Showing posts with label joffrey lupul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joffrey lupul. Show all posts

Sunday, 31 March 2013

news feeds march 31


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"The Internet: It's like never leaving junior high." Ya think? Janet Sternberg, a communications professor at Fordham University in New York says "The Internet and digital media have produced this Peter Pan effect where we never grow up, we're like perpetual children, we never have to be responsible for anything - we keep this juvenile mentality. We say whatever's on our mind. Restaint is one of the signs of adulthood, and our whole culture is celebrating a lack of restraint." Great article dealing with grownup kids around the Internet. Click HERE to read on. 
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What does an actor who has played in damn near every style of film supposed to do when you've done it all? Look for a genre you have played in obviously. That's right: Clint Eastwood slated to direct a film adaptation of the hit musical "Jersey Boys." I definitely didn't see that one coming, but after Jon Farveau, who was originally attached to direct, backed out Clint has shown interest in taking the reigns. The Dirty Harry star has been interested in directing a musical for sometime now, trying to remake the Kris Kristofferson/Streisand clunker "A Star Is Born" with Beyonce playing the lead role. The project didn't get off the ground for a variety of reasons including Beyonce's pregnancy and the lack of a suitable leading man, and even though Beyonce has dropped off the project, Clint is still keen to get it done and may work on it once the Jersey Boys adaptation is complete. 
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In West Philadelphia, born and raised… The original (O.G.) Aunt Vivian (the better one) Janet Hubert says she is tired of fighting with the Fresh Prince himself, Will Smith. Hubert spent three seasons as the mother on the hit 90s sitcom, and portrayed Vivian as a much stronger and more intelligent mother figure than her replacement. But her and Smith never got along; she even went so far as saying Smith made her life a living hell. After twenty years of fighting she just wants to make peace with the rest of the cast. "I would say to him, we need to heal this. You've done some things, you've said some things, that were totally untrue and you know that they were untrue. I've said some things that I probably should have never said… I'm tired. Aren't you tired Will?" She was also asked by TheGrio.com if she would participate in a reunion and she said 'absolutely.' This is a far cry from her comments in when Will posted a picture on Facebook of the cast hanging out in 2011 where she told TMZ "There will never be a reunion, as I will never do anything with an asshole like Will Smith. He is still an egomaniac and has not grown up. This constant reunion thing will never ever happen in my lifetime unless there is an apology, which he doesn't know the word." I just love that show. That is all.


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It has been five long months since the San Francisco Giants captured their second World Series in three years, but have no fear, baseball is back tonight. The season kicks off with the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park playing their new divisional rivals, the Houston Astros. The 'Stros made the jump to the American League after spending their entire existence in the National League, giving Major League Baseball's six divisions an even five teams a piece. Houston also changed their uniforms, resurrecting the old colour scheme from the Astrodome era. I dig them. That is the only game this evening but don't worry, on Monday there are some great games lined up with 24 teams in action. The Red Sox and Yankees renew pleasantries at Yankee Stadium, the Champion Giants kick off their season against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Cubs are taking on the Pirates in Pittsburgh and the Phillies are in Atlanta to challenge the Upton brothers and the Braves. Blue Jays kick off their season in Toronto on Tuesday night against the new-look Cleveland Indians. 


Want to go to a game? Concession stand prices can add up more than the ticket itself pretty quickly. Hot dogs at a Mets game? $6.25. At the Reds stadium? A buck. Four dollars for a twelve ounce glass of beer in Cleveland or 16 ounces for $8. Here some good info on the cheapest and most expensive ball park foods (check out the $23 hotdog at Arlington Stadium in Texas). Check out the story HERE

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking pretty sharp. Since they have burned me so many times I don't want to be overly optimistic, but cautiously so. First off, they are fast. They looked so good in the game against Ottawa last night it was crazy, a convincing 4-0 win, and are currently riding an 8 game point streak. Other than the now ridiculously stacked Pittsburgh Penguins, the Leafs have one of the most prolific offences in the last couple weeks, with two lines playing exceptionally well. The pairings of Lupul/Kadri and Kessel/van Riemsdyk have been carrying the team offensively. Lupul has tucked in seven goals in his five games since returning from injury, scored a coast to coaster against the Canes, and looks just as unstoppable as he did last when he was among league leaders in scoring before being injured. Nazem Kadri is finally playing the way Brian Burke figured he would and currently sits sixth in league scoring including last nights 4 point performance (and second hat trick of the season). With a dozen games remaining things are looking pretty good for some meaningful hockey in the spring, but if they want to make sure they get in there they better play meaningful hockey until the season ends and the big dance begins.



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Going to see Bad Religion with The Bronx this evening. Should be a killer show.. Bad Religion is always one of my favourite bands to see live and The Bronx should be great as well, having just released their stellar fourth album. Here's a song or two:



For those who are into some P&V in your music, check out Heavy MTL's card this year. Pretty not bad. Here's the official lineup for this year's festival, which is happening on August 10-11 at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal:

Avenged Sevenfold
Rob Zombie
Megadeth
Godsmack
Danzig with Doyle
A Day To Remember
Children Of Bodom
Mastodon
August Burns Red
At the Gates
Amon Amarth
Machine Head
Steel Panther
Gwar
Of Mice & Men
Finntroll
Baroness
Wintersun
Obey the Brave
The Acacia Strain
Halestorm
All Shall Perish
Cryptopsy
Augury
Unexpect
Oceano
Within the Ruins
Structures
Blackguard
Slaves On Dope
Havok
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Monday, 7 January 2013

nhl lockout & the leafs


The NHL lockout has come to an end. I guess we will see the effects south of the border during the course of the shortened season, but every Canadian city will be fine. We're gonna have to see which American market will be hurt the most, maybe Anaheim? Dallas? Or Phoenix, if they can be hurt anymore? I don't think the American markets will be affected as much as analysts are thinking. Some of the league's loudest fans are in hockey crazed markets in the US. If you don't believe me, check out a game in Chicago or Madison Square Garden, home of the Rangers. I know, obviously original 6 teams (add the crazy Red Wings and Bruins fans to the mix) will be fine, but what about non-traditional hockey markets? Los Angeles, the defending champs should have no problem selling seats, while their Bay Area neighbours to the North in San Jose have notoriously been some of the most passionate fans in the league. Nashville and more recently St. Louis have been icing some great, competitive teams, and in turn fan interest has been extremely high. The Minnesota Wild made a huge splash landing the best defenceman and forward on the free agent market, Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, respectively, immediately vaulting them from the middle of the pack to the elite of the Western Conference. Philly and Pittsburgh have a rabid, menacing (ok, just Flyers fans are menacing) groups of fans, who are as loud and knowledgeable as any in the league. Anyways, point being, a few markets will suffer, but I wouldn't worry about the stability of the league in the United States. Bottom line is, if you like hockey, it is the best league in the World with the best players, and you will be back.

The Toronto Maple Leafs. Alright, so game on. We all know the playoff drought and the franchise mediocrity since 2004's lockout (and the terrible Leaf teams of the 80s). How will this Leaf season be any different you might ask. Well, who knows? If the first 42 games of last season are a sample, they look pretty good. The last half on the other hand, was an epic collapse of a team that was in contention for the better part of a season. Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul were incredible during the first half, and still good in the second, with Kessel netting a team leading 37 goals, adding 45 assist for 82 points (6th in the NHL). The Leafs were able to acquire an impact forward, former Flyer James Van Riemsdyk. Coach Randy Carlyle said he was going to try hit new winger at centre, presumably between Kessel and Lupul, who tucked in 25 goals himself in an injury shortened 66 game season. The second line should be interesting. The Clarke MacArthur-Nik Kulemin-Mikhail Grabovski unit was the Leafs best two seasons ago, but last year Kulemin and MacArthur regressed. I would imagine Matt Frattin will put some pressure on Leafs coaches to be promoted to the second line. He is a great young player who probably deserves to start the season on the second line and hopefully will. Matt Frattin has got 16 points in 20 games with the Marlies this season, and last season he had 10 goals in 13 playoff games.

The defence is looking pretty sharp, despite dispatching Luke Schenn to Philly for Van Riemsdyk. Captain Dion Phaneuf had a great season last year, making significantly less bonehead plays. By the end of the season, holes in his game were beginning to show and finished with a -10 plus/minus rating. However, the captain got more points last year than his first season and a half in Toronto, setting up or scoring much bigger goals. The shortened season may actually play pretty well in Phaneuf's favour, since he was one of the first half's best defencemen. THe captain netted 12 goals and 32 assists over a full 82 game campaign. His partner is Jake Gardiner, who Don Cherry recently called him the best player he has ever seen play in the AHL. Not that Don's opinion really matters, but he could be right. He has scored 9 goals in 22 games this season with the Marlies with a mere 6 penalty minutes. He isn't the toughest guy on the team, but he certainly isn't a pushover. Jake also tallied 11 points in 17 playoff games last season in the Marlies run to the Calder Cup Finals. The second pair of Carl Gunnerson and John-Michael Liles will probably play a lot of minutes against their opponents top lines, with Liles, a power play specialist set to anchor the team's attack on the man advantage. Having Mike Komisarek, his contract aside, on your bottom pairing means you have some depth on D, and is paired with Cody Franson - who is still actually unsigned, and with Mark Fraser, Mike Kostka and Korbinian Holzer breathing down his neck, the sixth d-man could be anyone of the above bodies. Franson's first season in Toronto was painful. He wasn't horrible or anything, but with his skill set he should have been a whole lot better. 

Goaltending is still Toronto's biggest area of concern. James Reimer had a stellar rookie campaign going 20-10 with a .921 save percentage and 2.60 goals against average. Last season, his first full season as the starter, Reims save percentage dropped to .900 and his goals against jumped to over 3 a game. Marlies goaltender Ben Scrivens is 14-7 this season with the farm team, but has yet to establish himself at an NHL level. Luongo to Toronto still a possibility? Let's hope not, but it is no guff that the Leafs want/need a goalie, and Luongo/the Canucks want to break up. Hopefully the Leafs will continue to explore the possibility of the Kings excellent backup Jonathan Bernier, who would be a starter on almost any other team, but plays behind Jonathan Quick, one of the best in the biz. Quick just got off minor back surgery, and although he is cleared to play, the Kings are going to hold on to both of them. 

Whatever the length of the season happens to be, at least it promises to be exciting right from the start, with each game being crucial in the shortened season. Let's play some puck!

[didn't proofread.. tired. sorry for typos and autocorrects!]