We know that most people are jaded when it comes to the All Star Game but doesn't anyone else see the magic that happens when so many handsome and talented hockey players are on the same sheet of ice and in the same city for a weekend?
Doesn't that get anyone else as excited as we get?
We love watching these players goof off and get friendly with each other. It's like a Bad Girls Club Reunion (and you should know how we fee about the BGC) with hockey players and we can see who likes who and who won't even talk to who.
The dynamics of an All Star Game are what we love the most. Seeing them interact is the best part because we think that they all hate each other when in reality most are probably friends despite what team they are on. Sometimes at least that is the case.
The skills competition is the best because we can see them actually have fun and show off a little bit. It doesn't hurt to see them have a fun side and for fans to see players from teams that they don't normally see. Maybe that exposure will generate interest in that team and bam, another fan is born.
Now we're just sounding like Gary Bettman. We can't help it when we get all riled up for the All Star Game.
What upsets us about the All Star Game is the fact that people will berate it and say that being a 'purist' means that you can't like the All Star Game. They will sit in their bedrooms and yell about how Bettman rigs the whole thing which we never understood because why would someone rig an All Star Game? Doesn't make sense to us.
Then thy rant about how there is no point to it. It doesn't give the team any winning points and the players don't even try. They will yell 'til they're blue in the face about how the All Star Game means nothing and even the players hate it.
Because really, everyone know that these losers on messageboards and YouTube who call themselves 'hockey purists' know that every player hates the All Star Game. They won't even give this new format a chance.
The All Star Game is supposed to be fun and light. This isn't the Olympics, this isn't some ultra-competitive game where the winner escapes death. It's supposed to be fun.
This year will be different. We have full faith in Brendan Shanahan. He's a former player who has been in the All Star Game so he should know how to improve upon it. Unlike some twenty-eight-year-old sitting in his parent's basement.
The All Star Game is like a weekend in Cabo. It's a weekend where the points don't matter and the players can have some fun and not think about the impending playoffs.
Sure the game is sometimes tedious but that isn't why we watch it. We watch because of the players and the skills and the ridiculousness that abounds when it is all said and done.
It's supposed to be fun so just take it for what it is: a light-hearted event that players and fans should have fun with.
Okay, now we're out of breath. That's it for this edition of On Our Soapbox.
-&-
Here is the full roster of the All Star Game.
Who are you excited to see in it? Who are you disappointed didn't make it? Who do you wish that they forgot?
We could not be more excited that Matt Duchene was named an All Star. Let's just hope that all of this fame doesn't go to his head now...
And seeing Marc Staal named an All Star? What has this world come to? We're excited but we would have picked Ryan Callahan over him...maybe...
NHL.com has a series of articles pertaining to the roster:
- the uniforms for the 2011 All Star Game were unveiled, we're still undecided whether we like them or not
- almost half of the roster are All Star newbies...article
- yet again the 2003 draft rears it's golden head, this time for the All Star roster
In other news...
- Derek Stepan was named to the Rookie All Star team and is also finding his groove in New York
- In other Rangers news, Michal Rozsival was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for Wojtec Wolski
- Chris Osgood will be out for at least six weeks after having surgery on a sports hernia.
19 comments:
I would have like to have seen Joe Thornton and Ryan Miller make the team. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with the roster.
I'm so over the moon happy that Loui Eriksson & Brad Richards got named to the team :D!! My campaigns worked! Hehe.
I'd prefer to see Cally Cakes on the roster too but, he's out with a broken hand :o(.
&
I'm sure ya'll know this already being his "parents" & all but, Matt Duchene (@Matt9Duchene) is now on the Twitter.
I am extremely excited for All-Star weekend. I don't care what the "purists" say. It provides a break, some fun, and at the risk of sounding cheesy, it really IS a celebration of the game (not to mention, a nice way to honor some hard working players). I'm PUMPED about Dan Boyle and Rick Nash!
Definitely glad Eriksson/Richards made it, as well as Kopitar, Sharp and Eberle.
I'm not sure why Yandle didn't make it as he's the Yotes' leading scorer and takes up the most TOI too. Maybe they didn't have room for him on their stacked D..
Agree with you guys about the skills comp being the best part. Love the player interaction.
Oh btw, you might wanna see this: Yandle interviewing Biznasty
http://video.coyotes.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=0&id=91850
SHARPIE! And Buff!! I would've liked to see Hossa but seeing as he's been made of glass this season I can understand why he may have proved a chancey choice. Also Niemi but I'm just playing faves again. All in all I'm really pleased with the filling out of the roster--Iginila deserves it as does St Louis and Ward. And all them rookies!!
I'm totes stoked to see the draft and the skills and the game. When I was young my dad lucked out and got tickets for the All Star Game when it was at the old Chicago Stadium, the night in 91 where the legendary 'roar' during the anthem began. If my memory serves it was also the highest scoring game (12-10 or something?) and it was a fricken BLAST. I think any TRUE fan of hockey could think of nothing better than seeing the men we follow and sweat and cry and swear over and at having fun and being kids again, just like the Winter Classic. Those folks are like Hockey Hipsters and it's wayyyy cooler to dig the cheesy and admit it.
Spice Girls Forever!!!!
Super excite to see Duchene, sharp, and ward in there. Can't wait!!!
This is still my fav All-Star game moment (so far) :o).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSb_5PHRb1w
Did Henrik Zetterberg pee in someone's cheerios or something?
Nah, the league asked Zetterberg but he declined.
Major snub on Briere, but I guess it shouldn't be a surprise since everyone hates the Flyers. He said a nice FU with a 4 point game.
Oh, and congrats to Giroux!
Zetterberg declined? I wonder why. And as much as I hate the Flyers, begrudgingly I agree Briere (and Hartnell) should've been in.
Zetterberg DECLINED??? WTF??? This is the ASG, not the ACADEMY AWARDS, for Chrissakes... Who does he think he is? Marlon Brando? Is he a Moonie or a Scientologist? Does he have "issues" with awards shows?
I detested him before. I DISDAIN him, now. Good job!
I gotta go with the Grace and take major umbrage at the fact that my boyfriend Danny Briere was cold-cocked by both the fans and the League. WhatEVER. And much as I would have loved to see Ryan Miller in the mix, he has not had a worthy first half of the season so fair's fair. He'll get 'em next year, and I got to see him deny the Sharks in person last week. You stud, you! Anyway - I'm just glad assclowns like Kovalchuk, Semin and Avery aren't anywhere to be found thank goodness. Instead, badasses like Patrick Sharp, Buff and Eriksson are playing sexy and keepin' it real. Good times!
Sure would be awesome if MAF & Price could "armfold" each other from opposite ends of the rink at the ASG...
@Shanny: Baby Matt is tweeting but rest assured, there are parameters. He's not allowed to tweet after 10pm and you'll all be relieved to know that his phone is in fact equipped with a childproof lock. Also, when it looks like he's chewing gum, he's actually chewing bottle upon bottle of baby aspirin. He's hooked. Started with his teething. The plan is to WEEN him off the baby aspirin with candy cigarettes, which are making a huge comeback in Mile High parts.
Well MG I'm sure you got a weepy late-night phone call from lil Matty last night--haven't you taught the tot that if he's going to dance, he has to pay the piper?
HAAAAAAA!!!!! CRAWFORD RULES!!!!!
(Sorry but I've been holding that in for weeks....HHHHAAAWWWKKKSSSS)
Hockey purists wouldn't know fun if it slapped them in the face with a smelly glove. They exist to ruin other people's good times. My local team is hosting the All-Star game, and I'm completely geeked up about it!
@Jennifer: "taught the tot"??? Only if he invites me to his sweet suite at the Pepsi Center. ;) And agree, it would be most awesome if Crawford ended up being the key to the 'Hawks creeping back into the playoff picture. Meth and peyote are a lethal combination, Stan Bowman, and cause one to make horrible life choices/business decisions. Right now, he's regretting Marty Turco, the Thrasherhawk deal, and also that "Ditka Hearts Tomahawk" tramp stamp the Swirskis convinced him was an awesome idea. Deee Hawksssss!
@frog342: "Hockey purists....exist to ruin other people's good times." This is so true. Trying to have a fun, yet purposeful conversation with a hockey purist is neither fun nor funny. They're too busy 1) inspecting your outfit (i.e., what's wrong with your sweater or why you aren't wearing a sweater); 2) being righteous about something super obscure; 3) being righteous about their beer choice, and musing about/questioning your choice of same; and 4) wondering why you don't have a penis and floppy manboobs.
Hockey purists. Yeah.
Last game I went to, the purist next to me immediately pointed out that we were in fact *not* wearing the same sweater since HIS was a Winter Classic sweater and mine was JUST a third jersey. Funny, since other than the size, they looked EXACTLY the same. Of course by the third period he was hitting on me. Sigh.
MG, the last Hawks open practice I went to, Mr Bowman was in attendance since his kid was in the midget game beforehand (and spent most of his time in the penalty box). Imagine my surprise, shock and interest at seeing how utterly on-trend he was...slim fit pants, well tailored trench and pointy shoes, all in an uber Euro shade of black. Ahem, Stanley, A-HEM.
@Jennifer: What about coke boogers? Did you notice any coke boogers? Was he wearing a shirt under the trench, or was the trench just for show?
Suspense is killing me. KILLING me.
Post a Comment