diggin42

We're told the soon-to-be-retired name must go because it is "hostile and abusive" toward Native Americans. That issue has been debated on every level imaginable and can never be conclusively settled. Since our University and State leaders have now apparently agreed that UND used a hostile and abusive name for the past 70 years, it logically flows that we must somehow make amends to the Sioux tribal members against whom the Sioux name and logo created hostility and caused abuse. I can think of no better way than to let the Sioux tribal members choose, without restrictions, the name UND will use after 2011. The name with a simple majority of votes wins. Before you fall over in your seat, think about it. The tribal councils have offered many different excuses (too costly for a vote, not important enough to tribal affairs, tribal members don't know enough about the issue, tribal members are being manipulated, etc., etc.) for why only their opinion mattered and why the voice of their members was not needed. Since it would be the SBoHE behind the voting process, the council members' excuses would no longer apply and their opinions would count no more than that of any other tribal member - one member, one vote. I think we all know what name the members of the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake tribes would end up choosing. Anyone who thinks they would try to make a mockery of the process by choosing a name like Lightning, Norse, Mallards, Carp, Fighting Luftballons, or some other goofy name knows nothing about tribal culture and simply hasn't been paying attention during this process. If the tribal members re-choose "Fighting Sioux" or "Sioux" as the name UND will use after 2011, then we will have satisfied the NCAA requirements and the tribal members voices will have been heard...finally. Douple, the Summit League and others will no longer have a reason to self-righteously look down their noses at UND because the very people they told us we offended were the ones who chose the "new" name. So the next time you fire off an e-mail to Gov. Hoeven to do something, try the above suggestion. Far fetched? I suppose. Could it ever happen? I've not yet seen the courage or (Sioux) spirit in our "leaders" to suggest they will do anything but pat themselves on the back after they dictate the selection of some benign and forever-less-than-what-we-had name and then scratch their heads when the voters of the state decide they are no longer worthy of their jobs.

The safest hockey helmet is simply one that fits right. You don't need to buy the most expensive helmet to have a safe helmet for a 10-yr old. A poor-fitting expensive helmet won't protect as well as a properly-fit used helmet. Make sure your son

I happen to like Don Lucia and think he's one of the best coaches in the country. But this sentiment is a 180 from January of this year when the Pioneer Press quoted John Hill as saying the Grand Forks trip was Lucia's favorite: "Really, other than the fact that Don wasn't on the ice for practice, it really has been a normal week for us," Hill said. "Obviously, it'll be different up there. And I feel bad, because I know this is his most favorite road trip in the WCHA. He would love to be up there. " He later said the same thing in a Strib article: "Last weekend, when the Gophers played North Dakota in Grand Forks, Lucia missed his favorite road trip, staying home for an important medical test."

I think this old SNL skit sums up Gwoz and Alana rather succinctly: Lord and Lady...

Let me give you an assist, Goon. Not that you need my help. Jim Souhan wrote an article that appeared in Star-Tribune on March 12, 2009. Clocks might be winding down on Lemaire, Lucia. Here is some of what Souhan wrote: We thought we were set for life with our two big-time hockey coaches. We were wrong. A couple of years ago Jacques Lemaire, the only coach in Wild history, and Don Lucia, winner of two national titles at the U, probably could have signed lifetime contracts. Today, locking up Lemaire might prove impossible, and locking up Lucia might be inadvisable. Lucia is in the midst of another season of soft play and mediocre results from the once-dominant Gophers. By this time next year, Lemaire probably will be sunning himself in Florida, and Lucia could be feeling a different kind of heat. If Lemaire were less diplomatic, he might publicly blame his bosses for the Wild's dearth of talent. Lucia can make no such excuses -- he's responsible for a program that is becoming known for soft defensive play and spotty goaltending. Lucia was sidelined by an illness earlier this season. That, combined with his legacy, ensures that he'll receive the benefit of the doubt for at least another year. Lemaire is probably as good as gone. Lucia has plenty of methods and resources with which to right his powerful program, but he might not have as much time as he thinks. Personally, I think Lucia is one of the better coaches in the country and has a lengthy list of accomplishments few others have.

You may remember Versteeg as the guy the Hawks got from Boston a couple of years ago in the Bochenski trade.

In a May 9, 1753 letter to his friend Peter Collinson, Ben Franklin told the story of some Massachusetts commissioners who invited the local Indians to send "a half a dozen of their brightest lads" to study free at Harvard. The Indians replied that they had sent some of their young braves to study there years earlier, but on their return "they were absolutely good for nothing, being neither acquainted with the true methods of killing deer, catching Beaver, or surprizing an enemy." The Indians offered instead to educate a dozen or so New Englanders in the ways of the Indians "and make men of them."

I have three tickets in Row 3 of Section E (DECC Seating Chart) for Saturday's game and can't go. Face value, or $26 each. PM me or send me an e-mail at dlveer@lycos.com if you're interested. I'm in Coon Rapids, MN.

Thanks for the info Lefty!

There was news a while back that WGN was going to broadcast up to 20 Blackhawks games this coming season. Here is an article from several months ago: Linky Has anyone heard any more about this? If it's true, it might save me the cost of having to take my son down there for a game again this season.

Hagemo obviously has a real opportunity here. Keep in mind that Glen Wesley is still part of the Hurricanes organization. He is credited with helping baseball's Josh Hamilton turn his life around: News Observer Link My prayers are with you, Nate.

Heartfelt prayers for your little man and your whole family, Bob. I pray this is just a bump in the road for him and that the experience will bring your family closer together and closer to God. St. Jude's is an amazing place and the money donated by Sioux fans and all of the people and organizations before us is a big reason why the prognosis for Will is good. Keep the faith, Bob and know that we're all pulling for you.

David Hale playing solid D for Calgary so far against the Sharks. He played well all year and seemed to have found a home and then had a bad East Coast swing late in the year and found himself on the bench. He's back in the lineup and has looked good. Nice to see him make it through the entire year without his kidney acting up. Hale had Calgary's #9 Best Hit of the Year for 2007/08

I was going to post this link in the "Brian Lee" thread, but it just didn't seem to fit in with the discussion there... http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/...egoryId=2459791 (I believe he refers to him as Ryan Lee)

With the obvious exception of Nick's cancer, everything about this story has been cool. Nick beating this cancer is going to be the story's topper.

Do you still have the Sioux puck as well??

I appreciate the offer, but will decline. I was stuck out of town for last year's game and may not be available again this year. More importantly, I simply don't bring enough to the table to keep up with the level of play. I actually tore some cartilage in my left rib cage in the last game I played in 3 years ago. I'd like to say it was because I took a bone-crushing hit from bertibm or sagard, but it was pretty much my own doing. Just an old guy whose feet and legs simply couldn't do what the brain was telling them to do resulting in an airborn, rib cage-collides-with-boards event. Nothing serious, but I'll leave this game to those better equipped. Thanks for the kind words, Sioux-cia. I enjoyed meeting you and your family a couple of years ago at VMIG. Phats found the back of the net that game, if I remember correctly. The roster looks good so far. Two years ago, there were about 13 or 14 on the roster and everyone showed up. It allowed SS.com to develop some consistency in its play as the game went along. Before that, SS.com had up to 20 guys. It was fun, but not much ice time and there was little flow to SS.com's game. A number of players on both sides complained. Last year there were about 13-14 on the roster again, but I understand several never showed. St. Patty's Sunday curse, I guess. Too bad because there were some people who said they wanted to play but were turned away because we once again tried to keep the roster size manageable. I'm not so sure that's a good idea for a number of reasons. Limiting the roster worked well one year, but was a disaster the following year. Maybe those playing can chime in with their thoughts on how to approach it for this year.

I just got back from Dallas, where it wasn't much warmer than here this past week. Glad to see you grab the reins for SS.com, BigGreyAnt41. I did this for a couple of years and failed rather miserably in getting players lined up for last year, so it's time for someone else to take over. Having the game the day after St. Patty's didn't bode well for SS.com last year. I'll finish my career as the SS.com "coach" with a respectable 1-1 record. As far as playing, well I did that too for a couple of years and being old, slow and largely unskilled didn't serve the team all that well. I have e-mail addresses of some guys who played in the past who may be interested, but it looks like things are falling into place. Let me know if you want them.

Awesome, PSB. Simply awesome. Sioux fans stepped up and showed our true colors, especially Bob in Sconny and PSB. Even though PSB is going to take care of this, maybe we can all keep our pledges of monetary support in play by donating to a cancer-related charity what we were otherwise willing to chip in so young Mr. Cherekos could watch Sioux hockey. This way, we would be honoring Nick's battle, PSB's mother, and everyone else affected by cancer. There are a number of great charities: St. Jude Children's Research: http://www.stjude.org/ American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/ Lukemia & Lymphoma Society: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls I'll even start with a donation to St. Judes. Thank you for helping the children of St. Jude Dale Veer, We gratefully acknowledge your support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. On behalf of St. Jude, and especially on behalf of the children and their families, thank you for generosity. If you have any questions, please call us 1-800-805-5856 or email us at donors@stjude.org. Your donation information is as follows: Confirmation Number: 380761 Date: 2008-01-25 22:43:53.317 Payment Method: Credit Card - Gift Amount: $ 50.00 Gift Type: One Time It's not much, but $50 here...$10 there...if enough people chip in Sioux fans will have put up a nice overall donation. Stay strong, Nick!

Great idea. Count me in...

A friend of mine has been involved in Osseo-Maple Grove youth hockey for years. Like all associations, they have their issues. But when the chips are down, it's good to see that hockey people rally together. Here is some more information on this courageous young man: http://omgha.pucksystems2.com/ Thanks for posting this, Bob.

I no longer have any expectations for this team. I will continue to enjoy watching them play, but I expect nothing more from them than I did the 2001-02 Sioux team (which dressed a dozen freshman each night). Like everyone else, I was singing a much different tune in October, but I've seen nothing in the games played thus far that tells me this is a team that can compete for a national title. We expect each week that it will be the series in which they turn the corner, but maybe what's around the corner is nothing different than what we've already seen. Many believe they will get on a winning streak just like they have in recent years, but there's certainly nothing beyond history to indicate that will happen. My real disappointment in this team is that in the 25+ years I've faithfully followed Sioux hockey, I can't recall a team that approaches most of its games with no apparent purpose. Some nights it's almost like they can't wait to get off the ice and on to something else. From the goal line outward, they seem to be able to cease paying attention at any time during a game regardless of the score or how well they've played to that point. Lately that's come in the 3rd period after playing two periods of solid hockey. I share your bewilderment with this year's defense, Sioux11s. Successful Sioux teams of the past were characterized by dominating the 3rd period and being accountable to each other to skate hard every shift. I understand that some players believe they have "unfinished business" but the lack of consistency and ability to play 60 minutes of hockey night in and night out show otherwise. Nobody is going to hand them a ticket to the Frozen Four and if they truly believe they have "unfinished business" they better wake up soon to the fact that there are 35+ games that need to be played and like everyone else, they must earn the opportunity to finish such business. I hope I'm wrong in my assessment of mediocrity for this team and that they are able to put together a soon-to-be-necessary streak. Like I said, I will continue to enjoy watching them play and would relish another deep run and the possibility of a national title. But they've reconditioned me to no longer expect anything significant from them and at this point I'm hopeful to simply be able to watch them play a game at the Excel in March.

Don't know where the video is, but this article refers to it alternatively as "slashing Bucky Badger," and a "tap on the shins." http://www.madison.com/tct/sports/uw/hockey/256619 Your guess is as good as mine as to whether it was a slash or a tap, but regardless, it wasn't a good move by Joe. Kind of like that Pittsburgh Pirate baseball player who tapped the head of one of the racing sausages with a bat at Miller Park a few years ago.

I agree. Those of us old enough to remember the good old days of the early 1980s can recall an intense dislike for each other, but not all of the whining. When talking about preparing for North Dakota, every other WCHA coach acknowledges the Sioux as being fast and physical. Apparently Eaves didn't get that memo and is appalled by the physical play. Eaves teaches his players to dive and is teaching both his players and Badger fans to whine. I've been getting deep under the skin of a long-time Sconny buddy of mine this past week by referring to the Badgers as Wussconsin. I think it fits them well. Having said that, there is no reasonable excuse for a player whacking a guy in a mascot outfit. On Wussconsin, On Wussconsin