Dipped into the water

I started this blog post quite a while ago and got too busy to finish it, so some of the ramblings are a bit outdated now but I'm gonna leave 'em in anyway.

I'm liking The Sheepdogs more and more.  There is a cool track called "The First Year" from their 2008 album, The Big Stand and you can download the album for free from their web site: www.thesheepdogs.com.

Keep Your Head Up, Kid: The Don Cherry Story was on CBC again and it was still just as good as the first time I saw it.  Keeso does a kick-ass job in the sequel as well.  Hopefully this series gives him a good opportunity in the biz.

The 4 most annoying words in February: Scotties Tournament of Hearts.  Get off my TV.

A cool and funny performance of "Where It's At" by Beck...

That video is from a show at "Live at the Rehearsal".  Beck also does a song called "Clap Hands" where the band plays rhythm with kitchen utensils.  Pretty cool and worth watching.

A conversation came up recently that included Rafael Araujo.  The thought of that useless plug still makes me angry to this day.  I'm more upset with then Raps GM Rob Babcock, who passed on Andre Iguodala, Al Jefferson and JR Smith among others, than I am at Araujo... but I don't like him either.  Hot tip: Hey NBA GM's: if a guy looks retarded and can't jump off the ground then he probably won't pan out real well. See Bryan "Big Country" Reeves for further proof.  Babcock is the same genius that traded Vince Carter for a dirty diaper and a flat basketball.

In one of my posts I wrote about one of my favourite comedians, Greg Giraldo, and I just found that he has two albums: "Midlife Vices" and "Good Day to Cross a River".  Both are available on iTunes if you can't find anywhere to download them for free.  Either way they are worth getting - I was laughing out loud by myself listening to them.  Here is a track off of his Good Day to Cross a River album: "Getting Old"

Why do so many bands play heavier and jam out more when they play live than they do on their album?  If that's the way they like to play and if that's what they think people want to hear at their shows, then why wouldn't they record their album that way?

The weather this past winter was nuts.  Doing stuff in the garage with the door open, spending the day in the yard and BBQing on the deck doesn't usually happen in February, but it was just fine with me.

You may know the band Three Dog Night from songs like "Joy to the World" and "Mama Told Me Not to Come", but most people probably don't know the interesting story of singer Chuck Negron. He was attending California State University on a basketball scholarship when he joined a band which very quickly became successful. As he tells it, he went from being a clean cut university athlete to sitting at a party with Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and other rock stars where they were passing around heroin. Negron became a serious drug addict and was living in a box in an alley before finally getting cleaned up. My source on this: The Oprah Winfrey Show of course.

Watched Moneyball recently and really liked it.  Beane maybe shoulda taken that offer from the Red Sox.  Wonder how they decided on Brad Pitt for that role since he looks nothing like Beane.

Anyone who likes Metallica or heavy music should check out the band The Sword and specifically their Age of Winters album.  The song "Freya" is fantastic.  Have a listen...

So it's official, the next Winter Classic is going to be at The Big House in Michigan.  I guess that wasn't enough to convince Lidstrom to stick around for another year. 

There was a lot of different opinions on where Lidstrom ranks all time as a D man now that he has hung up the skates .  Having never seen the older guys (Orr, Harvey, etc) play, I think it's only fair to say Orr was the best of his generation and Lidstrom was the best during his era.  Clearly Orr was at a completely different level than anyone else for about 7 years, but he only played 9 seasons (I don't count his last 3 since he barely played during those seasons).  Lidstrom played at a Norris Trophy caliber for almost his entire 20 year career - and was still considered one of the top defenseman in the league as he retired.  I think something should be said for being able to be that good for that long.  Gretzky wasn't just incredible for 7 years.

Speaking of Gretzky, it was really cool to listen to him do interviews during the Cup Finals.  Such a well spoken, classy dude.  Seems like a cool guy to have a few pints with.

Stick it in your ear: Mature Fantasy by Drummer.  Drummer is/was actually made up of a bunch of drummers from different bands that happen to play other instruments as well.  The band was formed by Patrick Carney of The Black Keys, who plays bass on the album.  I guess the old joke, "What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians?  A drummer."  doesn't apply to these guys.

I bought a BlackBerry Playbook a while ago and have already sent it back.  Twice.

Don't like wearing a mouthguard or a visor during hockey so I tried a cage and it sucks as well.  But losing some teeth or an eye sucks a lot more so I guess I will just have to get used to it.

Never ever fly with Spirit Airlines.  Both flights on a roundtrip ticket were cancelled at the last minute leaving us to scramble to find another way.  No explanations, no assistance, just an angry mob in the airport.  On the plus side, I finally got to see the Houston Airport (note: extreme sarcasm intended)!

I'm finding it hard to gauge the Jays so far.  They seem very inconsistent and short on enough talent to take the next step.  Having said that, if the new bullpen had saved even 50% of the saves they have blown, the Jays would be in terrific shape in the standings.

Speaking of the Jays, I haven't made it down to a game yet this year.  Hopefully soon.

With all due respect to people who disagree, I absolutely do not want a traditional funeral and visitation when I die.  It is so hard on the family and the people who want to show their support to do it that way.  Get together (somewhere fun and comfortable), have a beer (or several!), listen to some Led Zeppelin and tell some stories. 

Godsmack's latest release is called "Live and Inspired" and the second disc is 4 cover songs (Rocky Mountain Way, Come Together, Nothing Else Matters and Time), which are all really good.  I also recently found a cover of Born on the Bayou by the Foo Fighters, which is excellent.  I wish more bands would do this.

There are a bunch of TV series that seem like they would be good but I just can't find the time to get into more TV.

How do you top a beautiful, water-front cottage?  How about a beautiful, water-front cottage with a full fridge hooked up - outside! 

Cheers,
Bonesminded

The Great 8 or The Great Big Baby?

Ovechkin skipping the all-star game is such a cry-baby move. I think my dislike for him just went up 8%. He said he "doesn't deserve to be there" and he's right, it just shouldn't have been his decision.  It's one thing for Lidstrom and Selanne to pass on the event after going a hundred times each, but Ovie is clearly just being a bitch because he was suspended, which was absolutely warranted.

I went to St Catharines to watch a Niagara Ice Dogs game recently and it was great. They play in a super old barn which feels like you're either in 1978 or Lucknow. It was the first game back for Mark Visentin, Ryan Strome, Freddie Hamilton and Dougie Hamilton after the World Jr's and all 4 of them played very well. Both Hamiltons got in scraps and Dougie layed a pretty good beatdown on the kid he fought.

I know it's called Superbowl Sunday, but wouldn't it make way more sense if the game was on Saturday?

Check out this video of a young Canadian guitar prodigy - it is incredible. 15 year old Ben Lapps...

Yeah, I got distracted from the guitar for a second too.

Wow, didn't see Prince Fielder going to the Tigers... guess he wanted to make papa Cecil proud.  At least he's not in the AL East I guess.

Interesting interview... The Black Keys vs Nickelback. 

Speaking of Nickelback.... this will likely surprise people who know me, but I don't understand why everyone hates Nickelback so much. I'm not a fan of theirs and I don't have any of their music, but people really don't like those guys for some reason. They sell out arenas so obviously somebody likes them.

The Toronto Raptors are pretty much unbearable to watch right now.  And I like watching basketball.  On the other hand, apparently one way to make Andrea Bargnani look better is to surround him with complete poop.

The best mellow tune I have heard in a long time: How Low by Jose Gonzalez

Here is my Red Wings trade deadline wishlist, although it wouldn't surprise me if they do very little:

Jarome Iginla

Ales Hemsky

Brendan Morrow

Ryan Getzlaf

Shea Weber

Bobby Ryan

Mike Cammalleri (oh wait, the Habs already gave him away!)

I really hope that this mild winter so far doesn't mean that we're going to pay for it in April and May.

Stick it in your ear: Work by Gang Starr.  An oldie but a goodie!

I know it's easy to say this now but I said last summer that the Ducks should have traded Corey Perry after he won the Richard and Hart trophies.  Good player but that level won't be matched again.

I was never a big fan of Jimmy Fallon but his music skits are actually pretty good.  His "History of Rap" with Justin Timberlake is pretty cool and his Neil Young impression is amazing... even when doing Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair".

The NHL All Star Fantasy Draft was kinda cool but they need the players to loosen up a little bit and have some fun with it.  Have some trash talk, pick a teammate of the other captain, etc.  Also, I think they should set it up in a bar so it resembles most hockey drafts!  It would be real interesting if they all had some drinks while they are doing the draft!

Why can't an NBA player dunk the ball without making a stupid face after or posing for the crowd and cameras?  You should be allowed to punch a guy if he stops to do that crap after a dunk.  Blake Griffin is simply ridiculous.  Check out his throw down and notice his "no big deal" reaction after the dunk.  Hopefully he doesn't become an arrogant thug after a few years like everyone else seems to.

So, that dunk was awesome but is it better than this one by Lebron?

A couple disturbing Facebook facts:

- Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly worth approximately $25 billion.  And Facebook is about to go public.  And he's 27.  F*ck me.

- Bono, the U2 frontman, paid $120 million for Facebook stocks in 2010 to own about 1.5 percent of the company. After the company goes public, he could see his investment rise to over $1 billion.   The good news: hopefully this means he will quit making music.

It's too bad the Bruins and Canucks don't play again this year.

Manny Ramirez is trying to make a comeback and it would be great if nobody offered him a contract.

A decent band worth having a listen to is Wellwater Conspiracy.  The band was formed by Matt Cameron - drummer for Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.  After Soundgarden disbanded in '93 he formed WC with Soundgarden bassist Matt Shepherd and Monster Magnet guitarist John McBain.  My favourite track of theirs is Declaration of Conformity.

If you type in "Does Eli Manning" on google the third suggestion is "Have down syndrome".  Ouch!

Cheers!

Bonesminded

KRONWALLED

1st thing I learned in 2012: If you mix a few cream soda and rums into your drinks for the night you will apparently feel fantastic the next day.

Poor Randy Cuneyworth.  I understand that many Montrealers are sensitive about their french language but insisting that the head coach of the Habs must speak french is just ridiculous.  Wouldn't the best coach available be the best choice?  I guess as long as the head coach can explain why they lost in french the natives will be satisfied.

For as lame as Limp Bizkit was, you have to give lead singer, Fred Durst, some credit for understanding his place in it all.  During the height of the band's fame (and believe it or not they were pretty big for a while) Durst once said that his band was not timeless and that no one would like their music within a few years.  Rap-Rock was popular at the time and Durst took advantage.  Like selling pumpkins in November - it's all about timing.

It would be really cool to see both of Steve Nash and Jarome Iginla get traded.  Both guys deserve to play for a contender and both teams they currently play for have no shot at that.  Iggy would look good in a Wings uniform along side Zetterberg!

Blake Griffin was already the most fun player to watch in the NBA and now with Chris Paul running the point for the Clippers it will be showtime every night in LA.  Hopefully they can wipe that smug grin off of Kobe for a while.

Talk about being on a roll... in the last couple weeks the Bruins have wins of 9-0, 6-1, 6-0, 8-0, 5-2 and 3-0.  Yikes.

I always liked Pierre McGuire on TSN but now that he is gone I'm starting to like Ray Ferraro even better.

Shouldn't gingerbread men be red or orange?  Just asking.

The Wings lost this game but it was worth it to see Ryan Kessler get KRONWALLED.  Kesler, who might be my least favourite player in the league, complained that Kronwall wouldn't fight him after the hit.  I am so sick of this idea that every time there is a big hit that the hitter should have to fight someone after.  If it is a dirty hit or if some 4th line plug smokes your best player then I can understand it - otherwise it just looks like you can't take a hit.

Big, funny dude:  Jay Oakerson.

I never bought in to the Tim Tebow hype. He seems like a less talented version of Mike Vick - who I also don't think can lead a team to a Superbowl. The NFL is set up for passing (check out the best QB's right now - Rodgers, Brees, Manning and Brady - all stationary QB's with wicked arms) and even though Tebow and Vick are fun to watch they aren't good enough to lead a team all the way.

Gotta love when a regular house party turns into a dance party.

Even though the Canadians fell short this year the World Jr hockey tournament is right up there with the Stanley Cup playoffs and the Olympics.  Amazing hockey with great rivalries.

So iTunes finally comes out with iTunes Match which can make most or all of your music that you have on iTunes available on any computer or device through the iCloud.  They are charging $28 for the service - per year!   I think this is crazy and will soon be a free service.  Speaking of crazy, I noticed in the fine print that it is limited to 25,000 songs!  Who the hell has 25,000 songs!?  I thought I was doing well at around 4000.

Stick it in your ear: Them Shoes by Patrick Sweany

Evgeny Kuznetsov is a punk. I don't care how good he is, he's a punk.

I really liked the movie Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr and I'd like to see the sequel which is out now.  Is Netflix in Listowel yet?

Fans who stand up and turn around to wave at the camera during a hockey game should be immediately ejected.

I don't hate the Leafs like I once did but I would still like them to go on a long losing streak just so Ron Wilson can get fired.  Can't stand that pretentious prick.

Do toys really need to be packaged inside 2 boxes with 312 twist ties and astronaut tape?


Cheers,
Bonesminded

Smart vs Fun

 Best Christmas tree ever this year! Still rockin a real tree but every year the thought of a fake one seems just a little bit smarter. Then again, how much fun can you have if you always pick the 'smart' choice?!

Hmmm, haven't heard much lately from the critics of the Phil Kessel or Dion Phaneuf trades.

Good decision fellas... Dale Crover (Nirvana) and Pete Best (The Beatles) both were the original drummers for their respective bands and quit (although Best claims he was fired). Woops.

I didn't talk to one person who was happy about sporting a stache for Movember. Great cause, but I wonder how many guys will do it again next year.

Heard a rumor that this super duo has found a backing band and will be playing Paddyfest 2012!http://www.reverbnation.com/jimntonic.  Next stop: Wembley Stadium!

I think I'm the only person I know that misses the NBA. I don't feel bad for any of them (players or owners), I just miss watching hoops. One of the worst things about the lockout is losing possibly half of one of the last years of Steve Nash's career.

There is a store in Troy, Michigan called Hockeytown Authentics that is all Wings and Tigers stuff.  I went there for the first time recently and had a complete 'kid in a candy store' experience!  I could spend a lot of money in that place.

I blame Philly for that recent debacle against the Lightning where Tampa wouldn't pressure the Flyer's D and Philly wouldn't move the puck up to expose Tampa's "trap" style.  First of all, this isn't the first time Tampa has played this way and second, they aren't the only team that plays this way.  There was a lot of criticism for Tampa coach Guy Boucher, but people forget that Scotty Bowman was famous for using the "Left Wing Lock" with the Wings, which is just a different version of the trap, only there wasn't any crying then.  It just made the Flyers (Laviolette mostly) look like a bunch of sucks.

The Penn State travesty is truly disgusting.  Not to make light of this, but the interview that Sandusky creep did with Bob Costas was unreal and reminded me of this... Chris Rock.

About a third of the season in and three of the top goal scorers in the NHL were Kessel, Milan Michalek and James Neal... just like we all predicted, right?

I watched the movie Limitless recently and it was terrific.  Bradley Cooper (dude from The Hangover) stars in it and it was one of those movies where it was hard to turn away from and you didn't want it to end.  It also has Robert DeNiro in it and he looks like he has shrunk a foot.

Big Wreck has reunited and will have a new album out in January.  Big Wreck's first album, In Loving Memory Of..., is one of my favourite albums.  I seen them perform at Fanshawe College a long time ago and it was a great show... almost.  We actually ran into the band behind the school before the show and asked them to play one of their trippier songs called "Overemphasizing".  Ian Thornley told us it's a tough song for them to play live but they would see what they could do.  Towards the end of their set they started to play it and half way through they mixed some Pink Floyd into the jam!  It was really really cool.... until some awful jack-ass pulled the fire alarm which ended the show.

So the Jays go back to the old school look unis.  I didn't mind the black and silver but was never a big fan of the "stylized J" that they used.  Glad they brought the Maple Leaf back in bigger and better as well.

The Wings are looking to host an Outdoor Winter Classic in the next year or two.  It will either be at Comerica Park or Michigan Stadium and I think it would be a riot to go to.  I know what I'm asking for for Christmas next year!

Not big on the new Black Keys album, El Camino, but the song "Little Black Submarines" is pretty cool.

Bruce Boudreau had to see his firing coming from miles away.  He either had to kiss Ovechkin's ass forever or risk upsetting him and starting a feud with a player that will never be traded.  I think Ovechkin comes off looking like a huge prima-donna in this.  It's one thing if you don't like your coach and you want him out, but to dog it like he has this year is a classless way to represent yourself, especially as the captain of the team.

Sidney Crosby comes back and throws up 4 points in his first game and looks like the best player in hockey again.  Then he takes a seemingly innocent couple hits and is now out indefinitely.  I hate to be a pessimist but I have a hard time envisioning him ever returning without continuous setbacks.

Just found out TOOL is playing in London this January.  I have only seen them once and it was at the end of a festival at the end of a long weekend and I was pretty much spent.  It was also dark by the time they came on and all you could see was the crazy screens behind the band.  This leads me to my Stick it in Your Ear song:  What's In The Ground Belongs To You - If These Trees Could Talk.

I like the new realignment of the NHL divisions for next year and I hope they come up with some stellar names for them rather than just East or West. 

I hope the Jays make some significant moves this winter.  I know they have a good young core but if they want to take advantage of these MVP seasons Bautista is having they better not wait to long... how good could Bautista be if he was hitting in front of or behind Pujols or someone like that?

If someone smells like mouthwash all the time does that mean they are a drunk or just like to protect against gingivitis?




Merry Christmas!
Bonesminded

All things Wings

I am getting just about the perfect birthday gift this year - tickets to a Wings game at Joe Louis!  Bring on beers at Hockeytown Cafe and a stop at Hockeytown Authentics!!

This will be Lidstrom's last year and here is what I'm hoping the Wings can pull off...  Shea Weber.  Stop laughing and hear me out.  Weber, all-star goalie Pekka Rinne and stud defenseman Ryan Suter are all due for new contracts next year in Nashville and it is unlikely they will be able to keep all three.  Weber has already turned down long-term offers from the Preds and took a 1 year deal for this season through arbitration, suggesting he could be eyeing up a new team.  The Wings could try to pick him up at the trade deadline if the Preds don't think he will sign, but they mosty likely won't trade him to a team in the same division - especially Detroit.  Or (and even better) Detroit could sign him long-term in the off season.  I was hoping for the same scenario with Doughty in LA, but that dream just got run over by a truck.  Detroit has been keeping 1st round picks for a number of years now and has good depth in the AHL to pull this off... plus, giving up a bunch of future picks is worth it for a defenseman like Weber.  I think Nik Kronwall is going to be an All Star defenseman but not an elite D man like Weber or Doughty.  Detroit has been paying Lidstrom $7 million + for quite a while so taking on Weber at that rate shouldn't be an issue.  GM Ken Holland says they have been planning for LOL (life after Lidstrom) since 2007 and the Wings also have almost $6 mil in cap space this season so they are ready to make a move.  This is crucial for the Wings... it's not very often that the team that wins the Cup doesn't have a Norris caliber defenseman.

I'm not sure what this nonsense is from NHL analysts that Datsyuk can't put up 90+ points any more. If Datsyuk followed the lead of most top scorers and only focused on the offensive side of the game he could easily reach 100 points and even challenge for the Art Ross. Instead he registers better than a point per game AND is the best defensive forward in the league -- he has won 3 Selke trophies in the last 4 years and likely would have won last year if he played the entire season. It's not that he can't rack up the points, he just chooses not to.

NHL fantasy junkies:  take Wings goalie Jimmy Howard.  His GAA and Save % went up a bit last year but that was in large part due to the Wings drop in team D and terrible penalty kill.  Both will be much better this year and his #'s will be impressive.  He's also a lock for at least 35 wins and I'm betting he puts up more than 40.

Had enough Wings talk yet?  How 'bout 1 more!

With the Thrashers moving to Winnipeg there is going to be a change in the divisions or even conferences next season.  The Wings are hoping to be able to move back to the Eastern conference and this would be fantastic.  Wings owner Mike Illitch recently stated that he was promised by the league that Detroit would be the first team to move back to the East.  It would be so nice not to have to stay up until 1am on a week night to watch the Wings playing playoff games on the West coast... until the finals!

There is a music festival called Duna Jam (www.dunjam.net ) which might be the coolest music event I have ever heard of.  It consists of a bunch of rock bands traveling around and playing on different beaches in all of these amazing places.  They only allow a small number of people so it is very intimate and they tour you around to all of these beautiful, remote places where you can drink and eat and party as you please while you watch a show.  Now that would be a hell of a vacation!  Colour Haze, my favourite current band, is a regular of this tour.  Of course it's usually in Europe.  So, if anyone is ever up for a quick flight to Spain or somewhere like that to party and watch live music on a beach for a week - let me know!

Anyone else worried that Kyle Drabek might be a bust?  I know he's young, but I was not impressed with anything I seen from him this year.  Drabek and catcher Travis D'Arnaud, who apparently did really well in the minors, were the main returns in the Halladay deal and if only one of them turns out to be good it looks like a stinky deal for the Jays.

God bless Jimi Hendrix for recording almost everything he ever played.  I like to think I know his catalogue pretty well but I still find new songs of his every now and again.  The latest is "Suspicious" on an album called "Jimi Hendrix, Vol.1" on iTunes.  It's a cool track and worth the $.99.  This track also led me to another cool tune (and artist) I had never heard of.  His name is Tommy Bolin and he has a bunch of good stuff, but check out "Cucumber Jam" - it's a beauty.  Bolin played with the James Gang (Joe Walsh's first band) and later on with Deep Purple.  He OD'd in 1976 at the age of only 25.

This guy is pretty funny... Mario Joyner.  This clip doesn't really do him justice but it's the best I could find.  I got to see him open for Seinfeld last year and he was really good.

Usually it sucks to see someone who wasn't playing well for the Jays go on to play well somewhere else, but I loved watching Aaron Hill do well for the D'Backs.

Listowel is supposed to be getting another Tim Horton's and I actually talked to a guy who was complaining about it... while he was holding a Tim Horton's coffee!

In my last post I wrote that I was looking forward to Radio Moscow's new album.  I downloaded it and it was not what I was hoping for.  So many bands can't seem to keep it together after the first album or two.  The later albums either go in a different direction or just don't have the same jam all the way through.

What a punk move my the Mets Jose Reyes in the final game of the season.  He's leading the Brewers Ryan Braun for the batting title (batting average) and he pulls himself after a sac bunt to protect his average instead of playing out the game.  You've probably all heard the story about Ted Williams going into the final day of the 1941 regular season with a batting average of over .400 and refusing to sit out to protect the incredible record.  He plays a double header that day and goes 6-8!  Reyes' gutless move also reminds me of NBA player Ricky Davis who was one rebound away from a triple-double (that's double digits in points, rebounds and assists in a game for all you b-ball haters) and he actually took the ball and shot on his own net so he could get the rebound.  Hopefully karma comes in the form of an inside fastball next year for Reyes.

Stick it in your ear: Slow Mama by Black Moses.

NHL prediction time:
Art Ross: Martin St Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
Rocket Richard: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Hart: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
Norris: Shea Weber, Nashville Predators
Vezina: Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres
Selke: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
Calder: Ryan Johansen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Jack Adams: Peter Deboer, New Jersey Devils
Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings (you knew that was coming)
Conn Smythe: Henrik Zetterberg

If I even get one of these right I will be happy... hopefully it's the second last one.

As mentioned the Radio Moscow album didn't work out as I had hoped but there are a couple more coming down the pipe that will hopefully be better.  Colour Haze - She Said on Nov. 1st and The Black Keys - El Camino on December 6th.

Hard to complain when your wife goes away for the weekend on a shopping trip... at least she comes home with something.   The only thing I bring home from a weekend away is a hangover, ticket stub and some foggy memories.

I think the Minnesota Wild win the award for the best player names in the league... Cal Clutterbuck, Clayton Stoner, Marek Zidlicky, Darrol Powe, Devin Setoguchi.  Don't even need to give those guys nicknames!



Cheers!
Bonesminded

"I know what I have to do here"

It's the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's Nevermind.  Holy plaid shirt I'm getting old!  It is still a great album and definitely a game-changer.  There was a concert in honour of this milestone and Krist Novaselic played a couple songs with the Presidents of the USA for some reason.  Actually they don't sound too bad... check it out: Novaselic & PUSA.  Either the PUSA guys are tiny tiny little men or Novaselic is still growing.

Cool flick to check out on a rainy day (because who watches movies when it's nice out? ... unless you're hungover).  Anyway, the movie is The Lincoln Lawyer with Matthew McConaughey.

Tough to see the Hill and McDonald trade go down.  Always wanted both of them to find that next level, but how long can you wait?  I'd put Johnny Mac up there with Alomar and Tony Fernandez as the best defensive infielders the Jays have ever had.  I don't know much about this Kelly Johnson 2B they got back, but I didn't know too much about Rasmus and Escobar before they came over either.  Carry on Anthopolous!

If you dig acoustic guitar stuff, check out this Canadian guitar wizard - Andy McKee.
I'm not sure if this makes me want to learn the guitar or never pick one up again.  I'm working on a mix of this kind of music so if you have any suggestions, let me know.

It's amazing how many Simpsons references you still hear on a fairly regular basis.

Anyone remember Fabian Brunstrom?  He was the much-hyped Swede forward that created a bidding war a few years ago and ended up with Dallas.  He sniped a hat trick in his first game and then did a whole bunch of nothing.  He actually ended last year with the Leafs but never made it further than the Marlies.  The Leafs were one of the teams trying to throw big bucks at him originally and ended up getting Jonas "The Monster" Gustavsson instead.  What fantastic scouting the Leafs have eh?!

I can't believe it's taken this many blogs to take a shot at the Leafs. I'll do better in the future, I promise - Lord knows it's not hard!

"I'm a molar, wisdom tooth...." -  Turn Ons / Turns Offs by Dane Cook.   Heard this one a hundred times and it's still funny!

Ice fishing trips and NFL trips are the same animal to me.  Both offer a seemingly good excuse to be a wild booze gorilla without any concerns whatsoever.  I think the fact that I only get to do them once a year also helps with the appeal... and my chances of survival.

Crazy weather around Listowel lately with Tornado watches and storms. I wonder what it's like to live in the Mid-Western US and go through this regularly.

One thing I still want to see at a wedding is for the groom to faint. Not get hurt, just fall down.

New album I am anxiously awaiting is "The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz" by Radio Moscow.  If you have never heard of these guys listen to their self-titled debut album.  It is excellent from start to finish and my favourite track on the album is "Luckydutch".

Funniest conversation I have had recently:
Me: "Make sure you eat that ice cream over the table".
My 3 year old (without looking away from the ice cream): "I know what I have to do here".

I went to another Jays game recently and for as much buzz as there was for every at bat Bautista had earlier this season, it is now the same when Lawrie steps up to the plate.  He is a freak and a lot of fun to watch - on offense and defense.

Stick it in your ear: "Goin Down Slow" by Free (classic rockers only known by most for "All Right Now").  Great old bluesy, rock tune.

I've thought about including more pictures in my blogs but I kinda like that the only pic I have ever used is of Rich "Goose" Gossage holding a goose!

I'm looking forward to watching Pierre LeBrun on TSN.  Bob McKenzie, Pierre McGuire and LeBrun are my favourite NHL "insiders" and it will be nice not to have LeBrun wasting his time talking to cement walls Glen Healy and Mike Milbury on CBC.

Trying my best to support BlackBerry but they sure are making it hard lately... the poor service with Bell isn`t helping anything either.  The new iPhone 5 comes out soon and could have me jumping ship.

Oh, golf... you miserable temptress... you're lucky I'm usually drunk when I leave you.



Cheers,
Bonesminded

The Rodney Dangerfield of goalies

Let the debate begin... Chris Osgood is a Hall of Famer.  Have a look at his numbers:

NHL totals			GP:744	W:401	L:216	T:66			GA:768	SO:50	GAA:2.49	S%:.905

These numbers are better (and in some cases, considerably better) than Johnny Bower, Grant Fuhr, Gerry Cheevers and Billy Smith among others - all of whom are in The Hall.  The argument against him has always been that he played for the Wings, but I'm pretty sure it didn't hurt Grant Fuhr that he played with the Oilers in the '80's or Billy Smith that he played with the Isles during their dynasty.  Patrick Roy (douchebag) is one of the best all time, but do you think he would have the same numbers if he played part or all of his career with, say, the Panthers rather than the Avs with Sakic, Forsberg, Blake and Co.? I'm guessing the same people who don't think Ozzy should be in are the same people who don't think Lindros should make it either.  The bar has been set though (it's become the "Hall of Pretty Good") and ya can't change it now.  Oh, did I mention Ozzy won 3 cups, 2 Jennings and that he was in the running for the Conn Smythe in 2008 and 2009?

There must have been a groupon on travel deals for Canuck fans to London, England.  Yikes.

Funny man... Greg Giraldo.  Giraldo was a hilarious comedian that passed away in 2010 and is best known for his work on the Comedy Central Roasts.  Check out this series made on him -  Give it up for Greg Giraldo.

Reason #581 why I love Canada: It's the middle of the summer and stupid-hot outside, but there was a bunch of kids playing road hockey in the middle of the day!

I assume most people are the same and know little about the Steve Miller Band other than the greatest hits or what is played on the radio ("some people call me Maurice, whaaa-wooooo"!), but here are a couple cool tracks from his album "Recall the Beginning": High On You Mama and Fandango.

I can't remember the last time I liked so many Blue Jay players at the same time.  There isn't really anyone I dislike (besides the entire bullpen) and, despite their recent play, I still like Hill and Snider.  Which leads me to my...

Top 5 favourite Blue Jays of all time (Bautista is getting close to cracking the list):
5 - Jesse Barfield
4 - Dave Stieb
3 - Carlos Delgado
2 - Roy Halladay
1 - Fred McGriff

I could have sworn that I heard something about a Bon Jovi cover band on the radio the other day, but that can't be real can it?

Stick it in your ear: "Plazmakeks" by Colour Haze.  Skip to the 2 minute mark.  Awesome slow jam with no vocals that's kinda heavy/jazzy/smooth/psychedelic and just great. The best way I can describe it is Zeppelin meets Soundgarden.  This is probably the best band I have discovered in the past 5 years. 

It's funny how your tastes change as you get older... like now I like tomatoes and rum.

I mentioned in an earlier blog that Big Sugar had a new album coming out.  Well it's out now and the samples I've heard are not very promising.  It has a strong reggae feel which does absolutely nothing for me.  The Red Hot Chili Peppers also have a new album coming out and they have released the first single, "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie".  It stinks.  I guess I should stop having such high expectations for bands working on their 47th album and the musicians are as old as dirt.

I have discovered the true purpose of the rearview camera that some vehicles have... it is best used for when you are about to leave a party and one of your drunk friends dances in front of it like he's making an old Beastie Boys video!

Is Travis Snider doomed?  I like Anthopolous but I heard him say earlier this season that he didn't like sending players down all the time and that he would rather let them stay with the Jays to work through their issues.  Snider seems to have the skills to pay the bills but can't stay consistent and it's likely because he's worried about being sent down every time he starts to slump.  I also think it's interesting that Arencibia is batting .200 and there is never talk of his struggles or sending him down.

30+ degree heat when you're hungover is just cruel.

The Buffalo Bills are playing more games in Toronto at the Skydome (I still like to call it the Skydome) this season, but until they figure out how to let the fans tailgate like you can in Buffalo it will never work.

Most people have heard of the Canadian band The Sheepdogs by now as they have been all over the radio with their single, "I Don't Know".  They are a good band and if you like that tune you should check out "Greedy Man" from their 2007 album "Trying to Grow".



Cheers!
Bonesminded