Where’s a Staples when I need one?

Because I’m sure the Sabres could use a few hundred easy buttons right now, and I’d be willing to spend every last penny that I have to my name on them.

I really need the Sabres to make the playoffs.

Last night during the game I was at work.  Now I’ve promised M.J. that I would keep her updated on the games, so I was fulfilling my duty.  I told her, when we were down three goals, that I felt like crying.

I’ve only cried over the Sabres twice.  Once when Brian Holzinger was traded (I was 7), and again when Brian Campbell was traded (DON’T JUDGE ME).

I really didn’t want last night to be the third time.  And it would have been, had it not been one of my coworker’s birthdays, and there was leftover cake.  Derek Roy would be so proud of my emotional eating last night.

So what’s left?  Toronto?  Okay; doable.  Carolina?  Eek.  I’m worried because of the tear they’ve been on lately.  And it seems Mike Ryan has a way of making me hate him when teams I like play against him (see, February 10th’s Portland Pirates game against the Albany River Rats).  Boston?  As I said yesterday, alright.

Really, I have faith that the Sabres can pull off their end of the bargain.  Hell, the score might not show it, but they didn’t play all that badly last night in my opinion.

I just could have used a bottle of wine after the game, is all.

The tough part will be to bank on Florida and the Rangers losing both of their games.

New York is up against Montreal and Philly (two games), and Florida versus Philly, Atlanta, and Washington.

I think it can happen.

But…  Just in case…

JUST BECAUSE

So I really have nothing to talk about in relation to the current Sabres, so what I am going to do is provide you with some good articles and videos, related to guys I love and love to hate.

But, if you don’t have a ton of time to actually sit around and be completely unproductive all day, like I have the luxury of doing this morning, if you have to pick and choose what you watch, I suggest Blackhawks TV for your viewing pleasure. It’s pretty much the best thing going these days.

Okay, are you ready? You sure?

Alright.

We’ll start with Michael Ryan. The Schenedtady Gazette had a nice article about his surprise of getting an AHL All-Star nod. (Yes, this is for you, MJ, but I’m not so sure you’ll appreciate it once you’ve reached the fourth paragraph… Unless that’s you?)

This next one is a commentary from this morning’s TBN, by Jerry Sullivan. Now, more often than not, I disagree with Sully, but I’ll give him credit where it’s due, and it’s definitely due today. John Brownschidle, son of NHL-er Jack, is a senior at Buffalo’s Canisius High School. What’s so special about him? He’s a cancer survivor.

I know it’s not Christmastime anymore, but the Rochester Americans in this trainwreck is just fantastic. There’s a blooper reel on the site, as well, which is always good.

Patrick Sharp: Sharp shooter? Or Sharp dressed man?

No way. Even Jonathan Toews knows that listening to him be mic’ed up is brutal.

No, actual Jon, listening to you and your teammates sing a song about the Blackhawks is brutal.

(Can you tell that I really enjoy Blackhawks TV??)

I adore Patrick Sharp and Adam Burish. Their cheeky shenanigans are fabulous. Ordering the boys breakfast? Soaking hotel rooms? Stealing bags? I just love guys who shamelessly act like they’re twelve. What’s worse is the team is encouraging it. No, really, I do love some good pranks.

The Carolina Hurricanes were told to make a dinosaur noise. Um… What?

Up close and personal with Steve Bernier? Okay, where do I sign up? Parts 1 and 2.

Oh, one more Blackhawks video. This one was on Sports Soup last night: Kris Versteeg filling in for Ludacris on Fergie’s “Glamourous.” Kris? Please keep your day job. Please.

And while we’re at it? Sean Avery? Ummm, plays with dolls? Somehow, I’m not surprised. Please, Sean, if you know what’s good for everyone, you won’t come back to hockey, and you’ll just go work at a doll store. (This video is edited a bit in some spots, as I’m sure you’ll notice, but it’s funny, nonetheless.)

AVERY AND LAVIOLETTE

So I had to giggle a little, okay a lot, when I saw that Avery had been suspended because let’s face it, he had it coming. After the crap he pulled against Brodeur last year and all the underhanded, nasty things he’s done to various players I’d say he deserved it. Maybe now he’ll get a full time job at Vogue and leave the hockey world in peace, we’d all be better off without him I’m sure.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the douchebag of the day.

Oh the inhumanity, what is with those glasses and that haircut this why they created shows like What Not To Wear. Somebody call the fashion police because obviously his time at Vogue taught him nothing.

In other news Carolina has relieved Peter Laviolette of his duties as head coach of the Hurricanes, which is just the polite way to say that they fired his ass. I was surprised as hell considering, as all of us here in Buffalo know, the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with Laviolette as head coach. Management was disappointed that the Hurricanes had started the season 12-11-2 so they decided it was time for something new, or old. Paul Maurice the new head coach is actually an old head coach having been behind the bench as head coach in Carolina from 1995 to 2003. I guess what’s old is new again.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of One Sean Avery

Okay… Having watched the Sabres play against Sean Avery’s multiple teams numerous times, and then seeing his antics with many players throughout the league, especially those with Martin Brodeur, I can honestly say that he is one of the few players in the league that I have no respect for.

Having said that, his “method” of antagonizing other players, and thereby teams, is definitely affective. (The Good)

I don’t agree with whatever he does, because he doesn’t leave it on the ice. I stand by the principle in hockey of “leaving it on the ice.” Don’t bring an argument with other players into their personal life, or vice versa. Leave it on the ice. If you’ve got a problem with another player, drop the gloves with him. Don’t take shots at his girlfriend in the press.

That being said, I’m not entirely sure that I think a hearing should be held for Avery, or that he should miss more games, other than last night’s. I feel slapping him with a hefty fine for violating a code of conduct would suffice. Because a suspension, and the attention, is exactly what Sean wants. He wants to know that he’s getting under the skin of everyone in the NHL–the players, the coaches, the owners, the commissioner, etc. And by suspending him, and holding a hearing, he’s getting everything that he wanted. He asked for that, and the NHL is merely appeasing him, whether they realize it or not. (The Bad)

(And now, the Ugly)

Usually, when a player gets in a fight, or has words with another, their teammates will back them up. That’s the case with your Matt Barnaby’s, Michael Peca’s, etc.

But it speaks volumes about Avery when the guys he shares a locker room with are disgusted by his antics.

Brad Richards, Marty Turco, and the like all said, basically, that they’re unimpressed, disappointed, yet not shocked about anything said yesterday.

Dave Tippett, coach of the Stars, had this to say:

“I think everyone in our room believes there is an integrity that has to go along with the game, respect for the game and respect for your opponents and Sean crossed that line.

“I think the words, the words and disrespect for an opponent like that is something … there’s lots of trash talking that goes on on the ice. But then to announce something like that for everybody to hear, to me that crosses the line and the League — and our ownership felt that, too.

“Sean crossed that line. He won’t continue with us on the trip. We’ve always professed that there is nobody that’s ever bigger than our group or bigger than the team.

“Sean said something that just doesn’t paint our organization in a good light, and appropriate steps are being taken.”

I think Barnaby said it best: “As a former player, I don’t agree with the suspension. Trust me, I said a lot of nasty things to a lot of different players but everything stayed on the ice. Bringing it out in the media is classless and stupid.

“I’ve played in that organization and it is a class organization. I think he’s played his last game as a Dallas Star.”

I, for one, will not be upset in the least bit if those sentiments hold true.

Okay, seriously, I’ve got to stop this already.

There’s only so many times that my theories can be right… I mean, it’s just not a good sign for the world when I have these crazy ideas, and they actually hold true. IT’S DOWNRIGHT SCARY.

Did I not, yesterday, say that Derek probably pulled his groin while falling on the ground?

Well, my friends, I wasn’t far off. Because, after conferring with dear MJ, we’ve come to the conclusion that D’s latest ailment–BACK SPASMS–were suffered when he allowed his male counterparts (but not teammates) to carry him down Chippewa.

Geez, D, do you get any more predictable? Or outrageous?

Don’t worry, though. I still love you.

And I’m even offering to be your beard. I’ll aide you in your struggle to rebuild your reputation in the Buffalo Sabres Blogosphere, as well as mend your dignity and self-respect. And while I’m at it, I’ll work to remove all threatening pictures of you from the internet, but then proceed to share them with the Blogosphere, because I could never keep something like what we’ve shared the past couple days from them. That’d just be cruel.

You know what else is cruel? The fact that my mother said this: “Cari, we’ll know for sure that Derek’s gay when he starts dating Sean Avery.”

That’s just cruel and unusual…

But, then, would that make D some of my least-favorite fashionista’s “sloppy seconds?”

Avery, by the way, is probably the biggest tool ever known to grace the face of the Earth. That was completely uncalled for.

Oh, and has anyone heard anything about our favorite womanizer/man-whore?

IT’S JAY DAY!! Well, at least tomorrow is… Maybe.

I got all excited this morning when I realized that we play St. Louis tomorrow, because that means one of my favorite Prodigal Sabres returns to Buffalooooo!!!

Jay McKee is my first REALLY big Sabres love.  Before him,  there were Hasek (I was 5; don’t judge me) and Brian Holzinger, but that was before all the hormones kicked in, so I think those were truly just hockey loves.  I mean, I did think Brian was absolutely adorable, which he is, but I didn’t know anything about him, so it was purely because he was a Sabre.  But Jay?  Oh, I love Jay.  I once saw he and Marty Biron with their now wives at an *NSync concert.  You know, the one at the Ralph.  Anyways, my friend Colleen approached them only after Nicole and Anne Marie left, probably flocking to the bathroom, but she got a picture of them.  AND JAY WAS WEARING A VISOR THAT SAID PORN STAR.  I actually wouldn’t doubt it.  I’m still madly in love with Robert Jay Alan McKee.  ❤

So you can imagine my excitement when I looked at the schedule.  Now, normally I’d know what team we’re up against next, but since these long breaks between games KILL ME, I try not to focus on the next game too, too much, because then I can’t distract myself from my Sabres deprivation..  BUT, when I saw it was the Blues, I looked at my mom, and in some pathetic little voice, go, “awwww we play Jay!”

But then I found this.

UMMMMMMM WHAT?

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT YOU CAN HAVE ST. LOUIS PLAY IN BUFFALO AND RELEGATE JAY TO NATHAN PAETSCH STATUS!!!!  Has Murray completely lost his mind?  I think so.  Because if I have to sit through another Jay-less St. Louis game, I’ll cry.  No, really, I will.

Now I’m all depressed.  Talk about high to low in 60 seconds.

BUT THERE IS SILVER LINING, because that article also brought out that Paul Kariya might now play??  That’s fine by me since he’s “hot like a firecracker,” as Rick might say.

But also the Men’s Journal is out now, and once I get off of my butt I might go to the store and pick it up.  And when I say I might, I will.  Most definitely.

I don’t care if I’m not supposed to like Chris Drury anymore, he’s so gosh-darned handsome.  So I don’t care.  I’m going to buy it, and I’m going to enjoy it.  Besides, how could I not enjoy Henrik Lundqvist and (DUH!) Markus Naslund??!??  Enough said.

AND THERE IS NO INTERESTING HOCKEY NEWS.

Except for the fact that Mike Ryan got demoted to Albany.  NOT FAIR.  Of course he’d be in North Carolina while I was in Boston, and of course he wouldn’t be in Albany when I drove through there, either.  NOT FAIR AT ALL.  But seriously, they couldn’t have used a better picture of him?  I mean, his eyebrows look fantastic, but his hair is a little bit foofy…  Whatever, though.  HE HAS A JOB, and that’s all that matters, and now MJ is very, very, very close to him, so yay.

Alright.  I’m going to go buy some new CD’s, and I’m going to go buy Men’s Journal, and enjoy the beauty of NHL players for a little while, in order to forget that the Sabres aren’t playing tonight, at least for a little while.

AND NOW, THE REST OF THE SEASON

Have I mentioned that I really don’t like afternoon games?  No?  Well I really don’t like afternoon games.  I don’t have time to really get much done today, and I wanted to go to MetroPark and return a purse, and Tony Walker to return my North Face, and clean my disgusting bedroom, but I guess I’ll only do the first two.  Plus, when the game’s over, I feel like I should be getting ready to go to bed.  I’m just so used to games ending at 10, and then I get everything ready for tomorrow, and curl up on the couch and fall asleep watching Law and Order reruns…

And remember how I said I’d try to liveblog this game?  Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen either; I’m pretty sure I’m watching the game at Katie’s house, and she just doesn’t appreciate hockey blogging.  In fact, she thinks it’s quite comical that, while we’re at a game, I furiously text throughout it, while barely taking my eye off the ice.

SO!!, this is what you get, for now.  And I just realized that I said I’d write yesterday, but it was just way too nice outside to stay in the house, and when I go outside, I can’t read the screen of my MacBook too well, and then I had to go to work.

OOOOH and I love my job… kinda sorta.  I can’t remember if I mentioned or not, but I work at a nursing home in a really nice Buffalo suburb.  I’m a nurses’ aide on a really cute little unit, which we call households, because there are 12 patients with their own rooms, and then communal living room, dining room, and kitchen.  I doubt I’ll get to watch much hockey on the big TV because Fred (one of my residents) likes to steal the remote, change the channel, put the remote in his pocket, and then wander off.  But little Helen Miller (No relation to Ryan; snap.), the second I met her, asks, “Did you see that Sabres game last night?!”  So Helen is basically my new best friend.  And she also watches Hockey Night In Canada, just to watch it.  We’re buds.  Sorry Kim, but I’ve found a replacement for you in your camping absence.

Okay, enough rambling.  Serious hockey talk now.  Maybe.

PORTLAND PIRATES:  They kicked ass Saturday night!  Or, should I say Mark Mancari kicked ass with his hat-trick and 2 assists.  Nathan Gerbe and Tim Kennedy also picked up some points.  Adam Dennis was in net.  Portland beat the Manchester Monarchs by a score of 6-3.  Their next game is Saturday, at home, against the Springfield Falcons.

MY NEW FAVORITES:  Okay, so I realize that I’ve written about Daniel Paille A LOT in the past few days, but I’ve just fallen in love with him since the All-Star Break last season.  I think, then, that these guys are in the running for my Top 5:  Derek Roy (a lock for #1), Daniel Paille, Tim Connolly (I said I fall hard), Nathan Paetsch, Jason Pominville, Paul Gaustad, Patrick Kaleta, and Jochen Hecht.  I believe I’ve decided (wow, that was fast):  (1) Roy; (2) Paille; (3) Kaleta; (4) Paetsch; (5) tie between Pominville and Gaustad.  I think Connolly should get an honorable mention thing, you know, he can be a fave when he’s in the lineup.  That works for me.

HENRIK, RICK, AND STEVEN:  The Hockey News had a short interview with Henrik Lundqvist on their website:  Henrik likes comedies, and I honestly have never heard a person ever say that The Calling is one of their favorite bands!  I love The Calling, so now I am forever endeared to Henrik.  Fine by me!  Next up was one with Rick DiPietro.  I love this guy, too.  He loves the Sabres’ jerseys, his favorite cereal is Raisin Bran Crunch, and his first job was being a janitor.  Last but not least was Steven Stamkos.

And now I’ve lost my train of thought, and there isn’t a whole lot of Sabres news to write about (except for the fact that Patty K didn’t take Brian Campbell’s advice to heart, and moved out of his parents’ house), so I’ll write about our win (knock on wood) when I get home later tonight, while watching more hockey on Versus.

Go Sabres!

It’s nice to know some things never change

So the regular season started today with the Penguins and the Senators playing in Stockholm, by the way Senators lost in overtime 4-3, while we here in Buffalo are forced to endure yet another preseason game, really? can’t we just get to real hockey yet, I think we’ve waited long enough. If we win I say we pull the ol’ switcheroo on Detroit and say “just kidding this was for keeps” and if we lose we can still claim that it was a preseason.

Anyways, the news broadcast also said that Tampa Bay and Rangers had finished their game in Prague, Czech Republic with the Rangers winning 2-1. However, the Rangers winning didn’t come before one of our former players, and I’m not talking about ‘captain clutch’, made a mistake that allowed the Lightning to score. Yep that’s right Dmitri Kalinin, or as I like to call him THE BUM allowed himself to be faked out by a Lightning player who used the opportunity to score, didn’t take Kalinin long to screw his new team over, and as the title of the post claims it’s really nice to see things don’t change. Because as we all know a player can do really bad here, get traded and on their new team become a world class goal scorer and play maker. It’s part of the curse I tell ya, we get screwed over every time, No Goal, Norwide, etc. Although in this case I say good ridance may the door hit you on the way out, ya’ll don’t come back now ya hear, no seriously, please, never step foot inside our arena again, better yet don’t step anywhere in the vicinity of Buffalo. As you can probably tell I don’t hold any love for Kalinin because well, how can I put this nicely, he was a waste of air and roster space here in Buffalo and he’s obviously going to be the same in New York, but at least now he’s their problem let them deal with him.

Ramblings, and Ding Dong Ditch Anyone??

So while I should be in my Medical Terminology and Anatomy/Physiology lectures today, I’m posting, shopping, tanning, and not giving a damn.  I just had 2 major exams and I’ve worked 4 nights in a row with crazy old people.  Literally, they’re crazy old people.  Not just the lady at the corner of my street who yelled at us when we were waiting at the bus stop if we put a toe on her lawn, but certifiable old people with Dementia and Alzheimer’s.  So, yeah.  I’m taking a day off, especially since this is the only day I’m not working this week.

Topic #1  :  Derek Roy

AHHHHH!  My baby was captain!  So last night I was listening to the game at work on my headphones, not that I’m allowed to or anything, but since when do I care?  And when Rick said that some punk knocked Derek down, I got all offended.  And then someone slashed him or something, and I got even more offended.  The text messages between Kim and I were so frequent that I couldn’t tell exactly what happened there, because every time I’d send or receive a message, my reception would go all fuzzy.  You give and you take, I guess.

Topic #2  :  NHL.com

I seem to remember the NHL mandating that all 30 teams in the league reformat and redesign their websites so that they all corresponded in layout and all that jazz with http://www.NHL.com.  Now, one year later, they’ve gone and changed their whole website.  That’s pretty lame if you ask me, and I, for one, am not crazy about the look of it.  It’s sleek, yes, but it’s lacking color.  And they don’t let you get the real-time scores anymore.  I wanted it last night at work, but all they give you now is the option to watch any game, live, on your computer.  BUT you have to pay.  It’s Center Ice online, basically.  There is, however, a free preview on opening weekend.  I think I just might have to check it out; probably won’t, though, since I can finally watch Rick and Harry.

Topic #3  :  New NHL Commercials

It was brought to my attention after reading someone’s blog (sorry, I can’t remember which one) that the NHL has a new campaign this year.  Well, actually, it’s still the “Is this the year?” deal, but tweaked.  I’m not crazy about it.  There are the platform league commercials, and then each team has two of their own:  One focuses on the team, and then the other highlights a certain player.  Ours is Miller, obviously.  But they really could’ve taken the time to actually FILM a commercial, instead of putting a slideshow of pictures together and throwing some little diddy over it.  The one-liners at the end are pretty funny, but I preferred last season’s clips which actually featured the players themselves.  Watch them here, but click on “NHL Presents,” and they’ll be on the menu on the right-hand side.  Miller’s is last on Page 3, and the team one (or should I say Derek, Tommy, and Jason’s) is first on 4.

Topic #4  :  Matt Ellis

WHO?  Um, can someone please explain to me why we claimed him?  I mean, I realize that he’ll end up a Portland guy, but still.  They can snag this guy off of waivers and sign a whole bunch of randoms over the summer, BUT THEY CAN’T CONVINCE MIKE RYAN TO SIGN??  Lame.  No offense, Matt.  I just like Mike.

Topic #5  :  Chris Drury

Before you smack yourself in the face, this isn’t another rant about how we let him get away.  Personally, I couldn’t care less anymore.  We couldn’t win it with him, so who’s to say we can’t win it without him, am I right, or am I right?  ANYWAYS, the TBN had an article featuring him today.  One, he now plays on the wing.  If Chris Drury is as good as he is at faceoffs, why the hell wouldn’t you want him at center?  That’s like using Martin Brodeur as your backup goalie when you know he had a 2.17 GAA and a save percentage of .920 through 77 games and 2,089 shots.  Two, he’s making a push to be named the Rangers’ captain.  Well, obviously.  But the paper says that he has been extremely vocal with the guys lately.  Now that’s something I don’t remember him being in Buffalo.  I remember him being the one to lead by example, on the ice.  All the talking and the pow-wows were left to Briere, I thought.  I don’t know, but maybe the Big City has affected Chris.

Topic #6  :  Heather B

Heather B, the beautiful author of Top Shelf, was featured in the TBN this morning!!!  So exciting!  So go read about her there.

Topic #7  :  Injuries

All I’m going to say is WHY ISN’T PAUL GAUSTAD ON THIS STUPID THING?

Topic #8  :  Portland Pirates

The Pirates open their training camp this morning.  Exciting stuff!  Except for the fact that it’s just a continuation of the Sabres camp, but whatever.  It’s the first glimpse of our guys for the fans up in Maine, so it’s cool.  I just can’t wait to go to a game there in November!  Yay!

Topic #9  :  Ding Dong Ditch Proposal

(I feel like that should say Love Potion #9 in honor of Derek’s boat)

I had this idea yesterday while Kim and I were out for lunch.  Now, most of my ideas, when they involve the Sabres, can get pretty crazy, but they’re always fun.  I came up with this little scheme to play DDD with our boys.  That could get interesting, but I think it would be oodles of fun, don’t you?  Who wants in?  Anyone????

That’s it for now, I guess.  Maybe some more later after tonight’s game, since I’m not working!!  That’s exciting.

Summer vacations, rooming with Royzie, and Invisible Children

When I opened my mailbox Tuesday evening, I was excited to find my new issue of The Hockey News, for some unknown reason…  Oh, wait, TRAINING CAMP STARTS FRIDAAAAYYYY!!  Anyways, the individual team reports were focused on the summer vacations of players, coaches, whomever.  Let us read:

Atlanta:  “Garnet Exelby ate black ink octopus risotto and he’s got the photo to prove it.”

My question?  Who the hell cares?

Boston:  “…[Zdeno] Chara traveled to Africa this summer, visiting Mozambique before hiking 18,650 feet up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.” 

My question?  Why would you subject yourself to such torture?  I mean, come on, you’re already practically that tall, but go for it man.  All the more power to ya.

Buffalo:  “The Sabres coach [Lindy Ruff] got a chance to caddy on the PGA tour for longtime friend and golf professional Dudley Hart.”

My question?  Did he get paid?  And did he supply Dudley with a Happy Gilmour-esque putter, much like Derek Roy used recently?  (I would post the picture, but I can’t find it)

Dallas:  “Sean Avery spent hours pondering the outfit he would wear to his Dallas Stars introduction press conference in August and settled on an unstructured suit of madras plaid with short pants and red leather dress shoes.”

My question?  Yes, I will admit that I am envious of him because he had an internship with Men’s Vogue magazine, but what the hell did he do to deserve this internship, and how the hell can someone like him still play hockey when he admitted that he doesn’t really watch any other sport or ANY OTHER HOCKEY GAME???  Nothing, and I have no idea.  Is he ridiculous?  Borderline homosexual?  I definitely think so.

Florida:  “[Tanner] Glass was afforded a rare opportunity of a different sort when he visited his girlfriend in eastern Africa, where she was working as a nurse for an HIV/AIDS awareness organization called Project Soccer.”

My question?  Okay, so I know Kim and I used to make fun of you when we went to Amerks games because you’re actually really good looking, but you have terrible hands, but who the hell knew you were such a sweetheart?  Major props because your girlfriend is a good person.

St. Louis:  “[Cam] Janssen and his friends that the boat to the Meramec and Mississippi rivers in Missouri.  They often go exploring in the woods.  ‘One time, we found a cave,’ Janssen said.  ‘There was a sleeping bag in there and a fire still burning.  We found the guy on a sandbar.  He looked like Charles Manson.  We asked him if he was alright and he just walked back into the woods.”

My question?  If he looks like Charles Manson, and he’s living in some remote cave in a wooded area off of a large river, WHY THE HELL DID YOU TALK TO HIM AND PRACTICALLY INVITE HIM ONTO YOUR BOAT?!?  Are you absolutely insane?  You’re just asking to end up the victim of a serial killer.

San Jose:  “In August, [Jeremy] Roenick bolstered his acting resume with a role in Leverage, a new TNT TV series…  Roenick said he has friends in the industry, one of whom ‘casts me in as many things as he can because he wants me to be an actor when I’m done playing hockey.”

My question?  Am I being a bit far-fetched when I go out on a limb and say I don’t think JR will have too great of a career in acting?  I’m not too sure, so I guess I’ll have to watch Leverage.

Those were the highlights.  There were a lot of weddings mentioned, but no one of great importance or interest.  Vinny Lecavalier rehabed, as did many others (no riding camels for him this off-season), and there were a lot of baseball-related activities.  Mark Bell served his community service by picking up garbage and doing landscaping.  Meanwhile, I had a relatively uneventful summer; I didn’t go anywhere further than Rochester or Toronto, and didn’t really do anything fun, unless work falls under that category, and last time I checked, it definitely did not.

And there was a small interview with Drew Stafford; in it he mentioned that he has roomed with Clarke MacArthur and Daniel Paille, who, by the way, are both “great, but Derek Roy?  It was all about him.“  Damn straight, it’s all about him.  And can I just say how envious I am of Drew???  Well, I’m about as envious as one can get, times infinity.  And then he had to throw in a shameless plug for Invisible Children’s CD (WHICH IS FINALLY OUT!), called “Pralien.”  He considers it the best album of all time.  Click here for more info.

SIGHTING!!!  Mike Comrie (gag) and Hilary Duff were spotted at the Yankees/White Sox game last night, looking all (and by all, I mean not at all) cute.

And there was something else, but in my furious studies of sociology, anatomy, and nutrition, I seem to only be able to think of medical ailments.  How depressing, considering that fact that I don’t think I mentioned training camp, WHICH STARTS FRIDAY!!  Oh, wait, my bad.  That was the first thing I said.  I just wanted to be sure you didn’t forget.  =]