MafiaMan

You can't even see my Sioux tattoo, can you?

You rang?

You rang?

Sorry, I misread "quality" as "fans that like boobs."

I don't see my name in your list.

PCM, I couldn't agree more with you on this. Hockey fans like hockey for various reasons. We've seen the NHL slip from a major sport to one where people couldn't care less about it. Two seasons ago, Calgary drew more fans meeting the losing Flames at the airport than Tampa Bay did in its own victory parade (an estimated 20,000 fans watched the Lightning Stanley Cup parade). That's barely more than watched game 7 in the St Pete Forum! If the idea is to expand the base of hockey fans, the questions shouldn't be posed to people who are already fans, they should be posed to "potential" fans. I know my current RiverCitySports.com catalog has many pages of hockey clothing and articles geared toward women. Yes, it's true. One can easily see the marketing campaign trying to do what the NBA and MLB have done for years...marketing individual players. "Come see Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins as they take on Peter Forsberg and the Philadelphia Flyers," etc. Plus you've probably seen players in TV ads minus the hockey helmets so people can actually see their faces. You certainly don't see the NHL marketing "come see the fights." The TV ratings rival those of Texas Hold 'Em, bowling, and the International Dart Championships. So for those of you who think there is nothing wrong with hockey, go ahead and keep your head buried in the sand. Do I love the game? Yes. But I also want it to SURVIVE and not go the way of the USFL.

I almost forgot, Smoggy, you're right up the block from me so you were enjoying the same gig. The "VS" network has done a good job of covering games, but, seriously, the Flyers/Blackhawks? What a couple of slug teams. Flip over to 860+ and I'm watching the Thrashers and Maple Leafs go back and forth like a bunch of speed demons. I sulked last night by watching VH1 and the Top 100 Songs of the 1980's.

I hate to admit it, but I have to stick up for TC and bucky here. Of course the regular season games matter, but when it comes to programs like Minnesota and North Dakota, the ultimate prize is the NCAA title. Does that mean that they totally disregard the regular season and discount its meaning? Of course not. What are the coaches and players supposed to say? "We don't care about the regular season"? "We couldn't care less about defending the MacNaughton Cup"? "Our ONLY goal is winning the NCAA title"? Last time I checked, they still raise conference championship banners in both Mariucci and REA (along with Herbergers and Timberlodge Steakhouse banners in St Cloud). I don't agree at all with the illusion that Minnesota focuses too much on winning the regular season. An opposing viewpoint would be that the Sioux don't take the regular season seriously enough. I think the pride with both teams exists in that every time they step on the ice, the players, coaches, and fans want to win and expect to win. However, that pride is something that has been lacking in Minnesota the past few years at the Final Five after a semi-final loss while during that same time, North Dakota has shown some guts and determination, along with pride.

That's interesting because the person that had me sign the list told me I didn't need to pay for my order until they arrived. I was #21 and #22 on "the list" so I fully expect to be getting a phone call or e-mail telling me my bobble heads are in. I hope this isn't a great promotion like the Applebee's Sioux pint glasses that were supposedly given away about five years ago. I'm still waiting for the manager of the GF restaurant to give me a call and tell me my two glasses are waiting to be picked up.

I realize I'm crossing the line between sports "fan" and sports "nerd" with my following comments, but I do have about 50 bobbleheads in my collection including my two personal favorites, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, along with other "Legends of The Big House" and "Legends of the 'Shoe". Legends of the Sioux...I'm likin' it!

I'll probably remain cheering neutral for that game.

The first step is admitting the problem, huh?

Sioux uniform, of course! I had e-mailed the pro shop several times asking them about player bobble heads like Jeff Panzer, Tony Hrkac, etc. Obviously, they have to work out agreements with the people themselves and get the proper licensing agreements, but trust me, AZSIOUX, e-mail them and get on the list for Mike Commodore. If you're not happy with it, I'll buy it from you, that's how sure I am that you'll dig it.

They are the Forever Collectables variety (meaning VERY life-like) and will be between $20-$25 each. A pic of the FC Michael Peca bobble is below. The base to the Commodore one is similiar, but looked "shinier" when I saw it. It will NOT disappoint you, but, unfortunately, it's only available to be seen on paper at REA at the moment. The prototype had the frizzy hair and playoff beard. Good stuff!

The Mike Commodore bobblehead orders were being taken on a sign-up sheet inside the REA Pro Shop. I signed up for two during the Maine series. I believe they are limited to 500 in number and once they reach that, they will place the order. Sign up now!

Dude, do you think I can get lucky out there WITHOUT tickets?

Speaking of fighting, I feel like duking it out right now with someone. A few weeks ago, Comcast bought out Time Warner Cable and I suddenly was enjoying the NHL Center Ice package to the tune of up to six games a night. I sat down on my couch a few minutes ago and turned on Channel 862 only to see the words "YOU ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO VIEW THIS CHANNEL." I guess all good things must come to an end.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, PCM, now I'm totally confused. Are you saying that the NHL should consider playing hockey games at 10:00 am on Sunday mornings?

Oh, so now it's all about the SIZE of the dog?

Yes...I keep hearing about this 'doggy style' but when I pay girl and she show up to my hotel room, she bring no dog. Why is this?

Truer words have never been spoken. The man has more POSTS than most people have written words!

"Cmon, THETRIOUXPER...gimme a hug." "OK, Dikaia880...big hug!"

Going to the woods with dagies, you mean? Um...not that there's anything wrong with that.

dagies, you make a good point here. I think with sports teams and the cheering/jeering that goes along with it, some witty college student cheers/chants/t-shirts make you chuckle and others make you cringe. Notre Dame students came up with the Catholics vs Creminoles and Catholics vs Convicts t-shirts back in the day, yet you never saw Florida State or Miami whip up Seminoles/Canes vs Drunken Irishmen t-shirts in return. In the past year, Gonzaga fans (primarily students) were ripped for chanting "brokeback mountain" at an opposing player and a different venue where fans had signs poking fun at West Virginia by calling them "Brokeback Mountaineers." Frankly, when I hear Mankato fans chanting "Sioux suck" or "f*** the Sioux" as I heard this past weekend, I think it's more of a poor reflection on THEM than it is on the University of North Dakota.