HATER TALK AND OOOOOOWHEE
Wanye
August 27 2010 11:59AM
Oh these arena haters over in Willis article today. They are just a special breed aren't they? If we weren't in a heavenly state of post Lady Gaga watching bliss, we would load up the typewriter with responses and let fly.
But instead we will just say that if we owned the Oilers and would looking to build an arena, we would be making special note of all the people that are bringing out the most ridiculous objections to light. Over the next year we would have a team of Navy Seals taking detailed notes on the worst offenders and tracking them to their places of residence.
Then when we built the arena despite their hating, we would have the Seals descend on their homes and bring them all to an undisclosed location on the edge of town. Then, we would grind their bones into a fine powder and use it as an additive to the binding agent of the solid gold floor tiles in our owners box.
Then we would laugh heartily for the 40 year life span of the arena, clinking glasses of champagne with other billionaire types, laughing at the little people that tried to get in the way.
OOOOOWHEEE
Yesterday we were chatting away quietly in the comment section and the concept came up that Comrie should be kept around for an additional year to provide mentorship to the Super Kids.
Yes, we know that Tambo has already gone on record that he doesn't want anymore forwards, but we can't help but think that the statement has an implicit second part "unless one comes along we can make good use of."
Our main man the GunnShow had an excellent point about providing temporary leadership to the kids:
"(Comrie is the) best we have at the moment, for sure. (And he) would come at a much lower cost than bringing someone in, who isn't already accustomed to Edmonton and the way things are going."
If the Sky is the Limit with these kids on the come up, veteran leadership is going to be paramount going forward. And wouldn't you know it, a former Oiler leader has come on the market as of today.
A fellow that may be 166 years old at the low end, but one who has won a Stanley Cup in recent memory and has previously stated that he tremendously enjoyed his time in Edmonton.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
If Bill Guerin hopes lace em up for a 19th NHL season, he will be plying his trade for a team other than the Pittsburgh Penguins. Or so says TSN today:
"Pens' general manager Ray Shero informed the veteran winger that he would not be brought back to the Penguins this season.
The 39-year old Guerin had 21 goals and 24 assists in 78 games with the Penguins last season. He added four goals and five assists in nine playoff games. Guerin was also an integral part of the Penguins Stanley Cup Championship team in the 2008-09 season.
In 1,263 career NHL games split between the Devils, Oilers, Bruins, Stars, Sharks, Blues, Islanders and Penguins, the Worcester, Massachusetts native has 429 goals and 427 assists."
You like mentoring the kids Bill? You think you have a few more years in the tank before you retire? Why not swing up here for a final tour of duty? Heavens knows your "I've-been-to-a-team-of-super-kids-and-helped-mentor-them-to-a-Stanley-Cup" would be welcome as all heck up here.
And he fits the bill of what we are looking for as GunnShow pointed out - someone who is a leader (check) someone who has played in Edmonton before and liked it (check) and you can even add in "someone who has won the Stanley Cup in a year starting with a 2."
Bill Guerin to a one year deal? We'd do it in a heart beat*
*That's what she said.
Maybe it could have been voided but the choice was made not to. I dont know. I just figured that spending time in Prison or becoming legally unable to work in the US would be grounds enough to void a contract.
If it's not enough to void a contract then I dont know what it would take to get it done.
That's just the only player I can recall that has visa issues. But you are right on all fronts.
A downtown arena may or may not make us more "world class", but to flip your argument:
No new arena = no Oilers at some point down the road.
Do you want to become the next Winnipeg?
I don't want my property taxes going up just as much as the next guy, but someone's going to have to compromise. I would imagine that Katz will inevitably have to "scale down" his vision, as the proposed development that I saw at the open house covered several city blocks and featured an arena, five towers and a winter garden.
And... we may need the city to get involved, to a limited extent. The people who have dug their heels in demanding zero involvement from the city are dreaming.
Compromise.
As logically and well reasoned as this argument is, I say round up all opponents and lock them in an abandonded coalmine in Evansburg, AB.
Then confiscate all their belongings and use them as seed capital for a Ferrari-only parkade underneath the building.
@Bob Loblaw
I'll pay, but I want some extras. Six towers, the winter garden, a 3600 ft Booster Juice, a space-shuttle launch facility, and a unicorn petting zoo. If we're doing world-class, let's not do the thing by halves.
@Ender
you had me at 3600 ft Booster Juice
No Starbucks?
I think we should include a park so those giant inflatable Beavers from Vancouver 2010(TM) have a safe home to frolic.. would be a good fit for the area...
UNICORN PETTING ZOO!!!
*SQUEEEE*
O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY O BOY
@I'm a Scientist!
You know I put that in just for you, don't you?*
*Actually, it makes fiscal sense. Of all of the Oiler blog sites reviewed by our marketing team, appoximately 100% of them contained avatars of unicorns. Obviously, the demographic demands the petting zoo.
From Twitter re: Kovalchuk
DarrenDreger 15 years, around $100 mil is close...according to source. It's going to be interesting to see if the league approves NJ's latest attempt.
@Ender
I will NOT be able to sleep tonight! I assume you have submitted your report to the Katz Group?
@Fee Logolin
That's funny . . . Kovy's deal with the Devils would have a cap hit of 6.66
@I'm a Scientist!
You assume that I'm not already affiliated with the Katz group.
[raises left eyebrow]
To quote Wanye "OOOOOOWHEE"!
Fee - you are OK in my books.
~ Swooning logs on to Ticketmaster looking for Wanye's reunion tour dates... ~
Let me save you the time friend:
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/Franklin-tickets/artist/768845?camefrom=[=CAMEFROM=]&brand=tm&tm_link=artist_rc_image2
Thanks - Have front row seats for me and my unicorn -
Twitter's reporting that "Count 1" against Khabi has been dismissed by the state.
Does anyone know how many charges/counts he's facing today?
Is that Charlie the Unicorn?
@Wanye
And this is the reason Lowetide drinks now.
According to QMI:
I believe the later charge of extreme DUI may constitute a forth charge, but I'm not sure.
Actually its Pete. Its a sad story, I found him when I was a younger lad all tucked away and sad. He had gotten in a fight and was hurt. His horn was all chipped and sadly he had ocular damage and we had to take him for surgery. But after recovery he was fine and we had a great time thru high school and University. I really have to say that Old One eye is a great and true friend...
@Ender
"Khabibulin's lawyer saying they have a retest of the blood lower than the state's. "
I'm not sure how that is possible? If it was from a different blood test at a different time, how could it be valid?
More from Twitter: azc_mclellan reports "Khabibulin lawyer saying they have a retest of the blood lower than the state's"
Interesting..
If I were the owner of the Oilers I would want the tax payer to pay for the stadium entirely and guarantee me all the profits because I give the community "spoarts"
Bill Guerin is old and sucks.
Well Lee, if you are ever interwebbing I'd suggest (or not) checking out on You Tube Charlie The Unicorn. He seems like a pretty decent guy, but he's got these two annoying friends that hopefully don't know Pete!
Some think its brilliant, and others, well.. not so much!
@Cheesenaka
They'd have to be contending that they retested the same blood sample and got a different level content than the State's examiner did. It is probably a tactic by the defense to allow Khabi to plead guity to the original DUI charge instead of the upgraded 'extreme' version. We'll see if it works.
David Staples Article: http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/hockey/archive/2010/08/27/how-the-oilers-almost-traded-sheldon-souray-for-scott-hartnell-according-to-tv-sportscaster.aspx
Ummm, Tambo Nixed the Hartnell deal? Is it just me or would Hartnell be one hell of a PFW to add to 2nd or 3rd line? 4.2 mil salary though.
This guy I like. And 9 inches to boot!*
*Thats what she ... oh never mind
azc_mclellan .State's first witness is the officer who pulled Khabibulin over less than 5 seconds ago. Khabibulin lawyer saying they have a retest of the blood lower than the state's 9 minutes ago. Count 1 dismissed by state 14 minutes ago. Snapping pics of Khabibulin sitting with his lawyer right now 18 minutes ago. Announced 2 witnesses for prosecution and one for defense in Khabibulin trial #oilers #yeg 20 minutes ago. Cameras allowed 2 minutes at beginning to take pics and then have to leave Local Phoenix TV station allowed to stay #yeg #oilers #Khabibulin 20 minutes ago. Cameras allowed in court according to judge 25 minutes ago via. The judge is telling the Russian translators up with equipment so looks like trial will move forward today #oilers #yeg 29 minutes ago. Khabibulin has arrived. Waiting for his lawyer to get through security #oilers #yeg 31 minutes ago. 5 minutes to time for trial and no Khabibulin yet. #yeg #oilers 33 minutes ago. Media waiting for Khabibulin to arrive at the courthouse #yeg #oilers http://tweetphoto.com/41729006 about 1 hour ago
Khabi Update:
Khabi's lawyers trying to disallow field sobriety tests because of bad back.
But it's been updated to sound like it was a bad eklund type rumour:
Update: Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy reports: According to a source close to Hartnell we spoke to this morning, he's never waived that no-movement clause and he's never been asked to waive it. Take that for what it's worth, and then recall this from Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly in March, when some off-ice personal issues and a prolonged slump were affecting Hartnel: "Hartnell is one of six players with a no-trade or no-movement clause on the team.
The Flyers could have asked him to waive it at the deadline. They didn't ask any of their players. He has three years left on his six-year deal at an annual cap hit of $ 4.2 million."
So its starting to sound like BS..
For anybody who's interested in the details of Khabibulin's charges, there was an excellent article written by Derek Zona over at the Copper & Blue Site about them:
http://www.coppernblue.com/2010/8/5/936635/will-khabibulins-dui-land-the-wall
According to the former Assistant Attorney General that he interviewed for the article, the charge of Extreme DUI is a misdemeanor and not a felony, which means that even if Khabibulin is found guilty he still won't have problems crossing the border. While a conviction would result in mandatory prison time, serving the sentence could be deferred until the next off-season.
SON OF A -
Thanks Andrew W for ruining my day with all your well reasoned points and legal research.
*sits down in chair, begins to pout*
@Ender
Update? That was the original strategy a few months back. Basically the only thing his lawyer can do I think. Can't argue with a radar gun or blood alcohol level... well, you can, but not well.
I agree Wanye..
Some interesting legal speak going on in the comments below that article.
The one that struck me is how Canadians can "cross the border/leave the country" if they have a DUI on their record.
I'm not so sure about that. All I know is that about six or so of my friends have or had DUI's (thats what happens when you grow up in Small town Alberta and get stupid and think you can't get caught) each one of them have tried to apply for a passport and were denied.
Some tried to apply for US work visas.. Denied.
Some even tried to cross the border back in the days before passports, and well.. they were told to turn around.
One only can wonder what happens if Khaby gets found guilty. Sure its a misdeameanor, but won't the gov't of Canada have the finally say if they will allow him to come here to work?
@Hemmertime
Just paraphrasing the reporter in the courtroom today.
Latest update:
Reporter isn't 100% sure, but she figures the charge that got thrown out was the speeding charge.
@Jodes
The government of Canada would allow a #1 goalie back in to play on a Canadian team. They won't fk with hockey unless you murdered someone, and were found guilty. Unless it was negligence in your beautiful ferrari
Khabi Defense:
Khabibulin lawyer showing that plus or minus 5 % margin of error. So BAC could actually be as low as .155 or as high as .172.
Lol maybe.. but then again he could be scrwed, since MOST of the politicians in Ottawa cheer for the Leafs or Habs!
Anyone else, too bad so sad! :P
Khabibulin lawyer showing that plus or minus 5 % margin of error. So BAC could actually be as low as .155 or as high as .172.
EDIT: Unicorns are slow.
Khabi Saga:
Criminalist agreed there is uncertainty with .164 reading and more likely between .155 and .172 range
Don't blame me, blame those bastards over at C & B.*
*I love those bastards.
Isnt .164 like in the range of .155 and .172? Strll sounds pretty pissed to me. Hope they throw the book at him. #1 goalie or not - you drive drunk you lose.
Khabi Trial Update #784736
Judge not buying Khabibulin's lawyer's argument of errors in the blood testing argument.
Khabi Trial Update #816709
Khabibulin's lawyer and prosecutor have stepped out of the courtroom.
(Khabibulin's lawyer was just getting his witness who wasn't in the room)
Khabi Trial Update #1043745
Defense witness on the stand now- a forensic toxicologist.