redwing77

The Wild are boring, Goon. They'll do fine defensively again this year. Backstrom will give up more goals than Fernandez (sophomore jinx) but he should do fine. Notice they did very little this offseason in terms of getting scoring. The Wild will once again struggle offensively. They will not make the playoffs unless Detroit sucks (which doesn't look likely despite the fact that they look more beatable already than last season). And AZSioux is right. Game 1 is the important game. The winner of game 1 wins the series 70% of the time. The Cubs aren't the Boston Red Sox. There is no coming back from a 2 game deficit. I say just play all the young guys and give them playoff experience. Call it a season and look forward to next year.

Didn't watch the game. I was instead watching the Cubs tank. Why the HELL do I do this to myself? Get optimistic... elation at making the postseason.... and then just when I think the Cubs have a shot, WHAM-O! Same old Cubs of 99 straight years. JEEBUS! You'd think Cub fans would learn after 99 years of losing!

That wouldn't pass in 100 years. True enough a UAA-UAF rivalry would be nice to have... oh wait, they already have it. But no other CCHA teams would approve two trips out to Alaska. Travel expenses are bad enough with UAF alone in the CCHA. I'm not in favor of it because the trophy leaves with them, but the most logical fit to the CCHA is MTU. THat would place all Michigan-based teams (unless I'm missing a few in the CHA or AHA) in the CCHA. And goodbye McNaughton Cup. But anyways, no one would approve UAA moving to the CCHA based upon financial and time constraints

It might surprise Hakstol. He said Miller and Frattin were vying for the slot. If Trupp were to jump out instead of Frattin or Miller on a line change...

Not to mention the last I checked, I'm not responsible for the actions of people who aren't related to me, I don't even know the names of, and are long since dead. So why should I or UND for that matter, take responsibility for the conditions set upon the Native Americans by people unaffiliated with me or UND? Somehow, dictating policy and pushing the majority around is the only way they see equitable solutions towards their problems. Like I said, it isn't just a Native American attitude, it is one of minorities. The system, they feel, has let them down. They feel abandoned or ignored. Well, maybe so. But bullying and pushing around the majority doesn't get you anywhere. It only brings about animosity and mistrust. Native Americans, other minorities, and such have succeeded in the world. I believe some have even kept a hold on their culture to whatever extent they can manage while being successful. Do you know what that's called? It's called the "American Way." Building consciousness into the "big picture" while not abandoning your culture is something many who feel slighted cannot seem to overcome. Why? There are too many reasons and variables. Some may have made bad decisions in their lives. Some may not have finished school for whatever reason. Some got addicted to some substance or another. Some may have found themselves vulnerable and in need of something to believe in so they adopt extremist behavior. They aren't bad people. They're just tragically placed in a world that isn't out there to dote on their every whim. We aren't socialists. We aren't communists. We don't believe that all that belongs to the individual belongs to the people. There is no such social obligation that requires the majority to support the minority and vice versa. They feel that, since long ago they were put in reservations, that we have an obligation to support them while they shouldn't have to do anything in return. That is wrong. They are no longer required to live on reservations. They are given semi-autonomous governmental standing, including big time allowances on certain industries (enough where they hold virtual monopolies in some ways). They feel that, since their ancestors were mistreated, they are entitled to be treated better than the rest. Well, I'll tell you, no one cares what your entitlement is. I feel entitled to many things, after all, my grandparents' families were decimated by the Nazis in the Holocaust, an act denied by the U.S. until late 1944 when U.S. troops stumbled upon a concentration camp. Does that mean I should get treated like a king or even at any superior position to that of the average German or Pole if I should move back to where my grandparents grew up? Should I be able to walk into the towns where Auschwitz or Ravensbruck or Dachau were located and take whatever I please and base it off of some sort of retribution I feel the Germans of those towns owe me for my "suffering?" Or, since Americans of that time period ignored my grandparents and greatgrandparents' plight in Europe, perhaps I'm entitled to live better in the U.S. because of such anti-semitic stoicism? What about the Chinese-Americans? Remember them? Used as basically slave labor, disposable labor even, to build the railroads in the 1800s. Do you see them complaining and saying how they're abused today? The race card is ugly. VERY ugly. It is a true barrier towards equality. As long as people such as Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson or Louis Farakhan and so on down the line are allowed to prey upon the conscience of good Americans who've done nothing to warrant such guilt, American society will truly remain segregated and conditions for the minorities will never truly improve. Put the past in the past and look ahead to the future. Build a future that uses the past as motivation. "We were bad off back then. Now, we're going to change that." Get rid of corruption and segregationist attitudes. No more "The White Man is evil and cannot be trusted" mentality. Push yourself apart like that, you will always be seeing yourself as a "second-class citizen." END RANT

Aw... Downie loses the AHL avenue. Well, how about ECHL? IHL? Maybe he can play with the SPHL or the CHL?

After they begged and pleaded for Skille to sign after his freshman year, I thought he would stick too.

According to WDAY (might've been WDAZ), Lee was sent down to improve his shot and his confidence. Both aspects of his game I thought could use work when he was with the Sioux. His shot is great, for sure, but unrefined. For as great as his shot is, he was very reluctant to shoot the puck. I think, with added confidence, Lee will turn out just fine. I thought it a long shot for Lee to make the team this year anyways, but it's nice to see he had a good camp and preseason.

I don't think much of a suspension that allows for the person suspended to still participate in the sport he's suspended from.

Good luck boys.

Question about the term: "Personal accountability." Does this mean I should feel accountable for the plight of the Native Americans in this state and beyond? Should I feel personally accountable for all the problems in the world? The U.S.? Or perhaps even my own neighborhood? If so, then I apologize because it's not my problem. I have my own problems to worry about. My own life to lead. I can't be responsible for what other people do with their own lives. If some guy wishes to rob a bank, that's his life. If someone wishes to point fingers at me because he can't solve his own problems, then let him. I know I"m not responsible for his problems. He is. He can either better himself and overcome or drown in them. His choice, not mine.

Did you know Oshie was that good coming into the season? We've seen big time scorers from every league come into DI and flounder. Watkins and Kozek so far for the Sioux. Mike Howe (USHL scoring champion) for the Gophers.... It wasn't certain that Oshie would tear it up like he did. I just don't see how LaPoint could be ranked so low though.

Limp wristed justice. I just hope Downie doesn't get Moore'd. Now, if the 20 game suspension is delayed until such time that he actually has to sit out 20 NHL games (going to the AHL doesn't count), that'd be different.

I don't think Grieco will get that many starts, especially early in the season. Start him out slow. However, I think Hakstol will go to him once he and Eidsness are the two big names. They will rotate until one either pulls away (like JPar did) or just continue with the rotation.

Finger pointing at white people is all they are able to do. It's just like Sharpton and Jackson when it comes to black vs. white relations. They are inable to see the problems of their own race. They only see color. It is a defense mechanism that has overtaken a significant portion of the vocal members of minorities. They see what is happening to their people, are sickened, disheartened, and depressed by it. I would be too. I'm Jewish and I look at the plight if Israel (and the stupid things Israel has done over time too) and all of the small percentage of Christians out there whose life mission is to convert us and see that there's more of them than there are of us. However, do I blame the Christians for the plight of "my people/" No. We are who we are. I'm Jewish and I don't care what others think. I'm not going to allow myself to be confined to perceptions and stereotype because I'm not what they perceive. I'm not a stereotype. However, if someone were to call a team by a Jewish term like a women's basketball team called the "Yentls" or a football team called the "Fighting Jews" or the "Maccabees" or even the "Marauding Mishegas" I don't think I would pay it any mind whatsoever. It may be Jewish in tone, but it doesn't represent me. Even if opposing fans yell "Jews suck!" at a sporting event or one campus or whatever I won't be offended. They're talking about the team. And, hey, maybe that team isn't very good! How many great Jewish athletes can you name? Sure, there have been a few great ones (Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg, Rod Carew experimented with Judaism, Sid Luckman...) but we're not concerned about or sports persona. We're more concerned with survival.

PCM- I like your comments and I agree with them. But I also agree with iramurphy in that I believe that the nickname will eventually be changed. I'm not for it. I don't like the way its come about. I don't think the Native Americans have done themselves any favors in what they've done and said to help their cause. They've only created more mistrust, suspicion, and dislike. The NCAA is corrupt, sure, but UND can't change that. That's why I think it is imperative that we change the nickname on our own terms. Win the lawsuit and then change the nickname right away before the NCAA can go back and follow its own guidelines etc. etc. I like the idea of approaching the tribes to ask for funding to help renovate the Ralph (remove all the Native American stuff) under the guise of removing those items "respectfully." The statue out front can be rededicated towards the honor and memory of warriors of the past Sioux nations who died for their land, beliefs, and freedom. Then change the name to the Fighting Cavalry.

How do you know this? Grieco and Eidsness will come into the season on the same plane as Phil and JPar. I'm sure Eidsness will see plenty of time, but I don't expect him to be the man from day 1 just because he was good enough to be drafted. I thought that way with Frazee, but he never beat out Briggs even though Briggs was always suspect against top teams.

I liked the "some thought LaPoint shouldn't even be in the top 20" aspect. Probably the pro Michigan and pro Minnesota contingent. An offensive defenseman going to UND? Can't be highly rated. I mean, first team ALL USHL? Isn't the USHL a tough league for defensive scoring? Something's amiss here, folks. Namely the saddening prospect that alcohol abuse is at an all time high among the INCH voters. AA, people. It will help remove your body from the gutter, your head from your ass. Maybe LaPoint isn't top 5. He is top 10 though. I'd love to see where LaPoint would fall if he had committed to UW, UMN, or Michigan. If he stays the same, then that would be a plus (believe it or not) for INCH's credibility.

I remember how pissed off people were about JMFJ's hit on Downie. I think this hit is filed as the second biggest cheap shot I've ever seen behind Paukovich's hit on Bina. He is suspended indefinitely until such time a hearing can be made apparently. I'd hold that hearing in 2010. He's a 20 year old with the maturity of an 11 year old. He is big, strong, and has absolutely no hockey smarts. Hits in "death valley" will continue to happen, but the Sportscenter articles leave out the flaw that the players repeatedly cite: In the hits on display as other examples, few if any of them LEAVE THEIR SKATES. Downie's hit was a flying cross check to the head. He'd be run through the ringer if he had stayed on his skates for sure, but the suspension wouldn't be nearly as long as it should be. Now, will Bettman make the right decision or will he be just give a limp wristed punishment? I'd say the league fines the Flyers heavily, suspends Downie for half a season (starting when he makes the NHL, so if the Flyers send him back to the OHL for his final year of eligibility or if they send him down to the AHL it won't matter. The suspension starts when he wears the Flyers jersey and there is no getting around it). Downie is a d-bag. Period.

Go Fighting Cavalry! (Sicatoka's idea, IIRC) Colors of Royal Blue, Gold, and White. We can even have a mascot then! I'm still proud to be Fighting Sioux, but I'm thinking that it may be the beginning of the end for the nickname. I do believe that we should dictate the change, though, not the NCAA. I think we should win the lawsuit then hold a press conference stating that we will change the name. Sure, it will pose questions on why we paid for the lawsuit, but it will also put us in position to change the name on our own terms. I also say that only UND students and alumni will have a direct say in what the name will change to. The tribes, the yahoos from MSP and SCSU, and so on can just sit back and watch. No, I don't think any Native American programs should cease or lose funding. But I do think that, if there is any specialized treatment of Native American students in the slightest, it should end. No student organization, minority driven or otherwise, will have any more powerful voice than the next (with the exception of the Student Senate of course). Of course, if the Native Americans wish to send goodwill, they can always help pay for the remodeling of the REA. If they don't, then we'll remodel it our way. And who cares if some yahoo thinks taking a jackhammer to the logos on the floor is hostile and abusive. They have to go. We'd no longer be the Sioux.

Are you serious? What you're basically saying is that I'm letting my bias towards watching the Sioux playing style cloud my judgment over how great it is to watch DU or UW play. The Red Wings have been getting younger (though we just can't seem to rid ourselves of Chelios or Hasek) actually. But they play a style of game that is up and down shootem up hockey that's exciting to watch. If hockey were a game of chess, that would be a Wild game. Move a guy here...wait for the other team to make a move, then move a guy there....shoot, they scored. There goes a pawn.... retaliate by moving E6 to E4.... YAAAAWWWWWNNNN I'd rather have an up and down game of competing offenses with great saves and back and forth action than a well strategized 1-0 snoozefest. The Mild only take risks every so often and they don't invest in scoring. The Red Wings take risks every few minutes and invest heavily in scoring.

With a 2 ref system being installed, I'm sure we'll spend a lot of time with 3 or 4 players on the ice. I think every team will.

I didn't know someone could put it so succinctly. Great post SiouxMD. I agree 100%

Blah blah blah We don't want to play UND anymore because you hurt our feelings a few years back... blah blah blah. Seriously, get over yourselves. Sooner explained it rationally. Take whatever irrationality you wish from it. It's your right. In any case, is it possible to root for the Bison but not side with their fans? I'm all about the Bison embarrassing the Gophers. However, this year it will mean something different being that Glen "I suck at life" Mason isn't coaching anymore (Thanks in part to NDSU). I don't think the Gophers can be any better than suck until all of Mason's morons are graduated or off the team.

Don't know if this was mentioned, but if you go to the ESPN NHL Homepage and click on the video to the right called "2006-7 Best Goals" you'll see a Stafford goal roughly half way through the video.