The Sicatoka

He's making his quilt. You don't have to cuddle up in it. I stand and look at it for the patches of information.

The one that stands out in my mind: UND to BSC.

Though all this remains this smoldering item: The WAC can still offer FBS status to schools looking to more up. That is the one last thing the WAC has going for them. It was confirmed last summer in the Idaho (or was it the NMSU) report. And others know it. I see the WAC as ripe for a hostile takeover by a group with common like-minded interests. Call it a "Gordon Gecko" scenario: That group would come in, take over, keep what they really want and strip off the dead weight of the organization. The flip side is the WAC also has to know they are vulnerable that way. They need to stay solvent enough to stay alive and keep enough "stock" (internal voting members) to keep from being "corporate raided" as those current members know they are the dead weight to be stripped away. Remember, the only valuable, salvageable asset is that ability to bequeath FBS status. Should a "raider group" come in, they'd look to move out the non-performing assets. So, to recap: The WAC is a distressed company with one good asset. There are folks outside that company that would really like control of that asset. The WAC knows this as well. But the WAC also knows they are distressed and the non-performing assets would be set aside (voted out) should they allow too many raiders into the company. To my eyes, the existing WAC members just brought in someone like them (Cal Baptist) to make sure they have votes should they decide to allow the raiders in the door. The raiders? They're waiting for the distressed asset to have no choice but to either let them in or have nothing. Cal Baptist is at best a provisional, staying, move as Chicago State will tip over shortly and the WAC will be in the "let them in or have nothing" category.

Again, I don't understand the umbrage toward SV. They guy is putting together a quilt using the vivid patches of information he gathers and stitches together with his thoughts. We all do it. His just happen to be bigger and bolder patterns and ending with something king-sized. The rest of us are afraid to go above a monochromatic dinner napkin. SV is probably batting 0.240 to 0.300 with his predictions. Guess what: That and an average glove makes $3 million a year playing second base in Boston.

PIT should not have won that game and not because of goaltending. The officials missed (OK, didn't call because no one could have missed that) a blatant trip by Crosby on Ovechkin just seconds into 3-on-3 OT. It should've been a 4-on-3 power play for WAS. I never believe the PIT/Crosby conspiracy theorists, but seeing something overt like that ...

I hope you'll be able to get seats ...

You assume both will still be there when they meet the first weekend of February.

Depending on what you believe Penn State's strength-of-schedule is from 22 (USCHO-RPI) to 35 (USCHO-KRACH) to 48 (Massey). By comparison, the majority of the NCHC teams' SOS is single-digit. I'll be interested to see what Penn State does when it has to face Minnesota.

Scoring (in order): (first period) WAS Burakovsky 1-0 WAS Backstrom 2-0 WAS Williams 3-0 (second period) PIT Malkin 3-1 PIT Sheary 3-2 PIT Bonino 3-3 PIT Rust 3-4 PIT Malkin 3-5 WAS Connolly 4-5 WAS Eller 5-5 PIT Malkin 5-6 (third period) PIT Crosby 5-7 WAS Oshie 6-7 WAS Eller 7-7 (overtime) PIT Sheary 7-8 Game Summary? Defense optional. https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/wsh-vs-pit/2017/01/16/2016020661/recap/box-score#game=2016020661,game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=stats

Someone pointed out to me over the weekend that your home thermostat, if 'net connected, would've fallen under this bill. :-D

Don't we have budget issues? Why are they playing with video games and masks? How about they work on the budget and have play time, eat dessert, at the end of the session.

However, the "mask" bill isn't the worst, least thought out, most buffoonish bill this session. That winner is: https://www.sayanythingblog.com/entry/nd-legislation-classify-internet-connected-device-pornographic-vending-machine/ At least a day after introduction they killed it: https://www.sayanythingblog.com/entry/nd-legislation-classify-internet-connected-device-pornographic-vending-machine/ Yup, that bill would've charged every internet connectable device in ND $20.

This bill is an offspring of the DAPL protests where ... masked ... highwaymen shut down a state highway illegally. You know, if I'd have been travelling Hwy 1806 and masked people stopped me illegally I'm pretty sure I'd have believed I was in immediate fear of great bodily harm or death.* *Some know what I just said.

Odd number? Easy. Still make "travel partners". It's just that one partner is "bye". Yes, that means one weekend per year someone gets a home Friday or Saturday off. Alternatively, one road weekend is a one-stop per year. So what's Douple's address so I can send the invoice?

The old NCC was always Fri/Sat (travel partners, for example -- Fri: UND at USD; NDSU at SDSU, then Sat: UND at SDSU; NDSU at USD). The Big Sky: UND was at MSU last night; UNC was at Montana; Saturday UND at Montana; UNC at MSU. http://www.bigskyconf.com/calendar.aspx?path=mbball&

Don't laugh. I had a coach that would make us leave all the sticks in the room for one or two practices a season. Hint: Some of those were pretty fun (puck-to-skate work); some ... notsomuch ... #bagskate ...

So Kolpack is admitting that scheduling in the Summit League is terrible. He says it: The Big Sky at least does Thu/Sat. Maybe the Bison should make a move to be with UND and have that predictable schedule he's looking for. Just adding UND is no guarantee that the Summit will begin to schedule sanely. NDSU should go to a conference with a predictable methodology already in place. Seems that's what he really wants.

Ben mailed it in on that hawk attempt.

The Los Angeles Chargers of Anaheim? The California Chargers of Anaheim? The Anaheim Chargers? (The more mature portion of the crowd will get the joke.)

That's why Gopher hockey seldom plays on Sunday -- how can you watch that and not drink?

Union and UNO were two good weekends. The key is to keep building.

We're not pointing fingers or assigning blame. We're saying, "Sorry for the distraction; everyone back to subject, please. Thank you." Signed, The Management

< TIN FOIL HAT ALERT > Could this be a way to do it anyway but blame Bismarck? "Our plan was to save them all, but in light of recent budget allocations out of Bismarck ..."

In case some missed it ... ^^^^^ If you want to play in that sort of mess, may I humbly recommend ...