Buccigross column (part of it)... He's great...

[tommy]

2. Do not let the mainstream American media's lack of hockey passion affect you in any way.

This is also very important. A couple of times, while driving in the car this spring, I have come across two very popular radio call-in sports shows that will comment on a couple of callers and/or e-mails from hockey fans complaining about a lack of hockey discussion. Two things come to mind here: 1) This is counterproductive because it just causes the radio host (or hosts) to rattle off all the reasons why they don't talk about hockey. I won't bore you with the usual drivel here and now. It's always negative. 2) It encourages them to speak on a subject that they have no passion, feel or knowledge on. Especially passion. Knowledge and feel can be acquired by watching the games. But there is nothing worse than dispassionate hockey talk among broadcasters.

Yes, it would be nice to hear informed, passionate hockey debate while driving in the car. Talk radio is basically a pep rally for the day's games. But you know and I know we are a long way off from that in the United States. On an organized, youth level, the game is very young. Hockey doesn't have mass appeal because not enough people in the United States have either played the game or had a family member play the game and breathed in the hockey culture. Will we ever reach the point where enough people have that experience to bring hockey to the forefront? Probably not. But you never know, and to tell you the truth, I don't care. There are enough places to find passionate hockey discussion or written words. Hockey has always been like punk rock in its pre-every-mall-rat-in-suburbia-Abercrombie-wearing-teenage-screamer-sanitized-sound-a-like-Blink stage. Not for everyone, and not for the casual. Either you are in or you're not.

I liken it to Ben Folds and Justin Timberlake. More people know Justin Timberlake right now than will ever know Ben Folds. Ben Folds has more talent in his receding hairline than Justin Timberlake has in his entire molecular structure. Yet, Justin has at least $30 million in the bank, while Ben might have a million. And while that might tick off Ben sometimes, I don't care. I don't feel the need to defend Ben or lead his cause, or remind the world that a song like "Mess" will be sung for another 100 years by at least one person, while Justin's fans will continue licking his pop candy until all that's left is wet white paper stuck on their tongues. Then they'll spit it out and look for another musical candy sucker to lick. This is not to say I won't recommend a Ben Folds CD, play a song for someone in my car, or make a Ben Folds mix, but I won't foist it upon someone to validate my own beliefs. Especially, a radio talk show.

Just let it go. Love hockey and what it does to you. How alive the playoffs make you feel. How you keep looking at the clock at school or work, impatiently anticipating the opening faceoff. How you wait in anticipation to see just how the Ducks-Red Wings series will turn out. Will your Flyers finally do it again? Can your Avs be the benefactor of possible major upsets in the West and have Patrick retire on top? No one is talking about your Capitals, but you believe that they can come out of the East. If the radio yackers don't get it, who cares? It's your world. Your punk rock. Don't let the posers get you down. Yes, it would be nice to share your passion on a call-in show and hear similar passionate voices. Yes, you can't help it when the same lame argument is made that everyone makes the playoffs and you have to remind the posers that a higher percentage of NBA teams make the playoffs than NHL teams.

Enjoy the silence. Words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm. Words are meaningless and forgettable. Another reason to listen to "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, one of the best songs ever made even if "Bye, Bye, Bye" sold 15 million more copies.

Almost all the playoff games are on your local channel, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ABC. NHL 2Night is on every night. ESPN.com's NHL page has a new batch of stuff every day. You already know that. Every word you see or hear might not always move you as intended, but know that the messenger is passionate like you. Don't sweat the small radio and TV stuff.

The best time of the sports year is here and you are among friends. Which is how it should be -- me, you, the game, and a cold one.

And the rest of the world can just shut up.

[tommy]

2. Do not let the mainstream American media's lack of hockey passion affect you in any way.

This is also very important. A couple of times, while driving in the car this spring, I have come across two very popular radio call-in sports shows that will comment on a couple of callers and/or e-mails from hockey fans complaining about a lack of hockey discussion. Two things come to mind here: 1) This is counterproductive because it just causes the radio host (or hosts) to rattle off all the reasons why they don't talk about hockey. I won't bore you with the usual drivel here and now. It's always negative. 2) It encourages them to speak on a subject that they have no passion, feel or knowledge on. Especially passion. Knowledge and feel can be acquired by watching the games. But there is nothing worse than dispassionate hockey talk among broadcasters.

Yes, it would be nice to hear informed, passionate hockey debate while driving in the car. Talk radio is basically a pep rally for the day's games. But you know and I know we are a long way off from that in the United States. On an organized, youth level, the game is very young. Hockey doesn't have mass appeal because not enough people in the United States have either played the game or had a family member play the game and breathed in the hockey culture. Will we ever reach the point where enough people have that experience to bring hockey to the forefront? Probably not. But you never know, and to tell you the truth, I don't care. There are enough places to find passionate hockey discussion or written words. Hockey has always been like punk rock in its pre-every-mall-rat-in-suburbia-Abercrombie-wearing-teenage-screamer-sanitized-sound-a-like-Blink stage. Not for everyone, and not for the casual. Either you are in or you're not.

I liken it to Ben Folds and Justin Timberlake. More people know Justin Timberlake right now than will ever know Ben Folds. Ben Folds has more talent in his receding hairline than Justin Timberlake has in his entire molecular structure. Yet, Justin has at least $30 million in the bank, while Ben might have a million. And while that might tick off Ben sometimes, I don't care. I don't feel the need to defend Ben or lead his cause, or remind the world that a song like "Mess" will be sung for another 100 years by at least one person, while Justin's fans will continue licking his pop candy until all that's left is wet white paper stuck on their tongues. Then they'll spit it out and look for another musical candy sucker to lick. This is not to say I won't recommend a Ben Folds CD, play a song for someone in my car, or make a Ben Folds mix, but I won't foist it upon someone to validate my own beliefs. Especially, a radio talk show.

Just let it go. Love hockey and what it does to you. How alive the playoffs make you feel. How you keep looking at the clock at school or work, impatiently anticipating the opening faceoff. How you wait in anticipation to see just how the Ducks-Red Wings series will turn out. Will your Flyers finally do it again? Can your Avs be the benefactor of possible major upsets in the West and have Patrick retire on top? No one is talking about your Capitals, but you believe that they can come out of the East. If the radio yackers don't get it, who cares? It's your world. Your punk rock. Don't let the posers get you down. Yes, it would be nice to share your passion on a call-in show and hear similar passionate voices. Yes, you can't help it when the same lame argument is made that everyone makes the playoffs and you have to remind the posers that a higher percentage of NBA teams make the playoffs than NHL teams.

Enjoy the silence. Words are very unnecessary, they can only do harm. Words are meaningless and forgettable. Another reason to listen to "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, one of the best songs ever made even if "Bye, Bye, Bye" sold 15 million more copies.

Almost all the playoff games are on your local channel, ESPN, ESPN 2 and ABC. NHL 2Night is on every night. ESPN.com's NHL page has a new batch of stuff every day. You already know that. Every word you see or hear might not always move you as intended, but know that the messenger is passionate like you. Don't sweat the small radio and TV stuff.

The best time of the sports year is here and you are among friends. Which is how it should be -- me, you, the game, and a cold one.

And the rest of the world can just shut up.

[crazy4canes]

Gotta love Buccigross. :D

[crazy4canes]

Gotta love Buccigross. :D

[Guyute]

Gotta love Buccigross. :D
indeed. I sure do :D

The best time of the sports year is here and you are among friends. Which is how it should be -- me, you, the game, and a cold one.

And the rest of the world can just shut up.

That about sums it up. rock on :D
thanks for posting tommy.

[Guyute]

Gotta love Buccigross. :D
indeed. I sure do :D

The best time of the sports year is here and you are among friends. Which is how it should be -- me, you, the game, and a cold one.

And the rest of the world can just shut up.

That about sums it up. rock on :D
thanks for posting tommy.

[rkbrasse]

OK that column rules. Thanks for posting.

[rkbrasse]

OK that column rules. Thanks for posting.

[Stormbringer]

Rock on indeed. No better words can describe that article...which. the overall message of reminded me of an old Nintendo slogan...

"Get in or get out."

You're either into hockey or you're not...those who are not into hockey should leave the ones who are alone. That really goes for my folks, who constantly make fun of me for liking my beloved Canes. They could get brutal this past season, especially when the "THIS is hockey!" ads came on or we would pass by a billboard out somewhere. :roll:

[Stormbringer]

Rock on indeed. No better words can describe that article...which. the overall message of reminded me of an old Nintendo slogan...

"Get in or get out."

You're either into hockey or you're not...those who are not into hockey should leave the ones who are alone. That really goes for my folks, who constantly make fun of me for liking my beloved Canes. They could get brutal this past season, especially when the "THIS is hockey!" ads came on or we would pass by a billboard out somewhere. :roll:

[hyena]

thanks tommy, great read! :D

[hyena]

thanks tommy, great read! :D

[raleighcanesfan]

I thought I was the only one to listen to Ben Folds!!!!

Butcchi is a great figure for hockey. Like he says, it may (and probably will not) never be as major as football, baseball, or even NASCAR. Fine with me. I enjoy it, know where to go to talk about it, and it suits me fine.

I do think, with the Canes here, that NC will continue to develop a strong hockey background. Look at what's happen in a few years. Picture it after 20.

I cannot wait to the first NC resident gets drafted!! Hope it'll be my son!!

[raleighcanesfan]

I thought I was the only one to listen to Ben Folds!!!!

Butcchi is a great figure for hockey. Like he says, it may (and probably will not) never be as major as football, baseball, or even NASCAR. Fine with me. I enjoy it, know where to go to talk about it, and it suits me fine.

I do think, with the Canes here, that NC will continue to develop a strong hockey background. Look at what's happen in a few years. Picture it after 20.

I cannot wait to the first NC resident gets drafted!! Hope it'll be my son!!

[Stormbringer]

I thought I was the only one to listen to Ben Folds!!!!

You're not alone RCF...I like Ben Folds too. :) :cool: The one big album of his, Whatever and Ever Amen (Well known for the hit, "Brick".), is one of my all time favorite nineties albums, and one that I still listen to quite often. Besides his music, what's even cooler about the dude is that he hails from Chapel Hill... :cool:

Okay, now back on-topic...

[Stormbringer]

I thought I was the only one to listen to Ben Folds!!!!

You're not alone RCF...I like Ben Folds too. :) :cool: The one big album of his, Whatever and Ever Amen (Well known for the hit, "Brick".), is one of my all time favorite nineties albums, and one that I still listen to quite often. Besides his music, what's even cooler about the dude is that he hails from Chapel Hill... :cool:

Okay, now back on-topic...

[raleighcanesfan]

Ok Stormbringer--the clouds set in...You just had to say he's from Chapel Hill :mad: There goes another dream, crashed! ;) (I'm not really for any ACC school--I'm a Northerner!)

To keep us off topic, I just get in moods where that piano soothes me. I actually listened to some of his early stuff before the release of Brick, got out of it for awhile, then got back in. I love ARMY! Awesome song!

[raleighcanesfan]

Ok Stormbringer--the clouds set in...You just had to say he's from Chapel Hill :mad: There goes another dream, crashed! ;) (I'm not really for any ACC school--I'm a Northerner!)

To keep us off topic, I just get in moods where that piano soothes me. I actually listened to some of his early stuff before the release of Brick, got out of it for awhile, then got back in. I love ARMY! Awesome song!

[Guyute]

Guys, there is a music thread... Music Discussion Thread (http://www.letsgocanes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381&highlight=)

Thanks.
:crazy:

[Guyute]

Guys, there is a music thread... Music Discussion Thread (http://www.letsgocanes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=381&highlight=)

Thanks.
:crazy:

[Night Train]

Great article.

guyute, i'm pulling for the Flyers as well, having family in Philly, but I must amend my statement to Go Flyers (except Primeau)!

[Night Train]

Great article.

guyute, i'm pulling for the Flyers as well, having family in Philly, but I must amend my statement to Go Flyers (except Primeau)!

[Turbulence]

What a great little essay he wrote....very truthful. So what if mainstream America hasn't embraced hocky for what we know it really is...if we can enjoy it that's all that matters. Embrace your different-ness.



And as a side note, Ben Folds is from Adelaide, Australia and went to school in Chapel Hill....IIRC

[Turbulence]

What a great little essay he wrote....very truthful. So what if mainstream America hasn't embraced hocky for what we know it really is...if we can enjoy it that's all that matters. Embrace your different-ness.



And as a side note, Ben Folds is from Adelaide, Australia and went to school in Chapel Hill....IIRC

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Great read! Thanks for posting tommy.

My problem is not that hockey is underexposed it's that the underexposure leads to a shaky financial situation for a great deal of the league. That TV money really helps....and the NHL really ain't getting much.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Great read! Thanks for posting tommy.

My problem is not that hockey is underexposed it's that the underexposure leads to a shaky financial situation for a great deal of the league. That TV money really helps....and the NHL really ain't getting much.

[folgersnyourcup]

Great article. To be honest though, I'm a little tired of asking in every one of my classes "Did you see the Ducks/Wings game last night??????!!!??!!" only to be answered with something like "That's hockey isn't it? I don't watch that". It's a bit annoying having to keep all this excitement to myself. I haven't found a single person interested in hockey at UNC Charlotte and this is my second year here......

I know if more people watched it they would be turned on to it immediately. Playoff hockey is unbelievable.

But one thing I can count on in the playoffs is being able to yell as loud as I can with my door open when the team I'm cheering for pulls it out in overtime and have completely vacant stares look back at me and know that they're missing out on a great experience. Whoohoo! Go hockey!

:)

[folgersnyourcup]

Great article. To be honest though, I'm a little tired of asking in every one of my classes "Did you see the Ducks/Wings game last night??????!!!??!!" only to be answered with something like "That's hockey isn't it? I don't watch that". It's a bit annoying having to keep all this excitement to myself. I haven't found a single person interested in hockey at UNC Charlotte and this is my second year here......

I know if more people watched it they would be turned on to it immediately. Playoff hockey is unbelievable.

But one thing I can count on in the playoffs is being able to yell as loud as I can with my door open when the team I'm cheering for pulls it out in overtime and have completely vacant stares look back at me and know that they're missing out on a great experience. Whoohoo! Go hockey!

:)

[Turbulence]

Great article. To be honest though, I'm a little tired of asking in every one of my classes "Did you see the Ducks/Wings game last night??????!!!??!!" only to be answered with something like "That's hockey isn't it? I don't watch that".

That's my problem...my only outlet for hockey conversation is talking with some people who I have never met :p
But nonetheless I am a hockey fan. I just wish the masses here could see the excitement of hockey....

[Turbulence]

Great article. To be honest though, I'm a little tired of asking in every one of my classes "Did you see the Ducks/Wings game last night??????!!!??!!" only to be answered with something like "That's hockey isn't it? I don't watch that".

That's my problem...my only outlet for hockey conversation is talking with some people who I have never met :p
But nonetheless I am a hockey fan. I just wish the masses here could see the excitement of hockey....

[Kat]

I am lucky... my cubemate at work has gotten into hockey, and my fiance is also a hockey nut. Plus, since I play hockey, I have a ton of people there who (obviously) know the sport as well...

-Kat

[Kat]

I am lucky... my cubemate at work has gotten into hockey, and my fiance is also a hockey nut. Plus, since I play hockey, I have a ton of people there who (obviously) know the sport as well...

-Kat

[tommy]

Thankfully, I have a small group of friends at school where I can come in in the morning and yell "Hey, did you see that Kariya goal in triple OT last night?" And I'll hear a small chorus of "Yeah, that was sweet!" or "I can't believe the Wings are playing so poorly!"... But the thing is, the little group is only about 4 people. That's why I love this board so much, because we are all so passionate about the game.

[tommy]

Thankfully, I have a small group of friends at school where I can come in in the morning and yell "Hey, did you see that Kariya goal in triple OT last night?" And I'll hear a small chorus of "Yeah, that was sweet!" or "I can't believe the Wings are playing so poorly!"... But the thing is, the little group is only about 4 people. That's why I love this board so much, because we are all so passionate about the game.

[tommy]

here's his latest column, mostly about the ducks. listen to his song recommendations at the end though. this guy has got the best musical taste ever, i swear, and he is such a great writer.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1546351

[SouthernHockeyChick]

here's his latest column, mostly about the ducks. listen to his song recommendations at the end though. this guy has got the best musical taste ever, i swear, and he is such a great writer.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1546351

Minus the Led Zeppelin and James Taylor (sorry...heard enough of those in high school and college to OD me for the rest of my natural life) that sounds about like part of my CD collection! Pete Yorn is amazing!!

Thanks for posting that tommy.

[tommy]

one of the songs on there is absolutely great... well three of them actually... depeche mode's "enjoy the silence", pete yorn's "EZ", and "Zak and Sara" by Ben Folds (one of my fave bands ever).

dudeman has great taste... i wanna do a column like his when i grow up, too... lol. seriously though, to be an NHL broadcaster and have my own column.... that would be the life. and now that i'm actually getting B's on my English papers, apparently my writing might be good enough by then...

[tommy]

Bucci's back!

Here's this week's installment of his column.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1549542

Let me know if you see anything SPECIAL in the questions section, okay? ;)

Another great column though... Makes me wanna be a sportswriter.

[nccanes]

Let me know if you see anything SPECIAL in the questions section, okay? ;)


Awesome "Tommy". So did you study?


Another great column though... Makes me wanna be a sportswriter.

Go for it Tommy! You'd be great, I'm sure! :cool:

[Stormbringer]

Cool...congrats on making ze column, "Tommy". ;) :cool:

BTW, also wanted to say that I like your new avatar Eileen. :)

[Turbulence]

BTW, also wanted to say that I like your new avatar Eileen. :)

Ditto. Now maybe I'll be able to differentiate between you and Kat!

And I'm sure you'd be a better writer than Mitch Albom, Tommy. :roll: :spin:

[nccanes]

BTW, also wanted to say that I like your new avatar Eileen. :)

Ditto. Now maybe I'll be able to differentiate between you and Kat!


Yes, it was time to retire TLT since he's off on the golf course. I stumbled on this one on the Canes site (from a postcard) and like the way looked as an av.

Tommy, you should continue to email Bucci. I'd be curious if he replies, even if you didn't get published in the future.

[StormShaman]

Let me know if you see anything SPECIAL in the questions section, okay? ;)

Dude, you actually had to ASK about that?

It's not a contest, man--watch Harry! :D

[tommy]

I also asked a question about the Capitals because I was bored; this was kinda just jokin' around... of COURSE I watched the game!

I e-mailed him about 4 times before, and he has replied to my emails all four times... it's awesome that he takes the time to do that. I asked him about sportswriters (kept it short and sweet as possible), so he might respond in the next few days.

[Turbulence]

Maybe I should email Barry 'Mullet Man' Melrose. I want to be exactly like him when I grow up. :crazy:

[tommy]

I GOT MY RESPONSE FROM JOHN BUCCIGROSS!!!

I wrote:

Hey Bucci.

Thanks for the answer to the question in this week's
column!

If you have time, I'd like to ask you something. I am
in the 10th grade, and I really want to go into
journalism, so one day I can be a sportswriter, or
maybe into broadcast journalism. My english papers
have been improving drastically, and next year I am
eligible for a journalism class, and will be writing
for the school paper. Is that going in the right
direction? Your writing really inspires me to do
that; every weekly article you write, I rush home from
school and see if it's up on ESPN.com. What kind of
things should I look to get involved in as I progress
towards college? Thanks a lot, keep up the great
column... and at that, the great music... I love "Zak
and Sara", "Enjoy the Silence", and "EZ"!

Bennett
Raleigh, NC


His response:

keep it up bennett. keep writing.
you dont need to get involved in anything. watch a game and write a column. write sports related poems. be well rounded. read about history and politics and music. go to a college where you can write for the school paper. i would suggest a small school where your oppurtunities are greater. major in english and history. be a dj at the campus radio station and work at the campus tv station. have a vision and stick with it. do what you want to do.

stay in touch

john



Way cool!!! I was SO excited to get this!!!

[talkingcanes]

very cool that he responded :cool:

good luck with the paper and the journalism class.

[Turbulence]

That's very cool, Tommy. It's great that a guy in that position takes time out to do that...
One more reason to like Bucci.

Maybe you can start writing columns for the front page of LGC...good place to start if our fearless leader is up to it (and you are too!)

:spin:

[nccanes]

Excellent Tommy.

Print that thing out and hang it one the wall or put it under your mattress or something. :D :cool:

[Shell]

That is very cool indeed!! Way to go Tommy, and Always dream! There is no reason why you can't do that.

[crazy4canes]

Very cool indeed, tommy. :cool: I'm sure he's just as excited that he inspired someone as you are of getting his response. I'll be looking for your first column on espn.com in about ....7 years? ;)

[Canesluver]

That's great, kiddo! You have to keep that in a scrapbook or frame it.

(And his advice of going to a small college is a great point. You'll have more opportunities to be heard there.)

[Stormbringer]

What everyone else said and congratulations, Tommy. :cool:

[tommy]

Here's this week's column:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1553223

Takes a look at life in the midwest vs. new england, another humorous shjon podein anecdote, and some more interesting/silly letters from readers.

[crazy4canes]

Bucci,
I'm hoping that your guide on how to leave a proper voice mail message takes off. I just had to listen to some long-winded woman's message three times because: a) she didn't leave her number at the beginning as you instructed, and, b) she said her number as fast as Konstantin Koltsov skates, so I couldn't write it down.
Peace, love, hockey, and phone etiquette,
Brad Bender
Philadelphia


Together Brad, we can change the world for the better

http://websmileys.bei.t-online.de/lachen70.gif

[tommy]

That's right! It's already been a week! Here's the latest column. If you don't normally read the links I've posted, read this one. It's one of his better columns I think.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2003/story?id=1556363

Here's an interesting perspective, he's talking about Cechmanek:

His wife and two kids returned to the Czech Republic during the regular season. Mr. Bean speaks little English, and not having the comfort of family may explain his great-game-bad-game playoff run. If I'm the Bruins, Blues, or Hurricanes, I take a look at Cechmanek. The Canes have five Czechs on their roster, a perfect place for Cechmanek.

[Jeff O Rocks]

If I'm the Bruins, Blues, or Hurricanes, I take a look at Cechmanek. The Canes have five Czechs on their roster, a perfect place for Cechmanek.[/quote]

Interesting Tommy....any thoughts on how he might fit in here?? :roll:

[talkingcanes]

what happens to Weekes in that senario??

[Jeff O Rocks]

what happens to Weekes in that senario??

Good question talking...I would think that Weekes would be given the opportunity to be #1, but if he couldn't produce, he would be shifted to #2 and Patrick D. would be sent back (if he wasn't involved in the trade to begin with)...but would Cechmanek want to come in as #2??? Very interesting!! :roll:

[talkingcanes]

I can't imagine Cechmanek willingly accepting a back up role, but if it's that or not playing in the NHL.............. We suffered through such a goalie trauma last season that I just think we need defined goalie roles to begin the season. If Weekes can't carry the team and I'm optimistic he can, then we let Brodeur and JSG out of their respective basements (following this summer's covert action) and put them in net :D

[Turbulence]

A Cechmanek-Weekes tandem looks great on paper...but this frightens me. Cechmanek can be brillient, but can be horrible too. Kevin is a little less streaky. When he's on, he's unstoppable but when he's off, especially after this last concussion, he has trouble. I like our goaltending situation right now. Patty D showed he can be dependable in his 2 games played as a 'Cane. Unless something awesome jumps out, I want us to retain the 2 NHL-level goalies we have...
A straight up Cechmanek-Irbe trade might be enticing...however I don't forsee that happening...

:smoke:

[StormShaman]

Oh. Right. Bring a goalie that needs to be communicated with into an organization that prides itself on NOT communicating with its goalies.

Wonderful.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Is he talking about bringing Cechmanek in as a player or a coach?
Lemelin just finished his 10th year as the Flyers goaltending coach. He said Roman Cechmanek was very open to coaching and may have suffered a bit from not having his family around in the playoffs. His wife and two kids returned to the Czech Republic during the regular season. Mr. Bean speaks little English, and not having the comfort of family may explain his great-game-bad-game playoff run. If I'm the Bruins, Blues, or Hurricanes, I take a look at Cechmanek. The Canes have five Czechs on their roster, a perfect place for Cechmanek.

[tommy]

I think he just means that Roman understands and takes in constructive criticism... he is able to be coached.

[Alicia]

Is he talking about bringing Cechmanek in as a player or a coach?
Lemelin just finished his 10th year as the Flyers goaltending coach. He said Roman Cechmanek was very open to coaching and may have suffered a bit from not having his family around in the playoffs. His wife and two kids returned to the Czech Republic during the regular season. Mr. Bean speaks little English, and not having the comfort of family may explain his great-game-bad-game playoff run. If I'm the Bruins, Blues, or Hurricanes, I take a look at Cechmanek. The Canes have five Czechs on their roster, a perfect place for Cechmanek.

I think that should've said "open to being coached".

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I think he just means that Roman understands and takes in constructive criticism... he is able to be coached.

That's exactly what he means. I'm brain dead today. :roll: Thanks tommy!

[nccanes]

I think he just means that Roman understands and takes in constructive criticism... he is able to be coached.

That's exactly what he means. I'm brain dead today. :roll: Thanks tommy!

Goody! Now I don't feel so dumb when I thought "the Canes" = "the players" in that Vegas thread. Whew! ;)

[tommy]

From this week's column: this is a really great one, so I copied the best part.

Clutch and grab? Have you been watching?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By John Buccigross
Special to ESPN.com


I think the NHL gets the final it deserves. Instead of a fresh, fast, talented team like the Sens, the final will be a trap-fest between two teams so unexciting that hockey fans might feel like baseball moves too fast.

The above e-mail was sent to me following the Devils' 3-2 win over Ottawa in Game 7 last Friday night. Yes, a Senators fan sent it from Ottawa. I omitted the name because I'm sure -- "Vincent Riendeau" we'll call him -- is a good guy who was feeling empty and emotional after his Sens were so close to reaching their first Stanley Cup final.

The utter shock and on-ice tears exhibited by this team, which had nine European skaters and nine North American skaters, graphically showed two things: 1) The Senators have heart and passion, 2) Europeans care, as Steve Thomas told me on NHL 2Night, as much as anyone, and the anti-European playoff bias is now a bogus claim.

The power and allure of the Stanley Cup continues to grow in stature because its profile is gaining power internationally every year. When Europeans first entered the NHL ... well, let's just say some were probably more interested in an early summer than grinding out playoff wins for a trophy with which they had no emotional bond. But through time, television, and the winner's day (or days) with the Stanley Cup, the reputation of the cup has been elevated to unforeseen heights all over the world. The planet's greatest trophy is growing in power with every hand that touches it. The NHL's most brilliant unintentional PR move was initiating its "Cup for a Day" for members of the Stanley Cup champion. A keeper with white gloves and a 35-pound chunk of sterling silver. Pure and simple every time.

Back to the e-mail ...

I've received a few of these "why will anyone watch, what is Gary Bettman thinking" e-mails, been asked about it on radio talk shows I do around the country, and heard from the uninformed and basically ignorant U.S. media on the subject. And my answer is the same as it was in a recent column in this space: I DON'T CARE.

If our goal is to have a New York-based or some other gigantic market team against another gigantic market team, why have a league? And just because a team that isn't from a large market is in the Stanley Cup final doesn't mean it got there by clutching and grabbing and cheating! I've watched every one of the Devils' and Ducks' playoff games. These were awesome games. Everyone can -- and does -- skate. Each has big, strong defensemen who hit and fast-skating, creative ones who score.

To those who say this is a clutch-and-grab, non-sexy final, I say: Do you ever just watch Paul Kariya skate? Can you see the courage and sheer will of Scott Stevens? Do you understand the art that is Stanislav Chistov playing hockey? That his skill and IQ are mind-boggling? Do you realize Adam Oates is one of the greatest passers of all time? OF ALL TIME!!! Do you realize that there isn't a more captivating goaltender than Martin Brodeur? Do you know how many men out there would take a puck in the face to win a playoff game? Like, all of them.

If you can't feel the relentlessness of John Madden, the sense that Steve Thomas would walk on his lips through broken beer bottles to win this thing, that Keith Carney has made the quick-decision-little-play correctly 294 times this postseason, that Joe Nieuwendyk will cry if he can't play because of his injury, that Jean-Sebastien Giguere is the best player and the most humble at the same time, then you shouldn't watch.

These two teams exemplify all that is good about the game. Smarts and hearts. You have to have both ALL THE TIME. Chris Chelios had a couple of lapses in the first round. His mistakes weren't covered by the goaltender and his team lost. Marty Turco probably should have frozen the puck when his tired teammates were trying to get a line change. The Stars and the Senators played stretches of emotionally flat hockey and it caught up with them because they played against teams who haven't taken a second off.

Rucchin-Madden, Kariya-Elias, Stevens-Carney, Ozolinsh-Neidemayer, LeClerc-Pandolfo, Sykora-Nieuwendyk, Oates-Gomez, Giguere-Brodeur, Babcock-Burns. The similarities are there. The heart of champions is here. These are two hockey teams with heart and Hall of Famers. They deserve to be here. They should be here. THEY BELONG HERE. These two teams, more than any others, have displayed this great game's great qualities. They haven't taken a night off.

This is a fantastic final. It will be great television. Both teams really believe they are going to win. You know hockey. Sacrifice. Passion. Creativity. Persistence. These are the qualities that make a great person and these are the qualities that make a great game. There are enough ignorant people out there beating up our game. Ignore them. This is not a clutch-and-grab final.

Watch. Yell. Love.

[Shell]

That was a fantastic column.. thanks for sharing!

I am ready!!!

QUACK!

[Jeff O Rocks]

That was a fantastic column.. thanks for sharing!

I am ready!!!

QUACK!

Me too Shell....Quack Quack!! :spin:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

You DAMN right!!!

I love Bucci!! :spin:

[crazy4canes]

I love Bucci!! :spin:

^^What she said. :spin: His articles always give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.

[tommy]

I was looking through Bucci's archives, and I came upon his December 30th, 2001 column. This was the first section of it. Really cool and interesting article!

1982.

A song from the debut CD of Randy Travis, "Storms of Life." A must CD for any all-inclusive music fan.

The year the New Jersey Devils were born.

The year Minnesota's Marian Gaborik was born.

An unbelievable year to be a movie goer. "Diner," "Blade Runner," "E.T.," "Fast times at Ridgemont High," "48 Hours," "Gandhi," "An Officer and a Gentleman," and "Poltergeist."

Marvin Gaye's final record before his death and "Upstairs at Eric's" by YAZ was released.

And it was the year that I realized the NHL in Ohio could work.

That was the year that me and a few of my high school classmates in Steubenville, Ohio, started the SHL -- the Steubenville Hockey League.

Once a week, on Saturday mornings, we met at Holy Rosary Gym to play street hockey on the basketball court. Rocky Bragg, our 6-foot-5 center on the Steubenville Catholic Central basketball team was the driving force behind the league's formation. He lived next to "Holy Rosary Arena," as we called it, and was experiencing the beginnings of a hockey passion that exists to this day. We held a draft after school in the cafeteria and began with four teams: Butch Bruins, Gibby Penguins, Luke Oilers, and Rocky Canucks.

I was the sophomore who fanned the flames of Rocky's fire. Sitting on my desk right now as I write this is SHL's Preview Edition of the The Hockey News. The date is November 7, 1981. I traced the lettering from the weekly magazine and colored it in red. Inside, handwritten with a black flair pen, are articles, rosters, and team-by-team reports. Every week, I would produce this "magazine," and throughout the following week it would get passed around school like it was Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue. As the calendar turned 1982 and I realized the popularity of the league and my Hockey News, the mag became the most important thing I did. My schoolwork suffered in biology and math, but, little did I realize, I was studying and performing the proper subject for my future endeavors.

As a note of hockey coincidence, the cover of SI's swimsuit issue for 1982, as the SHL's Hockey News was in full circulation, was Carol Alt. "Dreams of Distance Shores" was the magazine's cover title. I can still see her red swimsuit reflecting off the waters of the shimmering Kenyan coast. Alexi Yashin was 8.

My team, the Butch Bruins, won the championship that year. The five-inch high trophy is sitting on my desk. Me, Will Jenkins, Mike Welday and Steve DiBartolomeo were the nucleus. Rocky Bragg finished with 51 goals and 7 assists. Mike Florak was the league's MVP, but he was the MVP in almost every sport he played growing up. Jim Gibson, of the Gibby Penguins, now works for the Nashville Predators. John "Suitcase" Costlow played for every team. Twice. And someone named Rodel Mupas was drafted but never played.

Yet, what I remember most from those times was how those freshman and sophomores at Steubenville Catholic High embraced this new sport that they had never really been exposed to. I was brought up with the game since the crib. However, these football-raised athletes were brought to the game by friends. No screaming parents or overbearing coaches sucking the creativity out of anyone.

The Ohio Valley in 1982 was a steel mill, football-crazed region. The folks were tough and they liked their games tough. My friends found a fast, tough game to play inside during the cold winter months. There were fights, blood and crosschecks. A small pocket of hockey love was born.

Cleveland had the Barons for two NHL seasons -- 1976-77 and 1977-78. But the players moved on to Minnesota to join the already-in-progress North Stars in 1978. The SHL came along in 1982, but the NHL would not return until 2000.

When it was announced that Columbus had been awarded an NHL franchise, I told the NHL2Night staff that there was no doubt in my mind that NHL hockey would work there. I'd been to Columbus enough to understand the city had all that was necessary to succeed -- big population base, diverse corporate base and one of the best bases of sports fans in the country. I anticipated that NHL hockey would take off, much like the SHL did in 1982, and that once the town got a hold of the game, it wouldn't let go.

Nothing has happened to change my mind that Columbus will become one of the league's best markets, especially when you see how they are run. Top to bottom, the Blue Jackets are set up to succeed. Their owner, John McConnell, is one of the league's best. He was raised across the river, in West Virginia during the 20's and 30's, from where our street hockey league was born. He has deep pockets and an even deeper sense of community. He has given Doug MacLean the resources and freedom to run the team. MacLean arrived on Day One and assembled a staff of hard-working, forward-thinking personnel. He has done a masterful job. The Blue Jackets are a hip, classy, homey organization. Their arena has an intimate feel with friendly workers and filled with passionate fans.

The only area lacking is on the ice.

But, their time will come. They call Ohio "the heart of it all." And much like in 1982 when a lot of heart built a four-team street hockey league, it has built a strong NHL franchise. There is little doubt in my mind that slowly, but surely, Columbus will build a Stanley Cup-winning franchise and raise a much bigger trophy than the one on my desk.

No matter what championship you are playing for, you got to have heart.

[nccanes]

Tommy - cool article. Bucci was a Catholic school product too! What a great inspiration he must be for you! I wanna be as cool as Bucci! ;)

[nccanes]

Since Tommy is off at some far flung summer locale (or summer camp or something), I'll post the link for Bucci's final column of the season. :sad:

Good stuff in here:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/columns/buccigross_john/1568730.html

on the CBA:

2. The Collective Bargaining Agreement
I could fill a Hefty Trash Bag with vomit every time I hear those four words. When I think of a union, I think of workers who need a body of support and protection from immoral corporations. I don't think of workers with an average salary over $1 million for seven months of work, or if you are a New York Ranger, six-and-a-half months. That being said, if there is a work stoppage it will be both sides' fault. There needs to be a partnership that doesn't currently exist. It should be simple to split the revenues and lower the ticket prices. But, the players don't trust the owners and the owners are sick of losing money because of the implausibly high salary structure that they created.



on the Canes/Ducks comparison:

John,
What makes the Mighty Ducks any different than the Carolina Hurricanes were last year?
Mike Stechschulte
Michigan

A goaltender who has had back-to-back .920 save percentage regular seasons and a much more creative offensive team with Paul Kariya, Adam Oates, Petr Sykora and Stansilav Chistov to go along with their other solid forwards. They also have first-round pick Joffrey Lupul on the way and a player from Sweden named Mikael Holmqvist, so they should have adequate depth to deal with injuries. Ron Francis and Jeff O'Neill were kind of left to fend for themselves in Raleigh. Also, Rod Brind'Amour missed 34 games, Josef Vasicek 25, Erik Cole 19, Bret Hedican 10. If Kevin Weekes can play 60-70 games and they stay healthy they will be a playoff threat, but they lack creative offensive players and their depth is tenuous. The 'Canes are one of those teams who appear not to have enough depth to deal with injuries.



The whole thing's worth a read. :)

[Shell]

That was a great one.. thanks for pointing me to it!

[puckin_A]

COOL!! more Johnny Bravo fans!! I love Bucci. I even emailed once and
told him the reason I loved him is because he always says the right things
and I quoted him on something I absolutely loved!! then I said there is
nothing more sexy than an intelligent man with wit. He wrote me back
and told he I made his day! :D

THen he wrote me later to tell me about not agreeing on a contract with
ESPN. I was so :mad:

When I noticed he was back, I couldn't of been happier!! I am only sorry
that TalkingCanes and I missed him at the hotel in New Jersey. I got to
meet my other idol (Bob McKenzie of TSN). but Bucci is the BOMB!!!!!!

[nccanes]

He probably deserves a new thread when the season starts up, but....

Mark your calendars, Bucci will be back on 9/29. :D

[tommy]

Sweetness... Can't wait for it! (Normally he does preseason predictions, and it's interesting to see what he thinks of all the teams... this past year he was, well, let's just say he wasn't 100% with his picks, but they were still just as good a read as any other column of his.)