Honestly, I think the Hawks are one of the least dirty teams in the NHL. I could be biased, but I do watch a lot of hockey and we just don't have alot of dirty players. I think Buff and Ladd will do some s*** to get under peoples skin. Eager and Burish will attempt to hit and fight, but I don't see them taking cheap shots. Everyone else is pretty laid back and while they'll retaliate, they're rarely the aggresors as far as after the whistle stuff. How do you guys see it? I see it the same as you do. I don't see a ton of stickwork, there's not a bunch of late or high hits. The Hawks are a clean team IMO, and anything said to the contrary is an attempt by the other team to create something in the minds of the zebras.