OGA & Blog FAIL

It's been a while since I've put anything out from here. I guess it's a mixture of summertime and disinterest. The NHL season is over, draft is over, free agency madness is over, so that leaves little for me to really blog about. I'm not really excited about the MMA scene right now. Facebook and Twitter have taken over as my daily social outlets. My family has been pretty busy with summer activities. These are my excuses. I think the real reason is that I lose interest in the blog from time to time. I know that there's nothing worse than an inactive blog, but it is what it is.

 

Some news worth blogging about. OGA 2011 is coming! It's been in the planning stages for weeks. The idea phase was months ago. That's when we start thinking about getting together to golf and just how long it's been since the last time. The next phase is the actual planning phase. Pick a month, then a weekend & location. Plan A was a visit up the coast to Poppy Hills. That didn't pan out. But we are all basically committed to the weekend, so it's just a matter of going with Plan B. I think that will involve a golf course that's more local to Arroyo Grande/Nipomo. It's still being worked out.

 

I'm excited. I'm trying to remember the last time we had an OGA event, and I think it has to be a couple years ago. Unlike the rest of the crew, I'm not an avid golfer. I do love to play, I am just not willing to commit 6-7 hours on the weekends to it. I tend to go through phases of getting out to hit balls and practice, but generally that's short lived. The moment I get too serious about golf and have any expectations about swing results, it all falls apart. So, I have a more Zen approach to golf now. I treat it as an adventure, don't expect much and play each shot as it comes. That usually involves dusting off the clubs and shoes before I play and going through a rough front 9. The rest of the round may or may not improve. That's the mystery.

 

 

Heater for Havlat

I really like this trade. It seems to make sense for both teams and both players. The Wild get a pure goal scorer in Heatley. Dany needs to be the center of the offense, (and attention) which he arguably wasn't in San Jose. I think Heater will be able to float around and shoot the puck at will, especially on the powerplay. He should get his 38-goals. And the Wild will be happy. The Sharks get a speedy skill guy in Havlat. Marty wants the post season. The Sharks will give him that playoff run. Havlat will bring deadly speed in a support role. He should thrive in this position.

Sometimes things seem to work for all involved. Now if only the LAKings could sign Doughty for a reasonable $5-million/season...

Free Agency 2011

The LAKings missed out on the biggest fish of the free agent market in Brad Richards. He ended up with the Rangers, back with Tortorella. Good luck with that. I'm only bitter since I know that Lombardi and company made a pretty good push to get him.

But new acquisitions are Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. Out going are Handzus (Sharks), Simmonds and Brayden Shenn. Richards and Gagne are both ex-Flyers, who the Kings seem to love. Philly traded away Richards and Carter in a bit of a roster shake-up. They now have Jagr of all players!?

Upside: Richards has a proven ability to play the game hard and is able to up the intensity in the playoffs. A character guy and a leader. Lots of intangibles. Solid and skilled. Gagne is the skilled winger the Kings has been looking for. Gagne was a 40-goal man, twice, with the Flyers.

Downside: Simmonds will turn out to be an All Star power forward and Shenn will somehow lead the league in scoring next year. Richards is rumored to be a locker room problem. Gagne hasn't seen an injury free season in some time; there are head injuries in his past.

Reality: Ultimately I think Richards will be a guy the Kings fans grow to love. I'm thinking a Dustin Brown, but with more scoring touch. Simmonds may or may not blossom. Shenn seems destined to be yet another player that Kings fans will lament losing. I wouldn't want to take any bets on both Williams and Gagne playing 82 games. But I've got my fingers crossed.

Shanny the Disciplinarian

I was pretty intrigued to hear that Brendan Shannahan was named as the League Disciplinarian for next season. Shanny seems to have done some good work for the League by being open to rule changes and was responsible for the All-Star Game format change. What he has done so far has been fairly well received. I liked that idea of picking teams for the All-Star Game; it introduced some interest that has been sorely lacking.

I think the weakest point of the NHL has been in this area. There is very little consistency for discipline. Star players are given lighter suspensions, injuring a star player resulted in a longer suspension and/or fine. Two different players could receive a different sentence for exactly the same crime.

I am hopeful that Shanny's rapport with the GM's, coaches and players throughout the league will allow him to be a firm, but fair voice.

Bruins Win the Cup

I am pretty happy for the Bruins and the city of Boston on their Stanley Cup victory. My interest was in the goaltenders, I was largely rooting against Luongo and for Thomas. I've become a Tim Thomas fan over the last few years. Very early in his career at Florida, I felt that Luongo was an unappreciated goalie. But after moving to Vancouver, I've soured on him. Part of that is his very large contract, which seemed to balloon his ego as well. His more recent desire to captain the team was the last straw for me.

I love the fact that a guy like Tim Thomas has won the Stanley Cup. The ulitmate late-bloomer, and team guy, Thomas finally got his chance and has more than proven his worth. Also, the fact that this guy uses a more unconventional style. But, to me it is an extension of his attitude, "don't ever stop trying to keep the puck out." My wife is a big Thomas fan and that's no surprise to me. She also may not be the most technical goalie, but is aggressive and battles to keep the puck out.

I saw some coverage of the Stanley Cup Victory Parade in Boston this past weekend. It just happened to be the part where they interviewed Marc Savard. I really like him as a player and it was bittersweet to see him with the team. Between Savard, Bergeron and Horton, I automatically think head injury when I think Boston Bruins. It's a shame. Hopefully, something can be done to limit the amount of head injuries in the NHL. (And if Sydney Crosby's injury can't spawn some change, nothing will)