Some Qs and Some As

I am now officially a part of HLOG (Hockey's Ladies of Greatness) and am obviously very excited. To get started in HLOG, you must submit a questionnaire/introduction, so I am posting it here as well for you all to read. I hope you enjoy a little insight into why I think the way I do.


1. Where you're from, what you do - basic things.
I hail from a suburb approximately 30 minutes southwest of the Staples Center, which is in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. And yes, the beach is very close to my house.

I was away for seven years (2000-2007) going to college, working, and coaching up in northern California, aka enemy Sharks territory. It was here where my hatred for the Sharks grew substantially. It got to the point where I really didn't mind the Ducks winning the Cup last year because I was so busy being happy that the Sharks were taken out of the race. I was the one and only (and very lonely) hockey fan among my friends; I got laughed at for having my own playoff bracket hand drawn and taped up on my wall. But I had a TV in my room with Versus, so I eventually became the fan that I am now who is a little spastic and yells a lot (although I think I've mellowed out the last couple of months). P.S. I didn't go to college for 7 years. I was just in norcal for that long.

I currently work in a cube and stare at a computer screen. But I'm doing almost exactly what I want to be doing, which is fantastic, so no complaints from me. In my off time I try to go to the gym, read, and/or watch movies.

2. Your team and why you like them.
My heart belongs to the Los Angeles Kings forever and ever. I grew up in the Gretzky era and would not have traded that for anything. I probably spent the majority of middle school and early high school watching roller hockey more than ice hockey, but both were very prevalent. It was those roller hockey games where KMS2 and I became friends!! Odd thing I'm finding now is that when I say my favorite sport is hockey, people give me the weirdest looks. But back when I was younger, it wasn't a surprise to hear that I loved the game.

Why do I like the Kings? Because I grew up watching them? You can't turn your back on something like that and hop onto some other bandwagon.

3. Your least favorite team and why?
Now this is a toss up between the Sharks and Ducks. The Ducks is just a dead giveaway; I thought it was weak that the NHL was coming out with a team based on a movie. Granted the movie was a way to promote this new team Disney was unveiling (from what I've gathered), but still, as a kid, it just seemed like a stupid concept. As a side note, no one I know thinks the rivalry named being named the Freeway Faceoff is a good thing.

The Sharks. Oh the Sharks. I never paid any attention to the Sharks growing, but my time spent in norcal groomed me into the Sharks-hating fan that I am today. Three years ago when they absolutely dominated, I absolutely hated them. I hated that they turned a leaf when Thornton came on board. I hated that Cheechoo found his step and found the net. I hated that Marleau won fastest skater at the All-Stars Skills Competition. I hated Sharks fans rubbing my face in the fact that my Kings weren't doing well and their Sharks were. I freaking hate trash talkers, and I felt like that was all I got. But thinking back to that time, if those Sharks fans didn't give me crap about how lame LA was and how the Kings weren't doing well, I might not hate the Sharks as much as I do.

4. Your favorite player of all time & now?
Rob Blake. Hands down, no question. I remember being little and watching him on TV and his name and number always stuck with me, along with the massive hip checks he was laying down. I also remember trying to hip check friends in the hallways in school; they probably didn't appreciate that too much. Anyhoo, Blake is back with the Kings finishing up the second year of a 2-year contract with the probable signing of at least a one-year contract for the 08-09 season. I am absolutely beyond thrilled that I was able to move back and watch him play on the ice again.

5. Which hockey player is your least favorite and why?
I think even if I wasn't a Kings fan, I'd still loathe Chris Pronger. And I think his gap-toothed smile makes it worse.

6. What do you hope to gain from joining HLOG?
The majority of my friends are male and uninterested in hockey, so I am hoping to find an acceptance in this large and growing network of female hockey-lovers. This is a unique community and am excited to be a part of it. I am constantly reading all I can when it comes to hockey, and it's always nice to be able to talk to someone about the sport without having to explain what a power play is.

7. What role do female fans contribute to the game of hockey? What does female fan support do for the league/team/player she supports?
We, as female fans, make a huge portion of the fanbase for this sport. So, to the corporate schmoes, we are an integral component to every franchise; but isn't it funny how the Alyssa Milano line hadn't been launched until now. Back on track, we offer a different way of viewing the game and aspects that surround the play on the ice. I also believe we have more patience with the general non-hockey loving person in trying to explain the rules and why we have this unexplainable love for the game. Female fans can also bring awareness to individual players on teams; i.e. Kirsten's utter hatred for Martin Skoula, Steph's... need for Ty Conklin, Finny's... affinity toward OB. =) I would be unaware of these players were it not for these three lovely ladies!

8. Hockey just isn't the same without __________!
the NHL Network. When I moved back, I needed a way to watch hockey (preferably) all the time. So I bit the bullet and ordered DirecTV with the NHL Network. Turns out it was the best investment to date. Wait...I probably should say college was my best investment, but you get the idea. So yes, the NHL Network allows me to watch hockey highlights for as long as I want every night as well as a slew of other things and I would be completely lost without it.

9. If you could make your own team, regardless of whatever players, what would it be called and where will it be/how would it be like?
They would be called the Las Vegas Sugar Daddies. Obviously the name would be the point of interest for those visiting the city of wickedness; but those over 40, greasy, and doning gold chains are not allowed on the roster.

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Updates, Questions, & An Introduction

Updates:
1) Jason LaBarbera was activated on Monday in time for the home game against the Avalanche.
2) Jonathan Quick was sent back to Manchester.
3) The Aves rolled through town and handed the Kings their 4th loss in a row. Just one more loss and they're gonna match their season high of 5 losses a row. Not a record you want to be breaking, guys.
4) Jaroslav Modry apparently has started his own blog! Well, on THN's site. His first entry is about his pairing with Jack Johnson. Man, with all these articles out on JJ, you'd think this guy was some stellar athlete or something! =P

Questions:
I must address the recent piles of excrement the Kings have been producing that they call "games." With the Caps getting a point in last night's game against the Red Wings, they have moved 3 points higher in the standings. The Coyotes have been on a tear lately. They handed the Rangers an embarrassing loss beating them 5-1. This win puts them 4 points ahead of the Kings.

So, tell me, how can a team look decent and promising on paper, but look like lost little boys on the ice? What’s the deal? I read an article a little bit ago where Jack Johnson said that he'd never played on a losing team before. (Sorry, I'm usually pretty good at citing where I read stuff, but this was probably more than a week ago.) So we have to step back and remember that individually these players shined while growing up on their respective teams. There is a verifiable reason why each of these players is on this roster. Everyone knows the role they’re supposed to be playing for this team for this year. But it looks as if Crawford is trying to fit squares together to make a circle. Something is not right in Hollywood, well, more like downtown LA. But I’m not here to argue logistics. Or maybe I AM.

Since this post on my thoughts on coaching, the Kings have played 8 games and they have gone 2-6-0. What’s the plan here, Crawford? Where are you leading these players? Like your lines, are you tweaking your long-term plan? You’ve gotten zero points in the last 4 games. What are you doing differently from 4 games ago to prepare for Detroit at The Joe tomorrow? Yeah, they were sent to the shootout by the Caps, but what is one mediocre game by the top team in the West? They will just wipe their brows and move on since they were able to leave that arena with two points.

I mean, take a look at this line during a practice; Frolov, Cammalleri, and O'Sullivan. Tell me how bad ass that line looks. They look solid, but something happens between here and a game where the meshing doesn't continue. What's the deal?

An Introduction:
But let’s take a deep breath and look somewhere else for some inspiration. The story of this player I’m going to talk about is what makes me love this sport even more. Chicago Blackhawks’ Jake Dowell is on IR with a broken foot. But recent events following this placement absolutely warm my soul. On November 22nd he was recalled from his AHL team in Norfolk to Chicago and scored his first NHL goal short-handed against Calgary. A couple of nights later against the Oil, he took a puck off his skate and brushed off the effects like a man on a mission. His mission? To get back to Chicago so that his parents could see him play on NHL ice in person.

There have been a couple of articles written about Dowell recently. Here is an excerpt from The Hockey News.

Jake’s father John, a former small college offensive linesman and a fitness buff, was diagnosed in 2003 with Huntington’s disease, an incurable genetic brain disorder that leads to a steady regression in mental and physical capabilities. With each passing month since the diagnosis, Jake has watched his father lose ground to the fatal illness. Those stricken with Huntington’s disease gradually lose control of their voluntary muscles until they’re almost immobile. At the same time, the ability to process information deteriorates. Death typically comes 10 to 20 years after diagnosis.

Now, the slap-in-your-face part of this reality is that this disease is hereditary, which means that Jake Dowell has a 50% chance of having this disorder already flowing through his body.

Everyone who has the gene develops the disease, which rarely strikes before age 35. Jake, and his mother Vicki, decided that he wouldn’t get himself tested until he turns 35 or when he gets married. The likelihood of negative news would be absolutely crushing.

"With the progress of stem cell research, hopefully they can come up with a cure before it even affects me," Dowell told Baggot last February. "Besides, I think with the way I am, I don't think it would go too well for me if I knew (the test result) and just had to carry on. I don't think I'd be able to do it."

Stories like Dowell's are necessary, yet tragic, because they cause you to sit back in your chair and reflect. Reflect on what you're doing in that instance. Everyone needs a cause to look inward and Dowell's story hits you in the face like a pail of cold water. I, most definitely, will be following up on Jake and his future in the NHL.

Oh, why is he on IR? Because the puck he took off his skate in Edmonton broke his foot. He was playing on a broken foot for not just that game in front of his parents but also for however many practices the team held as well. (Here is a more recent article written about this game his parents attended. Please scroll down about a third of the way.)

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Hidden Gems – 7 – Matt Moulson

It's not uncommon for a bright light to arise from an unfortunate occurrence. This situation demonstrated itself when Kyle Calder broke his thumb on October 31, 2007. His being placed on IR brought us a light in the form of Matt Moulson. In 6 games so far, he has registered 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points, and also has a +/- of 1 with only 2 PIM. His first goal came during his first NHL game. And just to add another note, he was called up from Manchester on his birthday. Good times.

It's awesome to hear about players like Sid the Kid and Oveckin being superstars as kids and breaking out once they hit the big time. But, once in a while, I find the story of an underdog to be more intriguing; the story of one who hits hardships and makes conscious decisions to fight (figuratively) in order to prove those nay-sayers wrong. Such is the story of Matt Moulson and I hope you read this article from the Kings website. Instead of reading about a shining star, you read about a kid who was not viewed as the next Great One and who, subsequently, took upon himself to lay his own path.

This article is a piece that he had written in high school when, in 2001, he found out that he was to receive a full scholarship to Cornell. After less-than-stellar early-teen years and being riddled with injuries at 15, the immediate future appeared bleak when he was cut at spring tryouts. He wrote, “I listened to people say I was too small, too slow and not talented enough to amount to anything.” (Harsh )

At this point, he decided to begin a new chapter in his life. Please read the story since I would rather mention my thoughts than summarize what he said. I can see why the Kings organization would have wanted fans to read this. I was pleasantly surprised when I read it because not only was it well-written for someone in high school, it conveyed a story of hard work and self-imposed determination. It takes a lot of will and a lot of character to continue on your chosen path even when there are more struggles than you anticipate. I saw his story as less of an, “FU,” and more of an, “I'll show you. Just watch me.” I thought this was a great way to introduce the Kings fans to Mr. Moulson.

All of the other Hidden Gems I've found have been amusing ones for me, but this one is a genuine "feel good" Gem. I'll end with a quote from William Jennings Bryan that I feel is more than appropriate: “Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.”

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An introduction?....

Original Post date: Friday, September 28, 2007

So I guess I’ll try and introduce myself now. KMS2 and I have known each other since…7th grade I guess? We grew up watching our brothers’ roller hockey team dominate every team they stepped out on the rink with. It became apparent just how good they were when the officials in Lakewood, CA started implementing the mercy rule. This rule basically stated that if a team was ahead by ten goals, the game was over. Once this took effect, I don’t remember any game lasting the whole standard 45 minutes. Sad, isn’t it? This was also the rink where I remember encountering stupid puck bunnies for the first time. I distinctly remember this one time where we heard a girl say, “DON’T LET HIM TOUCH THE PUCK!!” Whereupon KMS2 and I looked at each other both thinking, “Dude, that girl is dumb.” Don’t let him touch the puck?!?! Are you kidding me? Get the fuck outta here.

So wait, wasn’t I supposed to be introducing myself? Ok ok, so I’m 25 and I like long walks on the beach…what…still not right? Alright. Fo realz. I grew up in sunny, coastal So Cal being a kid and watching a lot of hockey. Here’s a funny memory of when I was younger just to illustrate how long I’ve been exposed to the sport. I must have been in elementary school… but I had taken an afternoon nap and woken up (it must have been after 7:30), and I was EXTREMELY disoriented. The sun hadn’t set yet and I didn’t know if it was 7:30 AM or PM. So I get dressed for school (again) in my half-asleep stupor and walk out of my room. My brother is in the living room eating and watching a hockey game. I was so confused when I saw the game that I pointed at the tv and said, “wait…is it morning or night right now??” At the same time thinking that the Kings had never played this early in the morning. My brother definitely just looked at me and started laughing. Thanks.

Moral of the story: Afternoon naps can mess with your head.

So I’ve concluded that I don’t know how to introduce myself on this. How about you just ask me something and I’ll try to find a good answer.

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Leaving The Nest

So KMS2 and I have decided that it might be time for me to leave the nest, so to speak, and make another Kings blog available to you all. If you are reading this now, then kudos to you and I hope you enjoy what you read.

Please note that my reference to myself as a “Queen among Kings” is not saying that I am a high-maintenance ho-bag but that I am actually a die-hard Kings fan who will never sway in my allegiance to the Los Angeles Kings. Sarcasm often gets lost in the written word.

Please join me in this 82-game season as we are already two months in. I have re-posted my entries here under the date of Monday, November 12, 2007. The "Original post date" label is linked back to Purple Crushed Velvet so that you can view past comments.

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