Over the last few weeks I haven't been putting a lot of effort into writing the recaps. On more then one occasion I have been tempted to write "you should have been there" or my favorite line "we all know what happened." And yet, I still put forth the effort to throw something together. I had nothing to say that was different. It was pure verbatim. In fact, Big Board went as far as saying that I'm a recyclers of bad jokes. Well, if you talked to Ricardo last night you would know that he is the inventor of bad jokes. I will take solace that I don't have that title. So for the first time in a long time, I'm going to put forth some real effort on the game recaps-old school. Something like the original recaps in the 2007-2008 season. That means the scout may come back in his old format. Maybe even a player will have a comment.
*Game 1: Jared came into this week claiming that he wouldn't complain. Stating that he would finally take a loss like a man. Well, that didn't work out did it? "I couldn't believe it, well I could..." said one teammate. "I don't understand, he was convinced we had no chance from the start and to no surprise, we didn't." And the funny thing was, Jared's Dark team started out well in this game getting a quick goal from Griff to start the scoring. In fact they were never really "out" of any game on the night. "They were out of it mentally, but not on the score sheet. They were no doubt the weaker team with skills, they didnt need to be when it came to motivation," said one scout. The final score was 5-3 White Team. Game Winner went to Johnny.
*Game 2: Again, the score was not close, but not a blowout either. The teams were not far off, a trade was needed but stubborness kept logic from creeping in. The Final score was 5-2 White Team with the game winner going to Johnny Again. Im sure Jared and Griff are impressed.
*Game 3: This is when the games got out of control. Griff acted ridiculously and quit on his team. Im not even going to go there though, I've sang that tune before. The final score was 5-3 White Team, but that doesnt say the whole story. The Dark team actually started out this game with a 3-0 lead. They were clearly not being out played. But, for some reason (im sure it was stupid, naive and childish though) some players on the dark team showed lack of confidence in there teammates. You guys maybe werent as skilled but you could play with us-but you chose not to. The game winner went to Chris Young. Yeah, it was Chris. I looked twice to make sure it wasnt a mistake...hahaha. Anyways...Chris probably had his best night in a long time. Just saying.
*Game 4: An incomplete game with a final score of 3-1. More of the same form the dark team. Two types of quitters and an alienated team. A real shame. I had goal in this one, so it's all good.
Nick's Ramblings
I not trying to sound negative but this may have been the worst quality of opponent I have ever faced in Saugus. Let's get the game quality back up. I dont think Brett and Johnny need to separated to accomplish team "equalness" but the masses want it, so it may be time to make it happen. Though I don't want my alliance to break up, lol. Jared I showed a willingness to change sides, you didn't want it. I still dont understand. Lenny you were very solid this week. Brad that may have been your best week in recent memory. Reggie is still nursing that fake hammy injury, fyi. We missed you though. Brendon last week you wrote the following comment:
Chris, I'll be happy to give you some tips, if you don't mind taking it from someone who has no business giving it (insert a Lenny smiley face here:)
Now let me direct you to my post on August 23rd when I wrote:
Recipe for success. [insert a Lenny smiley face-to show that a clever remark was actually made]<
Are You kidding me???? BB, never call me the recycler of jokes again. At least I recycle my own jokes.
49 comments:
Brett's computer has been down the last week, and now internet at home is out too. Hopefully I will have it straightened out tonight.
As for this past week, the teams weren't as lopsided as they've been in the past, although we obviously had the edge. I think Nick nailed it though: some players on the dark team had already given up, even WHEN THEY WERE WINNING 3-0.
I've got to say, that for his first game in a long time that Lee played pretty well, and I thought Matt S was solid too: he was hustling up and down the rink. For the forwards though, Jared seemed to be by himself too much in the offensive zone. Other people have to step up.
I think a fair trade would have been Nick and Phil for Lenny and either Lee/Matt. That would have given the dark team the best defenseman, but at the same time spread our depth out a little. But alas, Jared didn't want to make a trade!
Jared, the big question: What happened to your alliance?
Gave up!!!! what is that???
Man up Kiddies
...there is no crying or giving up in Hockey!!!!
I want to clarify one small part of the recap that was left out. The fact that we jumped out to a three goal lead was great. We definitely had a chance to win that game. That is until Brett got off the bench and didn't sub again for the rest of the night. The reason Brett got off the bench is because Johnny told Brett to force someone to sub.
Nick, believe it or not your team is a lot easier to play against when you don't have arguably the best player on the night.
Good try Nick. Clearly you are drinking the Johnny and Brett Kool-Aid.
I also want to point out the ridiculous comments from Johnny claiming he is all about fair teams. We can go down the list of match ups if you would like and you can clearly see the advantage for the white team in their top 4-5 players. Effort only gets you so far Nick.
Griff, like I said before: I didn't pick the teams. When I do pick the teams I try to make them as fair as possible.
What hurt you guys is Joe not being there. Because of that there was no one to counter Nick defensively on your team, which you needed since we had 2 of the top 3 forwards.
If you want to compare players though, going into the game we had three of the top 5, but then we also had the bottom 2. Chris' stock had fallen from the past couple of weeks. Now Chris played very well this past week (all it took was a couple of technical adjustments), which had a huge impact on our team, but that's not where Jared was projecting him going into the game.
Love the fact that my smiley faces are making it into comments. Here's one for you guys: :)
With Johnny and Brett on the same team, the opposing team needs a decent center who comes back and plays D. The passing lanes were wide open all night simply because the D was running around and there was no one in the middle to help out.
Brad, for the most part, never moved (so Nick, I don't agree that was his best night in a while), Jared doesn't play D, period, and Matt/Brandon were forced to play C, not their natural positions. I guarantee that if Ron was the center of the Dark team, it'd be a completely different night.
But I don't understand why I was traded to replace Ricky. I think that demoralized the Dark team even more. Poor leadership Jared!!
The curse of Lenny: the dark team never won after that fateful trade!
Johnny - You had three of the five best players. I agree with you but when there are only 5 people on the ice at a time. That means you had the advantage over Jared, Brett had the advantage over me, and Nick had the advantage over Brendon/Matt/Lee.
That is like saying you have the better 1-5 hitters in baseball but the 6,7,8 and 9 hitters were equal. It doesn't matter once you have the best core of the team.
The only time we had a chance was when Brett was on the bench. Like Lenny said we also traded Ricardo who hasn't played all year for Lenny. How does that make the teams more fair.
I don't see that being a huge advantage.
If the goal is to have fair teams why didn't you guys change the teams once we knew Joe wasn't coming? We knew that before we started.
where is everyone today. no big controversy, I think I hear crickets
Brendon, I believe he is talking about myself, Brett, and Nick, with him and Jared being the other two. Based on this past week, you'd have to put Chris there at number 6, and then everyone else on your team before getting back to our team.
Ricky and Phil made some good plays out there, but they are still learning the game so you guys had a sizable depth advantage.
BTW, hopefully Nick is able to post it later, but I made a prototype for a new feature to the site.
Let me know who wants one, and give me some feedback after he has it up.
Fake Hammy! who do i look like... B!@#$N!!!?? I wont be there again this week... my apologies.
john if you're referring to a player card then i definately want one
new feature...I am in!
I think we should do a ranking list of all the players in Saugus. I will start and then prove my point.
Johnny
Jared
Brett
Griff
Nick
Brendon
Lee/Chris (even)
Matt S
Lenny
Bradley/Ricardo (even)
Phil
I'm basing these ranking on past performance overall. This isn't solely offense. It is based on impact in a game on a consistent basis (or one night for Phil and Ricardo).
Let's see everyone elses rankings!
Yes to player cards!
Nick your recap is somewhat right, although i did keep playing pretty hard, just you guys shut me down. It was tough going against chris with brett and/or johnny on me and Nick there to back him up.
It's also tough being the underdog team every week. A lot of times we'll get blown out by johnny and brett because they're team is better, not sure why that's a new concept, I just don't know why they get mad because my team didn't put up enough of a fight for them. If you want to feel better about your wins, keep brett on the bench longer, or johnny could sub a bit more. Try some high risk passes across the middle, or let us keep score, that way the games will be closer but you'll still get the W's.
Hey sometimes I'll have a great week and steve will stand on his head and we'll squeeze out a couple wins. If that doesn't happen, i guess it's because i wasn't trying.
Oh, and that 3-0 lead was the equivelent of the pats 3-0 lead over chicago in superbowl XX.
I'm sure you can all point to a week where your team was overmatched and you won and so can I. But if you had to play those same teams every week, the better team will win the vast majority of games.
when it was 3-0 and we made it 3-1 you guys immediately gave up. You said "oh boy here we go. It was nice having the lead for a bit"
The point is jared, that you have no reason to complain. And when we get sick of hearing you complain and offer a trade, you take what you think is the "high road" and say no.
Stop thinking that a trade is a demotion for one specific player. Or that trading him means he was the only reason his team was losing. A trade is to make the games more competitive.
You said that weeks like last Sunday where me and JR dominated will cause people to stop playing. I think it's more due to your constant blabbering and sarcasm that causes people to not want to come back. If that's what you were really worried about you would have made a trade on one of the 3 times i offered a trade. But i think there is a deeper problem with you........you hate your alliance and you're afraid to say it.
Johnny, for the good of the game, me and you might have to split up. Unlike Matt, i do think it's the only way, especially if Ron and Scott don't show.
If Johnny is the best, then me and Jared should be on the same team.
I agree with the rankings except for jared being above me.
Who needs Ron? Top 5 players per side would be....
Johnny
Griff
Nick
Matt S
Dale
VS
Jared
Brett
Joe
Mike D
Brendon
"Nick, believe it or not your team is a lot easier to play against when you don't have arguably the best player on the night."
Cant the same thing be said when you stopped playing completely? I mean you were the 4th best player there, right? You got off the ice, took your pads off, and pouted. Let me take a line from your book: "WAHHHH!!" There is no excuse for that. None.
Sorry guys, I'm likely to be without the internet for another night (on my grandmother's computer right now).
I'm expecting a lot of posts by tomorrow!
I'm 50/50 at best for this week
As far as doing trades, the one week I was a captain and Nick offered my a trade I knew I should take it, but it was more a pride thing.
No one wants to admit they can't win with the the team they have, they want to overcome it and win.
Not saying that right, but I know that how I felt
lenny, focus on my trade offers. lol.
Brett's right about 1 thing, i'm stuck in a bad alliance and can't get out.
I also agree brett has been the second best player there. so why team him up with johnny? Are you waiting for me to say mercy? NO MAS! You proved whatever point you guys have been trying to prove. Put the best two players together, add the best defensemen and you'll win. YAY.
When we found out Joe couldn't make it, i had to pry Lee away from Brett who origionally said the teams are fine anyways. Why don't you guys want a challenge? I remember when a challenge confronted brett when johnny was out for 5 minutes last year. He freaked out and made a scene cuz his binky wasn't there!
Jared, you were the first to form an Alliance!
I always like the teams to be fair. If I was picking the teams this past Sunday then I would have tried to rework them when I heard Joe wouldn't be there - maybe give you Nick and Phil for Matt and Lenny or something like that.
Ultimately I like being on Brett's team - not because we're trying to overwhelm anyone the other team. We just simply have a great chemistry playing together, and it helps to elevate our play. I'd also think having a challenge like that would make it fun for everyone else (providing the teams were otherwise fair).
If Ron were to make it more then we do have another very good offensive player (and the other part of Jared's alliance). However, if the answer ultimately has to be that we have to be put on separate teams, then that's how we'll work it out.
I'm sure we'll be discussing it throughout the week.
Well I think everyone here has valid points but it doesn't change the outcome of last week. I thought that Griff made a good point,if it's true that brett didn't sub out for the rest of the game when losing 3-0 that is a good strategy but bad team work, IF thats true.In game 2 when we were winning 3-0 I realized that we hadn't subbed yet so i subbed with Bradley who was to play the offense.I am sorry to say this Brad but It was not your night. That was a big turning point of that game. 2 quick goals and a frustrated Lee.
Also the lenny trade was rediculous and we all know it, no need to get into that but let the record show that I would have accepted a trade with no pride to stop me. Lenny is right too we had no true center. But most importantly, and something I can't stand is someone who walks out on his team. Just to let us get even more embarrised but without him. I am not as talented a player as you but I AM more of a teammate and a competiter. I felt like we were in a burning house and you ran out to let us die. This is the second time this has happened and probebly not the last so we desperatly need even teams to prevent this from happening again.That being said, see you all next week
Matt, I disagree with you a little bit regarding Brad...from my perspective he was pretty decent as a center this week - at least defensively.
I do think that it's harder to pick even teams then people may realize.
We can propose some teams tomorrow and see which ones everyone likes.
pry lee away? really? pry?
He was your first suggestion, we didn't even argue if you should get Lee or not.
As far as what happened last year when Johnny got hurt, the teams were even and then i lost my teams best player. I asked for a trade cause i didn't think Johnny was coming back after getting hit in the eye. All i did was ask for a trade and you said no. So apparently you wanted to capitalize on the unfair advantage you had with Johnny out.
Or how about when a month or so ago, Jared and Johnny were killing the other team and tried to sqeeze in a fifth game? So i don't want to here you go on a self-righteous rant about competition when you yourself admit to trying to capitalize on "shallow wins"
Sorry Matt but I spend my Sunday nights at hockey to have fun. My version of fun doesn't include Johnny and Brett scoring a million points against a clearly inferior opponent.
I'm pretty sure our entire team was demoralized and no one was putting in a 110%.
I guess I'm a bad teammate. I hope this doesn't hurt my contract negotiations!?!?!
Jim Zorn got fired at 5:30 am.... Contract negotiations can change at any time!!!
WOW! jared has people on his alliance he didn't even know he had.
Just goes to show why that alliance is falling apart.
But atleast Brendon is one part of his alliance that shows every week. The key is to not pick people that aren't committed to saugus.(you know who i'm talking about. His first name starts with an R and ends with a N and it rhymes with DON)
1-3-09
You’re as good as your record says you are.
5 Jared - 5 goals is 5 goals. Probably should have had only 3. Say goodbye to achieving that record breaking season if this is how he’s gonna play from now on. Sadly, as bad as he played, he still gets the 5 spot. Brendon was very close to getting this spot.
4 Chris - Jared still got by him a few times, but his ability to play good D was multiplied by 10 this past week. And all it took was a few tips on how to play verse Jared(it only took a few cause Jared is a 1 dimensional player). It’s nice to have a player who actually listens to the advice he receives and puts it to good use.
3 Nick - Solid D. I could stop there but I won’t. Nick anchored the other side of the defensive zone. And with a goalie who was shaky in my opinion, letting up so few shots attests to the great D that the white team put out on the ice
2 Brett - 9 assists. Making up for the week he had none. He’s out of the hunt for scoring leader but that hasn’t stopped him from racking up the points. All his goals were terrible
1 Johnny - 9 goals hmmm, pretty good. But compared to what he should have had it’s not. Johnny had glorious chances all night long and only managed to bury 9. Ha, only. Still, he gets the top spot cause as I pointed out in the beginning….9 goals is 9 goals
Honorable Mention:
Brendon - Already recognized for almost getting the 5th spot. That's 2 weeks in a row where Brendon has been solid and performing above expectation.
Dis-Honorable Mention:
Steve - I hate to do this but if Steve plays they way we all know he can, the dark team atleast steals a win. He made some saves that he shouldn't have, but he let in too many soft goals for my liking. The constant three on ones didn't help. But Steve has the ability to change a game, and i haven't seen him use that ability in a little while. Time to shine Steve
Helloooooo, is anyone out there. A boring week for blogging I guess.
And for those who complain about how the white team got Lenny after Ricardo got hurt, Lenny was 1 of only 2 players that night not to register a point. So did the white team get better when taking Lenny? Not so sure about that
Wooo hooo ranked #4
First of all I would like to thank my peers, and my family who have made this all possible, and of course my teamates with the wisdom to slap me around when i needed it!
I would like to thank Jared for making me look better than I actually am, (I'll give you the 20 bucks later)
I would like to thank Ron and other guys who don't show up and actually give me the opportunity to rank!
actually I am extremely bored at work and was looking forward to some decent blogs.
Since when has making a trade become so taboo?
We use to make 1 or 2 trades every week back when Borges was playing
No one is untradable
Recognize that I can always get better!, no matter how much you disagree with someones criticism, or yelling, there is always something that you can do to change that.
so don't fight it. Learn whatever you can to improve, and keep working on it. Take in whatever you can and don't respond negatively!
I think the teams the other night definitely helped me to play better, but I got something that i can use each night, that at times makes me look good. We all know I like to look good!!
since Ron is gone, can we have anonymous back?
Ron was clearly just trying to dismantle this site so that everyone would go to his new one.
no. i havent posted anonymous for about 6 mnths. but i use to. and i remember how fun it use to be
i just want more people to comment. apparently everyones afraid to speak when they have to attach their names
Ron has a new site?? or is that a joke!!!
he has a site...no joke.
brendon, you are more than welcome to join our dysfunctional alliance.
Reggie come and visit me at hockey8.com
Since I have so few posters you'd be able post all day and all night and I guarantee you won't be interrupted.
Actually the truth is, I'm a little disappointed and bored over at the Hockey Blogger.
The ice hockey guys don't know how to get people fired up.
There is no challenge for me on the ice and no challenge in the blogs.
since when was there another alliance? I'm sorry Griff if I sound a bit miffed but I just want the old Griff back. Especially if he's on my team. And I can honestly say that Lee, Jared and me put forth 110% even though my skills don't show it and if I am tired beyond control. I knew the teams were uneven before the game started and was mortified with the trade and I do believe Lenny had a goal when he went to the other team, but I not going to just sit there and watch! I paid 10 bucks. It's More distracting and demoralizing to play with one of your best players ont hte bench. "YOU GO WE GO" didn't you see Backdraft, or was that Rated "R" I saw it on TV anyway :)
Sorry John but from our prospective Brad was a statue out there for the most part, and I feel bad because for a couple of weeks in a row he was playing out of his mind. But I know how it is, sometimes you have a lot on your mind and don't play well. It just seemed worse cause we did"t have a lot of subs
I need spell check
You should also stop talking to yourself :)
Finally got the internet back!
I will be posting tomorrow some proposed teams and whatnot...anything so that you are not bored at work Chris!
Let me know if the sample player card looks messed up for other people. It works fine for Nick, but doesn't look good on my computer.
I got it to work on mine now...give us your feedback guys.
Ron, is that goalie planning on playing this week? Also, are you planning on being there? Your alliance needs a lot of support!
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