Friday, January 12, 2007
Get your game on, go play
What a monkey show. Excellent post header by the way; I would have suggested "Results Audited by Arthur Andersen", but "Jewish Retirees For Pat Buchanan" is definitely funnier.
So, if I'm understanding this, the most charitable assumption you can make about what happened is that the NHL tossed out tens of thousands of Rory votes that were cast by "voting bots", but did not toss out the votes for other players that were on the very same ballots. Is that about right? Awesome. Also awesome: that the relevant pop culture reference is no longer "Pedro", but Tracy Flick.
I can see why the NHL was so desperate to keep Rory out, though: MLB has never really recovered from the whole Lance Carter fiasco. [Huh? Exactly.]
On the topic of the NHL All-Star game, let me be apparently the first person to suggest in print that Daymond Langkow deserves to be selected to play. In case you hadn't noticed, he is:
That said, I think he's earned it (tell me why Patrick Marleau, or the Sedins, deserve it more). At the very least, assuming Iginla is unable to play, Langkow is the guy who should be sent in his place.
Grabia Add-On:
Looking at Tyler's post last night left me with little doubt that the NHL rigged the results. I'm as positive of this as I am of the old frozen envelope trick the NBA pulled off in 1985. As a result, three questions linger in my mind:
1) Will any of the mainstream journalists covering the NHL pursue the story, or will they (once again) let the NHL off the hook? James Mirtle has covered it already on his blog--he should be lauded for being on the Fitzpatrick story from the get-go--but will others follow suit? Like, you know, some of the guys and gals on this list?
2) Could this story be the Tipping Point for hockey bloggers, in terms of notice and credibility? Is this their Rathergate?
3) If the NHL rigged the results of the All-Star balloting, what else might they have rigged? The 2005 NHL Lottery Draft, perhaps? I'm just having fun with this one--and I recognize that it shoots down an affirmative answer to question #2--but it worked out nicely for the beleaguered franchise in Pittsburgh, didn't it? And Commissioner Bettman is an old NBA guy. Maybe he learned some tricks from his pal David Stern? I'm just saying, is all.
So, if I'm understanding this, the most charitable assumption you can make about what happened is that the NHL tossed out tens of thousands of Rory votes that were cast by "voting bots", but did not toss out the votes for other players that were on the very same ballots. Is that about right? Awesome. Also awesome: that the relevant pop culture reference is no longer "Pedro", but Tracy Flick.
I can see why the NHL was so desperate to keep Rory out, though: MLB has never really recovered from the whole Lance Carter fiasco. [Huh? Exactly.]
On the topic of the NHL All-Star game, let me be apparently the first person to suggest in print that Daymond Langkow deserves to be selected to play. In case you hadn't noticed, he is:
- T-6th in the WC in scoring
- T-5th in the WC in +/- (T-2nd among forwards)
- T-3rd in the WC in ES scoring
- a good penalty killer
- a heck of a nice all-around player
That said, I think he's earned it (tell me why Patrick Marleau, or the Sedins, deserve it more). At the very least, assuming Iginla is unable to play, Langkow is the guy who should be sent in his place.
Grabia Add-On:
Looking at Tyler's post last night left me with little doubt that the NHL rigged the results. I'm as positive of this as I am of the old frozen envelope trick the NBA pulled off in 1985. As a result, three questions linger in my mind:
1) Will any of the mainstream journalists covering the NHL pursue the story, or will they (once again) let the NHL off the hook? James Mirtle has covered it already on his blog--he should be lauded for being on the Fitzpatrick story from the get-go--but will others follow suit? Like, you know, some of the guys and gals on this list?
2) Could this story be the Tipping Point for hockey bloggers, in terms of notice and credibility? Is this their Rathergate?
3) If the NHL rigged the results of the All-Star balloting, what else might they have rigged? The 2005 NHL Lottery Draft, perhaps? I'm just having fun with this one--and I recognize that it shoots down an affirmative answer to question #2--but it worked out nicely for the beleaguered franchise in Pittsburgh, didn't it? And Commissioner Bettman is an old NBA guy. Maybe he learned some tricks from his pal David Stern? I'm just saying, is all.
# posted by Matt @ 12:20 pm 
Comments:
"the most charitable assumption you can make about what happened is that the NHL tossed out tens of thousands of Rory votes that were cast by "voting bots", but did not toss out the votes for other players that were on the very same ballots. Is that about right?"
Which would probably explain the heavy concentration of Sabres players (especially Briere getting more votes than Ovechkin)...
Hunh... 7-3...
Go Flames!!!
I'd have no issues seeing Langkow there, he's having a career year.
That said, if they pick one Sedin, they have to pick both, right? Frolov and Selanne are both locks. Marleau's got a strong case, etc, etc.
All I care is that Ryan Smyth gets selected for the first time in his career. It would be a travesty if he didn't get to go. Among the league leaders in goals, despite missing 10 games due to injury.
What might hurt Langkow, even if they pick Iginla and then need to pick a replacement, is the fact the Flames will have a representative on the team elsewhere (Kiprusoff probably snags a goalie-slot, and Phaneuf's got the counting numbers and the hype that he might snag a blueline position).
Could this story be the Tipping Point for hockey bloggers, in terms of notice and credibility?
thought you people didn't care about that?
I put Briere in as one of my votes, but I used Kaberle and Tallinder as my D-men in the East. What gets me is that Campbell made it; Broduer didn't, and guys like Huet just got shafted all together.
Totally agree on Langkow though, who knew he had it in him?
thought you people didn't care about that?
Hmmm. Me wonders who could have dropped this? The grammar forensics team could have a field day with that sentence.
I can't speak for "you people," but I care about being credible. My definition of credible may be different from someone writing for a paper, as I don't have to worry about an editor, feeding my family, or access, but I'm not interested in having my views completely discarded. Kind of defeats the purpose of writing, really. If you want people to listen to what you are saying, they better trust you.
That being said, I'm not interested in kissing ass. Which is maybe where you were going.
Can't say as I'm a big Smashmouth fan, but having "viewed" (i.e. been in or near the room) Shrek several dozen times in the past six months (yeah, children are a treasure), the song just pops into my head at any mention of All-Star.
Tell me you don't have Shrek 2, though. That movie was absolute fucking shit.
Also, can I admit here that I used to own Big Shiny Tunes 4 and put this song on repeat when I was 13?
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"the most charitable assumption you can make about what happened is that the NHL tossed out tens of thousands of Rory votes that were cast by "voting bots", but did not toss out the votes for other players that were on the very same ballots. Is that about right?"
Which would probably explain the heavy concentration of Sabres players (especially Briere getting more votes than Ovechkin)...
Hunh... 7-3...
Go Flames!!!
# posted by 
: January 12, 2007 12:40 pm
: January 12, 2007 12:40 pm 
I'd have no issues seeing Langkow there, he's having a career year.
That said, if they pick one Sedin, they have to pick both, right? Frolov and Selanne are both locks. Marleau's got a strong case, etc, etc.
All I care is that Ryan Smyth gets selected for the first time in his career. It would be a travesty if he didn't get to go. Among the league leaders in goals, despite missing 10 games due to injury.
What might hurt Langkow, even if they pick Iginla and then need to pick a replacement, is the fact the Flames will have a representative on the team elsewhere (Kiprusoff probably snags a goalie-slot, and Phaneuf's got the counting numbers and the hype that he might snag a blueline position).
Could this story be the Tipping Point for hockey bloggers, in terms of notice and credibility?
thought you people didn't care about that?
# posted by : January 12, 2007 1:55 pm
: January 12, 2007 1:55 pm I put Briere in as one of my votes, but I used Kaberle and Tallinder as my D-men in the East. What gets me is that Campbell made it; Broduer didn't, and guys like Huet just got shafted all together.
Totally agree on Langkow though, who knew he had it in him?
# posted by : January 12, 2007 2:02 pm
: January 12, 2007 2:02 pm thought you people didn't care about that?
Hmmm. Me wonders who could have dropped this? The grammar forensics team could have a field day with that sentence.
I can't speak for "you people," but I care about being credible. My definition of credible may be different from someone writing for a paper, as I don't have to worry about an editor, feeding my family, or access, but I'm not interested in having my views completely discarded. Kind of defeats the purpose of writing, really. If you want people to listen to what you are saying, they better trust you.
That being said, I'm not interested in kissing ass. Which is maybe where you were going.
Can't say as I'm a big Smashmouth fan, but having "viewed" (i.e. been in or near the room) Shrek several dozen times in the past six months (yeah, children are a treasure), the song just pops into my head at any mention of All-Star.
Tell me you don't have Shrek 2, though. That movie was absolute fucking shit.
Also, can I admit here that I used to own Big Shiny Tunes 4 and put this song on repeat when I was 13?
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