Eric Clapton in the 'Burgh...

A lifelong dream of mine came true last Thursday night, February 25th when we battled to stay ahead of one of the worst blizzards of the year and get from Philly to Pittsburgh ahead of the storm. The goal was to see my guitar idol Eric Clapton who was going to be appearing at the dear old Igloo (Mellon Arena). Having missed the chance to see him a number of times already, I was very nervous it would happen again as they talked of record breaking snowfall the day before the concert.

Could we make the 300 plus mile trip before the storm hit? Well, we were about to find out because we were not going to be deprived of another opportunity to see him.
And see the Igloo for the last time too, because that wonderful old arena, the oldest in the NHL, was slated to also be torn down within the month.

So we left the Mustang in our garage, knowing better than to take it on a snowy trip and sliding off the road. Instead we hopped into my 15 year old Escort GT knowing that if we had any chance at all of making it to Pittsburgh, my Pokey was going to be the one to get us there.


~Pokey resting on Laurel Highlands

We arrived in the Burgh and had time to spare...the weather still holding strong in that fair city.

After getting settled and having something to eat it was off to the Igloo like we had done so many times while living there and going to so many Penguins games. It was so bittersweet being back, knowing I was going to see Eric for the first time in my life - and seeing the Igloo for my last time.

Roger Daltrey was appearing with Eric and opened the show with some of his older Who stuff but much of his stuff was new to the audience. He did many covers of other artists and endeared himself immediately with the crowd. Opening his portion with I Can See For Miles and The Real Me, he also did a Taj Mahal cover of Freedom Ride. Levon Helm's song, Gimme A Stone was perhaps the favorite of the Daltrey set -

Finally, the moment everyone had come for. Eric strolled out on stage without any fanfare whatsoever, looking like a college professor dressed for a weekend visit to the market. He wore jeans, a plain blue button-down shirt and sneakers, his hair long, his manner quiet and unassuming.

When he played the opening chords of "Goin' Down Slow" he was suddenly transformed — as was I and the rest of the audience — through his brief 15-song, 90-minute set. The brevity of the show didn't matter. Like other singular artists — think Pavarotti, Baryshnikov or DeNiro — Clapton's talent defies description, and astounds even as it takes place before one's eyes. He seems almost lackadaisical in his approach to his craft, but the genius that emerges as his hands fly up and down the length of his guitar is astounding.

Four songs into the evening Clapton played "Old Love," an atmospheric, sweetly melancholic tune that featured one of his indescribable guitar solos. You start to think nothing would top this ... until the next song, a rousing version of "I Shot the Sheriff" which featured yet another breathtaking guitar solo. So went the entire evening. Even the obligatory acoustic run of songs, which featured "Driftin' Blues," "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out," "Running on Faith" and "I've Got a Rock 'n' Roll Heart," transcended the usual limitations of such forays.

Instead of seeming indulgent, Clapton transformed the whole arena into an intimate club. The lighting - the general feeling given off - his quiet rapport with his listeners, made everyone feel that he was playing for them...only them. Everyone had "their" Clapton song and he accommodated most by giving them that. How do you top that?

Well, we are talking Eric Clapton here right? It's easy. He trotted out "Badge" from his tenure with Cream, and even though a keyboardist added some odd-sounding accompaniment (much to Clapton's amusement) the grandness of this magisterial song shone through. With another stunning solo unleashed, of course.

Clapton followed with sparkling versions of "Little Queen of Spades," "Before You Accuse Me," "Wonderful Tonight" and "Cocaine," the audience response increasing with each selection. And that was it! Suddenly it was over, save for a truncated, almost carnival-like version of "Crossroads" that ended the evening much, much too soon.

I wish I could have captured more video of this concert but to be honest, I was so wrapped up in what I was experiencing, I simply forgot to turn the Flip on when I maybe could have. However, I did get a few and will leave you with one....



So I had finally achieved the thing I've waited my entire life for. And now I want to do it again!

Alexander Ovechkin - clever clown

There's noone as Irish as Barack Obama...

I knew I was feeling an unconscious reason to vote for Barack too....

A new president, a new precedent...

How can I possibly find something new to say after these last few days? It's virtually impossible now that everyone has had a chance to put their spin on events of the last days, so maybe just a few of my own words on how I feel about everything. And how we all finally got here in one piece.

I had written a blog some months back saying I was disappointed in Oprah Winfrey for putting her support behind Barack Obama. That post was gravely misunderstood and I immediately regretted not being clearer in what I was trying to say. I had been questioning how quickly Oprah backed Obama after so many years of saying we needed female representation in Washington and women should vote for a woman given the opportunity.

The opportunity arose and Oprah didn't do what she'd been asking of others because the woman candidate, Hillary Clinton had an opponent who was an African American man. Oprah dropped everything she'd been advocating over the years and put her support behind him. For one reason - he was black.
I felt she was setting a terrible example for others, especially in lieu of what she'd been preaching to her hordes and because the very last reason a person should vote for an individual is because of his or her color.

I eventually changed my thinking on the issue because I realized that it was just as bad for her to be asking someone to vote for a woman based solely on that one fact as well. We hopefully choose people for what they stand for, what they can bring to bear and how well we think they will do in a position of leadership. Not gender - not skin color, but ability, integrity and honestly.

However, I do not want to rehash that old post. It's past - it's done for whatever reasons Oprah gives for it now. She's a happy woman. I'm a happy woman.

I am thrilled that Barack Obama is our 44th president of the United States.
It's not that I think Hillary would have been a bad president - I backed her initially and I don't doubt her capability if she'd stayed in and gone on to be president. After all, she would have Bills experience as president to draw on as well as his wealth of knowledge from those years.

But I love what has happened now! I love that history was made. I love that I stood for over two hours in the teeming rain to help make it happen. I love that we have dared to take the first tiny step over racial lines and thumb our noses at racism and recognize a person who is ideal for our times. The world looked on and rejoiced along with us. Did we regain our respect around the world? I would say we did quite a bit. The world too, recognized what we were trying to achieve and now it's up to us to prove this wasn't just a single fluke, a blip or lapse from the same ol' inbred politics of the past. It looks like America may have finally grown up at last. No more bogeymen under the bed. No more running scared because a candidate says we'll all die if we don't get him into office post haste.

And the YouTube propaganda couldn't put dent in the glacial move to make this happen. Fear mongering, while still rattling some, didn't work this time. People wanted change and they weren't buying into the threats "we're all gonna die". Or that Obama was the Antichrist. Or that he was the number one evil incarnate because he happened to have the middle name Hussein.

When I see things such as this being said, I have a better understanding of how we ended up having eight years of George W. Bush. Stupidity prevails no matter how hard we try to educate. One example: using names as a measure of good or evil. Well then, it's certainly good we didn't end up with John McCain. For all those fearful prophets reading doom into the name Hussein, let me give you bigger things we could have worried about! John!!! Yes, John McCain. You want stupid logic? Here's a bunch! According to this thought pattern a man named John would have certainly brought our nation to utter ruin. I mean just look at history, it's all right there. There was John Wayne Gacey. And John Wilkes Booth, John Gotti, John Dillinger, John George Haigh known as the 'Acid Bath Murderer' in the UK.

Oh yes, and let's not forget John Hinckley Jr. and John Schrank who attempted to kill Teddy Roosevelt. All just evil Johns. Can you see how dumb that line of thinking really is? Yet there were people wringing their hands and sending out email warnings about this 'omen' - this sign of all that is bad.
Furthermore, why not think about a great man like the late King Hussein instead? How did a name, Hussein, become a bad word? Who stole this name and corrupted it to mean radical Muslim terrorist? Utter nonsense, sorry.

A name doesn't make a man. A man makes a name for himself! I expect that our new president will make a fine name for himself if given the chance and that includes help from us, the people who will benefit the most from supporting him now. He has what he's coined as 'the audacity of hope'. I do too. I know that together, we can make this nation great once more.

Yes, we can.

And so after all of this, we can't always be somber - a little levity is in order - if you're Irish anyway - like Barack Obama. What, you say? Oh yes! He's as Irish as Paddy's tam - just give a listen - O'Click here.

Alexei, I didn't even get to know you...

Gone at 19...

The shock of death is something we all know, man and beast alike. But when it steals someone from us that simply should not be gone, we stand baffled and confused by it. Grief, wishing to turn back time just a little to make it untrue. A mistaken report.

"He was an exceptionally talented kid," Grossman said. "He played in the Russian Elite League, in the men's league, even before he was drafted which in and of itself is an achievement. He was a self-motivated kid that had an inner confidence about him."





"He just laid back, passed out and went kind of white," - Alexei Cherepanov dead at age 19.
No! This makes no sense at all!

Sometimes there just are no adequate words and I won't try to come up with any. This is just so wrong on such an enormous scale. My condolences to his family. I can't imagine their pain right now...

R.I.P. Alexei. You touched my soul for whatever reasons I do not know, and the person who put together the YouTube video using Fix You by Coldplay must have felt the same way, because this song has always touched my soul too.

An Evening With Jackson Browne...

Aah, where to begin? I had the distinct pleasure of taking in what was to be my seventh Jackson Browne concert at the Tower Theater in Philly on Thursday night. Even the Tower itself is renowned for past performers like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, the Dave Mason Band. In fact, David Bowie played the Tower as his first ever in the USA concert. Paul Simon appeared there more than a few times and even a part of his One Trick Pony tour was recorded there, along with the VHS tape for marketing. An aging theater which I pray someone will restore to it's former beauty before it's too late. Just it's aura alone...but I digress.

What could possibly be left to say about this truly amazing, one of a kind man, Jackson Browne? No surprises he would be making an appearance at the Tower again. While he seems ageless from afar, he isn't, but he still has that boyishness that endears you to him.

I expected to see him appear sporting the beard that he had at Sundance Music Festival, and on the cover of Time The Conqueror, his new cd. But he surprised us once again when he quietly strolled onstage, like always no introduction and no pretension; no rock and roll attitude or 'sit up listen now, I'm a big star' personae. Just his familiar clean shaven face, the one I've known all these years, giving the audience his patented shy 'hi'. He came front and center and did what he's done for as long as I've followed him - enjoyed his audience as much as they enjoyed him.
That is one thing I've always admired about him - his rapport with his audience. He will laugh and talk with everyone - joking about himself and the situations he's found himself in as well.

We didn't have to sit through an opening band either. Jackson was all the opening band anyone in the theater wanted. He started the show with 'Boulevard' and seemingly played without any kind of set list, playing what popped into his head, although I'm sure there is a loosely structured one - there has to be, if you're going to play for three hours. He typically does and didn't disappoint this time either.

He joked, “I’m struggling with the self-knowledge that I’m lazy enough to just stand up here and do whatever you guys tell me to do.” While he doesn’t quite do that, he will kid with the person asking for a song that it was the best way to get him not to do that particular song.
The song of course, will show up a bit further in the show.
But this is his style and it allows him to occasionally take requests from the audience, which in turn gives him an opportunity to do the archival songs he may not otherwise get to do.

One song from the newly released cd was 'The Drums Of War'. The audience, up til then had been animated - swaying, dancing or singing along. But when the first drum-laden bars of this tune began, a hush fell over everyone and they just listened -rapt. If this is any indication of the contents of Time The Conqueror, Jackson has another hit album on his hands.

He had his longtime band with him also - Kevin McCormick (bass), Mark Goldenberg (guitars), Mauricio “Fritz” Lewak (drums) and Jeff Young (keyboards and backing vocals).

However, there were two new additions who are also on the new cd are backup singers. Chavonne Morris and Alethea Mills are two vocalists Jackson met in early 2001 while working with Washington Preparatory High School located in South Central Los Angeles. These girls are absolutely worth the price of the ticket on their own! They are one of the best things Jackson has done.

Lastly, he finished things off with I Am A Patriot and reminded everyone to get out and vote - and even with good reasons to talk about political things and law suits, he made no mention of candidates or policies being presented.

Having been to so many of his concerts now, there are so many little stories I could regale you with about him and how he chooses to conduct himself onstage. I think the thing I like best though, was never before more evident than it was last night - Jackson is true to form and has been since he appeared on the scene in the mid 1970's with the song that got my attention - Doctor My Eyes, and for me there was no turning back.

He really has proven he's conquered his time and not the other way around. His vocal chords don't yet know they'll be celebrating their 60th year on this planet October 9th.

As I said, a truly amazing man.

For myself, I will leave you with the song that went straight to my heart and is still my favorite today - Late For The Sky. I could have written these words about my own situation at the time myself, had I been talented enough. And one day, I'm sure I'll get through the whole song without crying.

The Las Vegas Wranglers

That's hockey spelled F-U-N! There's almost nothing I miss about living in Vegas except the occasional show, some good eateries we discovered & named ours - and my boys. My Wranglers. I loved this team and I won't lie to you. I'm living in a virtual hockey nation right now but I miss going to see the Wranglers a couple of times a week. Seasons tickets & the pregame parties - meeting up with friends at the games...we were a family of 7000.



Anyone who thought Vegas wouldn't be able to do hockey right? Let me correct you. They made it a total arm waving, throat rasping riot! Elvis singing Viva Las Vegas every time the Wranglers scored, the intermission shows, the arena buffets, the giveaways...yeah, they had their own brand of hockey but it worked for me & I'm a pretty traditional fan.

Exile In America

A Matchbox Twenty concert review.

Well, they are back with a vengeance, and ask me if I could be happier?

I got to attend my sixth Matchbox Twenty concert last night at the Sovereign Arena in Reading PA. There are two things I will say about the groups’ performance Tuesday night. The first is – damn good to have them back! And second, kudos to them for the subtle changes they’ve make in the interim that have improved them in all the right places.

If someone had told me a few years ago I’d be saying this, I would have guffawed them. Because, in my opinion, the band was already just about as close to perfection as they were going to get. Yes of course, the bias of a fan speaking, but minor tweaking over this 'time-out' has led to more than a few minor changes and overall, to a more professional sound for the band.

First is the addition of drummer Ryan McMillan setting a really rock-solid bottom line. Switching Paul Doucette to rhythm guitar from drums has worked out very well.

Also the lighting for this show was designed to focus us on lead singer Rob Thomas. Whether this came as a surprise to new fans, or upset long time ones, I'm not sure. But recurrence of a thematic lighting scheme persisted throughout the concert, and it was done superbly.

In all twenty five songs of their set, the spotlight — or spotlights — constantly shone brightest on Rob. In fact, there were moments where a sheer black curtain was dropped from the rafters, dividing him from the rest of the band members and they were only silhouetted behind him.
A rather impressive visual as Rob himself held the multi-kilowatt beam to himself.

Having said that, I don’t believe for a moment that this was any kind of prima donna predisposition on the part of Rob, but more a case of a lighting dynamic designed to give the backing members an air of mystique, which it achieved beautifully. Having followed the band since the days when they were known as Tabitha’s Secret, I feel this was a spotlight technique used as a visual tool to preserve Rob's status, not just as the voice, but the face of Matchbox Twenty.

The evening opened with a new group, Mute Math – an electro-rock quartet out of New Orleans. They spent a half hour trying to dazzle with loud sounds and blinding strobes, giving some in the audience a chance to refresh their drinks before settling down again. In their favor, they had some uniqueness. But I was glad I was only subjected to a half hour of it.

After a short break we were treated to Alanis Morrisette. I've never been a huge fan of hers. I'm not saying she's bad, just not my type of music. Alanis played an hour-long set that included almost all of her breathy, exasperated vocal-driven songs — minus "Head Over Feet" — plus her haunting, yet amusing spoof of the Black Eyed Peas' "My Humps." And of course "Jagged Little Pill." One thing's for sure: her songs of a woman's relationship discontent resonated soundly with the disproportionately female audience.

I think it admirable that MB20 invited her to join their tour, but she didn't appeal to their audience. She had a following there though, sitting down front so she sang primarily to them.

Then finally MB20 came out to a resounding welcome from the audience. And we weren’t to be disappointed! The band is touring in support of their new album, Exile on Mainstream. In fact, they opened their show with a rousing rendition of "Let's See How Far We've Come," their latest hit single from that album.

From there, the concert moved into a shuffle of hit songs and new album cuts. Since the album is basically a greatest hits album with six new songs added, most of the concert gave fans what they wanted to hear — their favorites re-worked but remaining pretty much as they were the first time around. In between filler material, people perpetually yelled out for staples like "3 a.m.," "Unwell," or "Push" (the last song of the evening.)
And, to no one's surprise, as always, the band didn't disappoint.

Highlights of the concert included the last song before the encore. "Bright Lights," opened with a solo blues riff from guitarist Kyle Cook, which moved into a momentous rock version of the hit song. But before they wrapped up, the band broke into the first couple of verses of the Beatles' "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" before circling back into the closing notes of "Bright Lights."

Another highlight was Rob taking a video camera from a woman in the front row & videoing the band for her, turning the camera on himself at one point and singing to it/her. Something I’m sure we will see on YouTube before long.

Finally, the most important thing to note is the band has kept everything they’ve always had going for them, like their rapport with their audience and their ability to do their songs from years back and never make them sound tired. But now, they’ve added a sweet glossing of professionalism that caps them off. I recommend to anyone, if you haven’t already, buy tickets and don’t miss this one.

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Evgeni does English

We've waited for Evgeni Malkin to do his first English interview and here it is. While not a sit-down talk with a reporter, it is a conversation all in English without the aid of an interpretor. Very good Geno! The confidence you show on the ice has obviously given you the confidence to tackle your first statement to the press alone and you handled it like you do the puck - with aplomb.

What's left to be said about John Prine...

...that hasn't already been said a thousand times? The man is a lyrical genius admired over his long career by peers and audiences alike. John writes the songs we can all relate to. The songs about favorite cars, favorite dogs, and favorite times. And the bad times...a song writer can't ignore the bad times, but John writes those from a different, nay, a better perspective. Not so much in protest as in a nostalgic learning path. A more palatable reminiscence.



Returning home a star...



...favorites...



And then Bonnie & John doing one of my personal favorites.



I would have killed to be at this concert - Bonnie, Bryan, Bruce, and Jackson all doing John! OMG!



Still, I'm hoping to see John doing John in the next few months. A trip to my old stomping grounds - Pittsburgh and a close to the stage seat in the Mellon Arena. Can't ask for more than that.

I'll let y'all know how good it was...

Matchbox Twenty

It all started with this tune...


Which kicked off a passionate love of their music and the message their music brought.


Some things are just too hard to label - for me these guys are one of them. I love this band and wasn't too thrilled when Rob Thomas decided to go out on his own, figuring that was the death knell for the group. Altho' he and Joss did a nice tune together, I still wanted him back with his boys.

They were the band I attribute to getting me out of rehab, back on my feet and walking again - my lead therapist held a poster up at the end of the corridor in the hospital each day and said "Ginger; Rob wants you here in front of him right now." It worked. I had tickets for their concert and I was determined I was going to go! Since our tickets were stage front, I wouldn't settle for the handicap section either! No, I wasn't going to do that to my husband or myself! I had no intention of cashing those tickets in for some others. I was going to walk to those seats and watch my guys. I did! Thanks guys...

Anyway it wasn't the end!! They are back and better than ever, if that's possible.
And thanks for seeing the wisdom in putting yourselves back together and giving us all some more music to listen to. I'm at your next concert - or two- or more! Count on it!

Russian interview with Viktor Kozlov...

...."Pass to Ovechkin and Don’t Stand in the Way"...


That's just too funny, and in many respects will prove to be true.

This is going to be a good season for the Caps, I have no doubt! With Ovie already on board, plus Alex Semin and now Kozlov, they're stacking the talent. I only hope I have the opportunity to scoot over to Washington and watch from a good seat in the Verizon Center. Sure I'm a Pittsburgh Penguins fan; that doesn't change. I will always be a Pens fan.

Sidney and Geno, Army and Max, they are my team - but I have to admit to being a huge Ovechkin fan too. I am by times fascinated & stunned by what he's able to achieve on the ice. Any true hockey fan would admit that! Even greats such as Gretzky and Mario have been dazzled by his talent. That's taking nothing away from Sidney Crosby - that's just recognizing talent and it has nothing to do with the jersey he sports.

At any rate, enough with the justifying of my post - here is the interview with Kozlov, conducted by Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport and translated by Dmitry Chesnokov.

ABOUT PASHA [PAVEL] AND SASHA [ALEX]

Viktor, is your training camp in St Petersburg almost over?

We have one more week of good training! We are already skating with SKA [Russian Superleague club from St. Petersburg]. Barry Smith [former Coyotes assistant coach] is working with SKA now—all of his workouts are very fast-paced, just like the NHL. This is a perfect scenario for all players getting ready for the upcoming season.

Do you skate with Ovechkin?

No. We skate in two groups. My group includes Malkin, Nikolishin and Gonchar.

But do you and Alex at least discuss how you are going to play this season?

I’ve joined the Capitals but I cannot be sure that I will play on the same line with Ovechkin. It is up to the coach.

A lot of Caps’ fans see you on the first line with Nylander and Ovechkin.

I would be delighted to play on the same line with such great forwards.

But with it also comes great responsibility. A lot of people expect Ovechkin to score at least 60 goals.

And what does that mean for me? Pass the puck to him at the right time and then get out of the way. Then stand on the sideline and watch him score a goal. That will also help your stats [laughing].

You already had something similar in your career in Florida when you were on the first line with Pavel Bure.

Yeah, Alex and Pavel are supercharged and explosive players. It was so great to play alongside Bure. All defensemen marked him, and as the center I had a lot of room going forward. I think it will be the same in Washington. What is the difference between the two? Ovechkin plays more physically. Although I have never really played with him on the same team; I don’t take the Turin Olympics into account because we only played a few games together. But Bure… I have never seen a player so focused on scoring. When Pavel was one-on-one with a goaltender, everyone was sure that the puck would hit the back of the net.

Some suggest that if Nicklas Backstrom turns out not to be ready to center the second line, you might be moved there to pair with Alexander Semin. Would it be easy to switch from right wing to center?

I had the same experience when I was with the Islanders last year. I will play wherever the team needs me the most. I can even play in goal, if Coach Hanlon decides to risk that [smiling].

When are you coming to Washington?

I will be there in the very beginning of September, a couple of weeks before the start of the training camp.

I WAS INVITED TO PLAY IN THE SUPERLEAGUE

Is it true that in the last few years you received a number of offers from the teams in Russia?

I have been receiving offers from a few clubs in Russia the past three years. I don’t think I would lose anything in terms of money. But the talks never reached the money stage because I want to play in the NHL.

Why?

I like it there. I will keep playing in North America as long as I can produce at such a level.

Almost all [Russian] NHLers say the same. How is the NHL better?

The quality of hockey is better. There is also financial stability. Here is an example for you: A few years ago Lada cut their payroll in the middle of the season. Twelve players were shown the door and told, “Find new teams.” The fact that contracts in the Superleague are not guaranteed scares people away. I have a family. So should I leave everything, and go to Russia to some club that could go broke? Where to go then? No NHL club will take you.

But Oleg Tverdovsky made it back to the NHL after playing two years with Avangard [Omsk].

He was 29 then. I am 32. I say again, no one will wait for me in North America with open arms. A lot of Russian players would play in Russia, in my opinion, if they knew that they wouldn’t have money problems. The rest—such as the size of the rink or accommodation—is not that big of a problem.

But maybe Alexei Yashin is right that he came back to Lokomotiv?

I am absolutely sure that Yashin’s career will take off in the Superleague. I remember the way he was treated by the Islanders. I was present at all those scuffles myself. I saw how they treated him when he was playing through the pain with injured knees.

Did Yashin become a hostage of his mega-contract?

If he was making not seven, but three million dollars a year, no one would expect miracles from him. Moreover, Alexei still provided miracles, when his health permitted him! And everyone was happy with him. But as soon as Yashin got injured, he came under pressure: “Go out there and play.” But how is it possible if you can’t stand on your own two feet?

Why did the coach bench him in the playoffs?

Because he expected a lot of him, but didn’t give him a lot of minutes. Nevertheless, all blame was placed on Yashin, who was considered the star of the Islanders… it is sad to see what is happening to the Islanders. I don’t understand why they strengthened the team last year if all quality players were given away this offseason. Nothing has been gained! Ryan Smyth came over via trade from Edmonton, but he was allowed to leave for Colorado this summer. They couldn’t keep Blake, bought out Yashin’s contract, Poti and Hill left… But we were in the playoffs; there was bright future ahead of us.

So what happened? The players are running away from the Islanders?

A lot of players wanted to stay. Blake, for example, didn’t even think about changing teams. But how can it be done when a good contract is not offered? I was promised a small raise over the last contract [Kozlov was making $865,000 while he scored 25+26=51 points in 81 games]. But it did not correspond to my stats at all. In the end I left for Washington, the club offered me great terms [2 years, $5M]. I like that the team is young and hungry for success. I don’t want to make predictions, but I think that Washington will have a great season.

RUSSIANS ARE OPPRESSED IN THE NHL?

Why is your contract only for 2 years?

I wasn’t offered a longer deal. Of course every player wants stability. But our dreams don’t always match our means.

Some players want to sign a one-year deal to make more money later. Others want a five-year deal to secure their future. What’s your strategy?

The first option may not work because of the salary cap. Let’s say you score a lot of points, show what you can do. But what will you do if teams have limited budgets? Look at [Danny] Markov - they guy played in the semifinal of the Stanley Cup and has great stats. But now he is out of work, because cannot make what he deserves. Now think what strategy you’ll pick…

The CBA is set to expire in four years. Is another lockout waiting to happen? Or the NHLPA is too weak after Bob Goodenow’s resignation?

The NHLPA doesn’t have a leader. I think there is some sort of a struggle for power. Insider struggle… another lockout? Two years ago we already lost our fight with the League. That it is. Period.

Can a player’s career be ruined in the NHL? You played great at the 2006 Olympics. But you were not even given a chance at New Jersey.

It depends on what team you play for. I wasn’t lucky. But, I think, it is good that I was dipped in cold water so that I wouldn’t see the world so rosy. If I had a long term deal with the Devils, I’d just sit on the bench - who would need me after that?

So it is all untrue when people say that Russian players have been getting oppressed in the NHL?

Why [do you say so]? There are clubs where our [Russian] guys are not [treated fairly]. Old-time coaches do that, the ones who think that Russians don’t give it all on the ice, who think that Russians avoid physical contact, don’t want to play in the playoffs… They think, why pay [Russians] when you have Canadians who skate and grind?

Superseries-2 is going to take place soon between Canadian and Russian junior teams. What is the main reason that Canadian juniors are considered strong favorites?

The reason is that junior hockey in Canada is booming. And us—look at the state of our schools… We have coaches, but parents have to buy the gear. A lot of them are factory workers and can’t afford to buy gear for their sons. Hockey is not cheap sport. When we [were young] the government was helping. When the system tumbled we stopped developing quality young players. Who do we have now? Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin. And the Canadians produce ten young stars every year. Hockey is the national sport in Canada.

We can only imagine what will happen in Quebec [and Halifax] when they host the 2008 World Championship…

It’s the same as when Brazil hosted the soccer World Championship. If another team [other than Canada] wins gold, it will be a heroic achievement. Canadians will fight for the win.


While this isn't anything to do with anything, it is a good place to stick this until I can get back to placing it correctly. Love the logo!!! So very Aerosmith-esque. Is that a word? Well, it is now.



I'm off to get me some of these clothes.

Bobby and the New York Islanders

Founded 1972, for me, they were the only team in the NHL in the 70’s and 80’s. Sure, there were those pesky Edmonton Oilers whose skinny young superstar Wayne Gretzky was shattering existing scoring records. So what? The Isles won three straight Stanley Cups, and I had Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Clark Gillies, Bryan Trottier, Butch Goring and Bobby Nystrom. Thore Robert Nystrom…oh Bobby! The team called him Thor – I called him my favorite player and the one who got their Cup winning goal. The shot which happened to be the shot in Islanders' history.

But to even try to capture Bob Nystrom's career in one shot,would be a disservice to the player. The goal only typified his career, one highlighted not just by the result, but the hustle that put him in the position to receive the historic lead pass from John Tonelli that made Nystrom the first of many heroes all those years ago.

He was one of the hardest working, if not most talented, members of that team, for all the talk about Mike, Denis, Clark & Byran and oh yeah, Billy Smith in nets.

Nine-hundred games after his NHL career was born during the same season the Islanders were in 1972-73, making him a true "original Islander," his name and No. 23 were retired to the Nassau Coliseum rafters in what was an emotional retirement ceremony. Hardwork was obviously Nystrom’s catalyst and it was that. Something that helped him and his teammates from the early chapters of the franchise's history reach the pinnacle so quickly. Something that pushed him down the ice, just ahead of Mel Bridgeman in time to redirect the pass from Tonelli that beat Pete Peeters, the Philadelphia Flyers and the odds at 7:11 of overtime. That was May, 24, 1980. One day that not only solidified a franchise, it exemplified a career.

To remember Nystrom in this new age of hockey is like recalling those big block muscle cars from the 1960s and 70s: they just don't make 'em like that anymore. He was hardly an image of finesse, but he always found a way to keep up with the skaters of his day and even employed a coach during the off-season to improve his stride and speed. He wasn't a burly bruiser, either, yet he proved time and again he could handle himself against the notorious goons or anyone else who had the nerve to drop their gloves in his path.
The epitome of team player, Nystrom gave the Islanders whatever they needed in every game. Scoring, physical presence, energy, whatever equated to blood, sweat and tears. A 25-to-30 goal scorer during his best years, Nystrom seemed to thrive during the playoffs, where he holds the franchise mark with four overtime goals in playoff history, including the most memorable of all some 27 years ago this May.

Most especially, he embodies everything that used to be so special about sports that in these days of free agency has been long forgotten. A career Islander, he loved being a Long Islander and he still does, now serving as the team's Director of Corporate Relations. He was and is as much an image of the franchise, and Long Island, as any player in team history. Like Mario Lemieux, you couldn't imagine seeing him in any other jersey, or playing for any other team. Thankfully, we never had to.

The outstanding thing about the Isles that year was that there were so many hard working players, all of them on one team, and it equaled a Cup. And for their short life as a franchise they had great players and a good start to their dynasty. Their leaders were many. The Isles proved, at least in 1983, that they matched and could best Wayne Gretzky by beating the Oilers for the Stanley Cup. Not just the Cup, but the Isles fourth Cup in a row -No team in any major professional North American sport has won four consecutive championships since the Isles setting them aside as something very special. But I knew that.

Getting off to a bit of a rocky start in their early years, the Islanders were forced to pay a $4 million territorial fee to the nearby NY Rangers. Unique to New York City’s major league sports teams, the Islanders and the Rangers are both members of the same division, giving the cross state rivals many chances to meet throughout the regular season.

In 1980, the team took its first Stanley Cup Championship with the backing of a powerful defensive line.

With an overtime win in game six, the Islanders took down the Flyers making it a 4-2 series. The next season saw another Stanley Cup victory for the Islanders as well, when they Minnesota North Stars in five games.

But the Islanders didn’t stop there. The 1982 season marked their third championship in a row when they won both the regular season title and then the Stanley Cup, this time over the Vancouver Canucks in a four game sweep.

Bossy, Butch and Bobby...



Then, astoundingly 1983 marked their fourth cup in a row when the Isles swept the Gretzky-led Oilers. In fact, New York Islanders have seen five Stanley Cup runs and four Stanley Cup Championships in their time in the NHL.
However, since those days, the glory days for the Isles have somewhat dwindled. Until this past season when they once again found themselves in the first round, they have not seen a Stanley Cup run since 1984 and their standings in the league haven’t extraordinary.

But though the team's been struggling for a few years, now with their new retro logo, I think their off-season planning makes for promising new things to come. They have a fine squad of new players dedicated to winning and a terrific netminder, Rick DiPietro, in nets. They have veterans Bill Guerin and Miroslav Satan, they have youngsters like Jeff Tambellini and Chris Campoli ready to show they are up to the task.
And they are once again seeing excellent coaching from Jack Adams trophy winner, Ted Nolan.
I have every confidence that a new dynasty is in the making - one that may meet or surpass that of the first. A girl can only hope...

The World lost a little sparkle

I lost a good friend today. He was much too young to die at 38, but he did. We didn't always agree on our hockey teams, but always agreed on our music.

Mike Alexander was a huge Pink Floyd fan as well as a Maple Leafs fan, so combining that gave him his username on our hockey message board...FloydianLeaf. He was a really classy opponent for me to discuss the finer points of hockey with, always pointing out the good things but rarely the bad, preferring to look at things as needed tweaks rather than insurmountable faults. He stayed above the rest when posting at the Penguins board, never resorting to the more childish crap I so often saw.
His catchphrase was 'Shine Like a Diamond' & he surely did that!

Oh my, I am going to miss you, Mike! Sometimes we just aren't aware how much someone means to us until they've been taken away. How ironic that you decide to get fit, lose all those extra pounds by riding your bike & then when you're near your target, you die in a gym. It doesn't make any sense to me at all. It shouldn't have happened.

This one's for you, Mike. Teach them hockey wherever you land...

Jon Bon Jovi

I think Paris has the best phrase for this..."That's hot!"

I make no pretenses; I love Jon Bon Jovi. I simply don't get those who have the elitist need to "set themselves apart" by not liking a band who has stood the test of time, in this case 23 years and counting. Plain rock and roll, a terrific voice, and good presentation throughout his glam rock years until today, he has continued where others haven't.
He has avoided following in the hedonistic, self-destructive footsteps of so many others. He married his high school sweetheart and after 18 years and four children they are still together - no overdoses or break-ups, just a man who loves what he does and wants to make a difference in his world.

Presently, while still recording and touring, he is also co-owner of The Philadelphia Soul arena football team; he has all sorts of solid philanthropic projects and founded the The Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation which is currently coupled with Project HOME, Habitat for Humanity, to build homes for those people in need of decent housing. He's sure not just another pretty face. He is a caring, hands on individual - one always looking for ways to improve the lives of those less fortunate than he is.
I admire Jon so much.

In fact, I admire all people who will use their money and their talents to give something back - better the lives of many and not just themselves.

People have always been shocked when I say I'm a Bon Jovi fan...why? They've sold over 125 million albums worldwide - 40 million in the US alone so I'm certainly not alone.

They have consistently sold millions of copies of each of their nine albums.

I doubt that Jon cared whether people thought his band was less than cutting edge tho'. He'd found a formula - crank out pop-rock anthems with easily palatable social messages - tunes his fans wanted to hear and he stuck to it. Think about it! While other quintessentially 80's bands have disbanded and disappeared, Bon Jovi has stayed in the charts. They have a unique sound, influenced by rock, pop, metal and blues. A very distinctive sound. The Bon Jovi sound and people knew what they were getting when they bought a cd. Jon's formula clearly worked.

And Richie is not to be overlooked either. He ranks as my top ten as best guitarist to hit a stage. He has my sound - that mix of blues/Spanish/rock...okay, heavy on the rock, but he can peel off the sweetest, pure notes that my ear has heard. I've always favored Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck and it's pretty obvious this is who Richie fashions himself after learning the guitar. Man, did he picked the best.

This song really has a special place in my heart.

More good works from Jon came about after the supposed landslide election win of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on June 12th of this year. The announcement claimed Ahmadinejad had garnered 63% of the votes cast, and that Mir-Hossein Mousavi had received 33% of the votes cast. The European Union, United Kingdom and several western countries expressed concern over alleged irregularities during the vote, and many analysts and journalists from the United States, Europe and other western based media voiced doubts as well, about the authenticity of the results.

Meanwhile, many OIC member states, as well as Russia, China, India, and Brazil, have congratulated Ahmadinejad on his victory. It was clearly a corrupt election from the outset and Iranian citizens were outraged at yet another abuse of their civil rights and liberties. Many took to the streets to protest this apparent unprincipled farce of an election.

So it was that on June 24, 2009 this "Stand By Me" event took place. Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale - it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD.....it's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people...to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together....the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to "we are one".

If you know someone in Iran - or anyone who knows someone in Iran - please share this link.

http://www.MyDamnChannel.com/Don_Was/...

Free MP3 download: http://content.mydamnchannel.com/data...

Love ya, Jon. Sure hope we can have lunch together some day. And bring Richie...

Teemu Selanne, another great 8

A hockey gentleman, a hockey great, a hockey record holder and now a hockey legend in his own time.



...and his 1000th game and 500th goal...

Selanne said he first dreamed of playing for the Stanley Cup as a youngster growing up in Finland.

“Then there have been many times I wondered if I would ever get to play in the final,” he said. “The system we have in the NHL, you get drafted by a team that doesn’t really have a chance to win, what are you going to do before you become a free agent? When I came into the league, the free agent age was like 35.

“The system is, if you’re in the wrong time and wrong place, you’re never going to win it.”

Selanne went chasing the Stanley Cup once, when he and former Ducks linemate Paul Kariya reunited in Colorado in 2003 because they believed the Avalanche had a good shot at winning the Cup.

That didn’t happen, and after the NHL lockout for the 2004-05 season, Selanne — who had knee surgery again during the time off — came back to Anaheim, and Kariya signed with Nashville.

“I learned that year that you can’t try to find your happiness,” Selanne said. “It just has to come naturally. I’m so happy it’s here (in Anaheim). I’ve always been happy here on and off the ice.

“This is the total package for me right now.”

Teemu finally made it to hockey’s big dance. His teammates were determined to help him take the final step.

“Teemu’s been in this league for 15 years and he’s never had a chance to play for the Cup. We couldn’t have any better teammate.

“He deserves this. I just loved to see Teemu win this thing.”
Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere said.

Anaheim’s Chris Kunitz, reduced to the role of cheerleader during the Stanley Cup finals because of a broken bone in his right hand, said, “To win the Cup caps off a fabulous career for Teemu, one of the game’s pure, natural scorers.

“It's great to see him hoist the Cup.”

So now, as of June 6, 2007, may I present Teemu, The Legend! Teemu, the Stanley Cup winner!

Teemu, you made me cry...a lot! Feat accompi, darling! You've done the big deed!

















"I've been so close to winning an Olympic gold medal and World Championship gold medal and it's never happened," said Selanne. "I'm so happy that I finally won something, this is the biggest trophy for a hockey player and that's why it's so special."

Me too, Teemu! Me too!



These little guys have a lot to live up to. Will they follow in their daddies skate tracks? We can only hope they decide to give it a try and thrill us as much as their daddy is.

Bucky Covington

Sometimes things are just so good to gaze upon that it takes me a little while to realize that they're actually doing something? I do wonder if I should have listed Bucky under my 'Drool and lust' section. I'll think about it, but for now I'll just have a little fun and gaze some more. I'm still trying to get over the fact that Bucky's one of twins! Holy! There's a cardiac moment for you!

Behind the scenes on the making of the "A Different World" video.

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...and then there was St. Mario of Pittsburgh....

Okay, saint might be taking it a bit far, but there are thousands of fans in the city of Pittsburgh who hail him as such. Whether it was on the ice, in the board room or watching the game from his lofty perch at the Igloo, if Mario was involved, the Penguins only got better. Through the thin years, of which there were many, to the great years which have bracketed those, one thing remains the same. Mario had almost everything to do with it all in the most positive way.

He played through pain like very few can imagine, and continued to build upon his legacy to hockey and the city of Pittsburgh.
I think it would be only fitting that since he was 95% instrumental in getting Pittsburgh a new arena, he should be immortalized out front.

He couldn't bear the thought of the Penguins being any place else but where they were conceived and after two bankruptcies and two decades of mismanagement, he finally pulled everyone together and made sure that for at least the next 31 years they will go nowhere.

Mario, l'affaire d'arène est magnifique aussi, juste comme toi.
For the non-French speaking readers, that translates (loosely) Mario, the arena business is magnificent too, just like you.

Thank you Mario for it all...it was so wonderful to be able to shake your hand. I felt so honored to be in your presence at practices and share all your victories at the Igloo over the years.






We should have known we were never going to be saying goodbye forever. You faced cancer just like you did any other opponent, face to face with courage; and won! Back surgery did not stop you either; the scar being just another badge of your sport.

And unbelievable as it seems, there were those who had no respect for the fact that you were coming back from throat cancer. They would take advantage of that fact and try to further injure you, but you persevered and continued. Remarkable.








For anyone caring to read or contribute to the
Mario Lemieux Foundation.
I know that Mario would be so grateful.



And so on now to new things, the things that Mario has built. The proposed arena and perhaps someday soon a new player wearing a Lemieux jersey?
And now if I might present a couple of mini-Lemieux's. First 11 year old Stephanie, looking ever so much like her daddy.



Will we ever see that NHL testosterone wall come down again to allow another female player after Manon Rheaume slipped briefly through in 1992? One can only hope that we'll see more quality female players join the hallowed ranks of this organization.

And then there's Austin - a very diminutive and young 7 year old Austin Lemieux speeds across the ice surface to claim the distinction of being the first person to skate at The Rink at PPG Place in Pittsburgh after it was opened to the public. Onlookers smile and can only wonder if he'll be anything like his daddy.


We now have revisions to the arena design and they tell us that with only a few minor tweakings, this is it! A beautiful complex that borrows from the other arenas around the continent and adds the things that will make it unique to Pittsburgh as well - a grand view of their beautiful skyline. For those who still think of Pittsburgh as that grungy, dirty city of 30 years ago, shame on you! Pittsburgh was voted 3rd most beautiful skyline a couple of years back, beating out San Francisco by one notch and Maui - it's not the steel city of the 50's, believe me!

Anyway, I digress as usual. Here are the preliminary sketches for the (yet to be named) Penguins Arena.



It has been some time since I was here to edit this piece, but I wanted to wait until there was something 'concrete'...something substantial to add.

Well then, how about that new arena? We now have ground breaking and excavation to follow everyday. The arena will be called the Consol Energy Center and we have exciting news coming everyday now about it's specific features. Perhaps to be the best arena in the league they are saying. Is there anything more fitting? I think not.

For those who would like to see the groundbreaking ceremony slide show, click Pomp and Circumstance. The renderings slide show of the arena you need only click Arena. And the fly through video which is really a buzz...click wheeeeee!

All Pens fans are going to have to wait til 2010 before they can enjoy the new seats and various other amenities of the Consol Energy Center though. The excitement continues to grow. Each new day brings more news about the arena - music to the ears for fans who have endured the oldest arena in the league all these years. Now they too will have what other fans have taken for granted at their hockey centers.

This is Saturday April 25, 2009. The Penguins are in the quarterfinal playoff series with the Philly Flyers and today is game six which if the Pens win means elimination for the Flyers.
It is all good. I am going to post a static picture of the arena's progress from this mornings web cam in Pittsburgh.


And lastly, music to a Penguins fans ears - the goal horn! Sing along now... Just for fun - no other reason.