Golden Nugz for 2.13.09
by PJS on Feb 13, 2009 2:00 AM CST
in Golden Nuggets
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PrintSo, the men's hockey team is playing so poorly that Alaska-Anchorage bloggers are taking pot-shots at the U. Not cool.
This from the curiously named UAA Hockey Fan Blog.
It is time to face the evil. Tomorrow night the UAA Seawolves take on America's Team. They are the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys combined. When one thinks of college hockey; one thinks of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and that upside down W. Seriously, what font has an M with queerly splayed legs? An "M" has straight legs everywhere on Yahweh's green earth except in Minnesota.Lucia is Sauron, the Roman Emperor, Xerxes, Longshanks, the Borg, Dick Cheney and yes ... the Grinch; he is embodiment of whatever evil nasty opponent you can think of. I bet he is from Iceland.It's always sweet to beat the Gophs. Ask any of the WCHA teams that have swept them recently. Their burgers and fries tasted better all week after downing the ugly M's. Defeating evil is like that.
You really have to hand it to the Alaskans, and there's no doubting the writer here knows a thing or two about facing evil. I mean, for how many years have our Alaskan friends stared down the Rooskies?
- So, 4-star RB Travis Ward is eligible, according to the PiPress, but because wide receivers coach George McDonald just bolted for the Cleveland Browns, Wardnis saying "I don't know what I'm going to do yet."
- Iowa's Kirk Ferentz has a new contract that will have him in Iowa until 2015--though no pay increase.
- MgoBlog is now demanding donations from readers.
- I disagree with Jim Tressell. According to the Columbus Post Dispatch, the OSU coach is opposing a potential NCAA rule change that would nullify touchdowns if an unsportsmanlike penalty (taunting) is called on the scoring team during the play. Essentially, it would make an unsportsmanlike penalty a live ball infraction. (HT-Rittenberg)
- When Don Lucia's boys try to get healthy this weekend against Alaska-Anchorage, the Gophers will be playing a team in turmoil, writes Roman Augustoviz. Is this a must-sweep weekend?
- Three Gophers baseball players--left fielder Eric Decker, center fielder Matt Nohelty and reliever Scott Matyas have been named to the Big Ten's preseason all-conference team.
- Finally, reminder to all of you. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Don't forget!
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Context on the MGOBLOG donations...
…that post is up there from the Wolverine Liberation Army, who is one of a series of guest-posters since Brian (MGOBLOG creator) is on vacation. Content is down a bit so this is yet another of their somewhat comedic posts.
For an example of their comedy, have a look at the “Upon Further Review” that was posted just below the request for cash. It’s a “recap” of the 2008 Michigan – Ohio State game, and it veers back to the mid-90s in the second quarter. Very funny.
Other JG notes:
(1) The Gophers are the Yankees and Cowboys combined? Is there anything else for these Alaska fans to do other than make up levels of evil? Since when is Gopher hockey evil? Try Michigan State and the thugs who were thrown off their team last month for going Todd Bertuzzi on a Michigan player.
(2) Will Trabis Ward be the next victim of musical coaches at the U? Running back is a position of relative strength for the Gophers so I’m not too concerned if he doesn’t show. But, I’d still like him, since Bennett is small, Eskridge is good but not elite, and Lipscomb should probably redshirt.
Now having written down our RB options, I think we better get this guy on campus. We’re one injury away from having to burn a redshirt.
(3) Why do you disagree with the Sweater Vest? I only agree if these taunting penalties can be reviewed. I don’t want referees negating touchdowns just because a player gets excited and pumps his arm. I realize there are extremes that can be argued here, but this opens up a can of worms.
On the extreme – what if a guy celebrates on a game-winning play prior to crossing the end zone and it’s deemed taunting, even though it’s really not? What if Decker is deemed to taunt the Iowa sideline during a game-winning touchdown to go to the Rose Bowl and it’s called back, and we lose as a result of the call?
This is college. Part of the fun is kids having fun. If they want to make it a business proposition, start paying the kids (oops, er, SEC), or just let them go to the NFL.
(3) I’m considering a FanPost about the Decker issue (ego alert). If he gets drafted high in the MLB draft, would he leave the football program? I’ll lay out the arguments in more detail, but I’m hoping one more go around with his best friend and a year at TCF sway his mind.
On disagreeing with Sweater Vest...
I just like the idea of having real ramifications for taunting. A penalty on a subsequent kickoff isn’t a real deterrant.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
You're right....
….but I think the penalty is disproportionate given the money paid by fans to watch games and emotions of 18 – 22 year old men.
Some context
If you think that “taking pot shots” is “not cool” then apparently you don’t read too much about college sports or perhaps sports in general. Busting other fanbases chops and disrespecting them in general is part of the milieux. And anything I’ve written about the Gophs this week greatly pales in comparison to what I’ve written about them in the past.
And “UAA Hockey Fan Blog” is “curiously named”? As compared to what? The nonsensical “Daily Gopher”? Are you kidding? LOL. Since when is “Daily” a reasonable descriptor for the proper noun “Gopher”? Thanks for the ironic moment. I fail to see how the most directly descriptive name for my blog’s purpose is curious. It’s a “Blog” about “UAA Hockey” written by a “Fan” for other fans.
Here’s a snippet from my Wednesday post:
Quite simply the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers program and its fans can claim just about any “best of” title with regard to college hockey. They have the long and storied history dripping with tradition, success and respect. Every team that plays against them gets up for them. They play in the premier college hockey arena in the country. I doubt any real Gopher would go into the bathrooms at Mariucci to take a dump. Seriously, the joint is like a shrine to Gopher hockey. Shrine’s are religious right? Okay then the Mariucci has got to be pretty much like a church to Gopher fans. Right on I say. If I was a Gopher fan I’d hit the head at my house before I headed out to the John.
Yeah … it’s a better rink than the Ralph. Why? Because it was built for hockey and nothing but hockey. The Ralph wasn’t and they play hockey on a stupid NHL sized sheet. The college hockey crowd in Minnesota recognized that the game is better on an full sheet.
And writers/media-types in Minnesota have little room to criticize me. The most common form in your provincial state is to refer to my school is AA (even in the “real” press?). That’s not the schools name. It’s UAA. Frank Mazzaco called the Seawolves …Seapuppies … twice during last years broadcast on FSN. So … um … look in your own closet before travelling 2500 miles to criticize mine.
Duhhhh ....
In the last 8 games versus UofM, the Seawolves are a disappointing 2-5-1 but 8 games is a long time ago for both teams. More relevant might be the results of the last 8 games for each team.
UAA in it’s last 8 games = 3-3-2 (msu-m, mtu, du, scsu)
UofM in it’s last 8 games = 2-6-0 (und, scsu, msu-m, wi)
Only one WCHA team has swept the Seawolves this season as they went 0-4 against the red menace to your east. UAA has at least one win against every other team. The Gophers haven’t beaten two WCHA teams this year – und, bucky. UAA split a 2 game series with SCCC while the Gophs took 4 games from them. The only common non-conference opponent was Northeastern … the upside-down W’s beat them 3-2 in OT and UAA lost 4-2. Anyone making book on this series based on all that info would put this series at pretty close to even money.
Of course the 30 year history of domination is something you can always hang your hat on. But that’s best left for after the game crowing since it has zero relevance this weekend.
I’m actually familiar with the history of “Ski-U-Mah” having read something about it’s origin and signifigance; no doubt unlike your familiarity with anything Alaska other than boringly lame parodies of some empty headed bimbo ex-beauty contestant who smiled her way into being Governor (416 on her verbal SATs). Be honest … don’t google anything but name one interesting fact about Alaska that isn’t commonly known. You personally may be able to come up with something but typically the level of ignorance about the 49th state down there is quite astounding.
But I already knew that Minnesotans are provincial thinkers.
Enjoy the games UAA....
…….I’d try to engage you here but you seem more interested in insulting the reader instead of forcefully arguing your points. And here I thought I trended negative in my commentary.
And, I’m not sure whether you’re disapproving of your governor or the parodies of your governor. She’s harmless as we’ve found out, and easy on the eyes.
If you ever want to talk about how Alaska is one of the areas at the forefront of the current race by nations to declare underwater shelf areas due to the pending UN Convention of the Law of the Sea deadline for claims, and how the U.S. is on the outside looking in because Congress never signed the Convention, feel free to contact me. (knowledge provided by law school and the Economist magazine, not by Google).
I will enjoy ...
Gee … I thought a couple of hundred words comparing and contrasting the Gophs/Seawolves and summarizing that it’s probably even money was a reasonable argument in response to your SkiUMah cheerleading. Forceful? Perhaps not to you but I’ll leave it up to other readers to decide.
I’m disapproving of both the Governher and the insipid stereotypical parodies she invites by her stupidity (416 Verbal SATs) …. “Easy on the eyes”? Yeah … And Jesse Ventura knows how to do a figure-4 leglock … neither of those attributes make for good governance.
And thanks but no thanks for the invitation to discuss international ocean issues here but I’ll find a blog specific to that if I get a hankering. Congrats anyway on not using Mt. Spurr as some sort of evidence of your lack of ignorance about Alaska. More than I expected but nonetheless unrepresentative of your fellow state citizenry.
Cheers UAA...
…I’m being sincere here. Enjoy the games tonight and tomorrow, and I hope you will vigorously discuss them with us after the series is over, regardless how they turn out.
And an honest question, because I took the ACT. Isn’t there a separate section of Verbal, and then another section on the SAT? Yeah. I found it. Allegedly here it is…
http://www.buzzfeed.com/scott/sarah-palins-sat-scores
Math – she did worse, only 416 (you are not giving her proper credit for the 425 in verbal – heh). Combined 841. You’re right – not that good.
Hence
Allegedly. Though not conclusive, her interviews lend a little weight to that doc.
She’s still a looker for a Governor.
Questionable
I have seen this on several websites before—and they are always off the wall ones—never any reputable news sources. I know that term “reputable news source” has become a debated topic of late, but I still have a lot more faith in newspapers, CNN, et al. Also, aren’t all SAT scores divisible by 10? I didn’t think you could have a 425 or 416. Only 410, 420,430, etc.
I do agree that scholastic aptitude is not a strong part of her resume.
My favorite Alaska fact
I recall in the 2004 election, Alaska had this as a ballot measure:
Would legalize the cultivation, use and sale of marijuana for persons 21 and older; the state and local government would regulate marijuana like alcohol and tobacco; doctors would be able to prescribe drugs to all patients, including children; public use laws could be enacted by the government as well as laws in the interest of public safety.
I thought it was interesting because they were actually trying to legalize it for recreational use. It interesting because of the paradox it would have created with federal laws and what sort of showdown we would have seen in the Supreme Court had it passed (Alaskans voted it down 56-44). I don’t know any of the background behind it, but I personally think the state wanted to do it to get a spike in tourism (which I’m sure it would have).
My last comment ...
I don’t think I ever heard of tourism as a rationale for legalization. Moreso it is the fact that Alaska is a big time “individual rights” state. A guarantee of privacy is in the constitution; there’s lots of Libertarians here consequently such personal freedom issues have long been present in the politics.
My favorite Minnesota fact:
That Mankato was intended to be called Mahkato but some poor penmanship by some stupid “founder” messed it up.
Didn't you mean to say...
….that the Supreme Court justices have interpreted the Constitution to infer, from the penumbras and emanations found in several Constitutional Amendments, that a right to privacy exists?
It’s not explicitly written anywhere in the document.
The Court....
…only held that such a “right to privacy” exists in 1970, almost 180 years after the Constitution was entered into.
Just dying for an argument aren't you?
It is in the “Alaska State Constitution” … I should have said that but since I was talking about Alaska it didn’t occur to me.
States with privacy clauses (rights) …
Alaska
Arizona
California
Florida
Hawaii
Illinois
Louisiana
Montana
South Carolina
Washington
Fair enough....
….I’m a lawyer, I argue all day long.
To be honest, I’m surprised more states don’t have the explicit privacy clause.
My New 2nd Favorite Team
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. UAA and UW have much in common. Well, ONE thing in common but that’s enough for me. Welcome UAAFanBlog and good luck to the SeaPupp….oh, I can’t do it.
Mark 8:36
LOL
This comment thread is too funny.
To the writer of the AA Hockey Fan Blog, I find it highly amusing that you thought that I was seriously offended and upset when I noted you were taking pot-shots at the U (you were). And in a Sarah Palin having a press conference in front of a turkey slaughter sort of way, it is not cool.
And on the comment that the AA Hockey Fan Blog is curiously named, it was obviously intended to be ironic. The AA Fan Blog is quite certainly not curiously named. I mean, you’re an AA Fan. It’s a blog about hockey. Hence AA Hockey Fan Blog. Brilliant!
During the time we launched this blog, we had 3 finalists for the blog name. Runners up were Gopher Gazette and U of M Sports Fan Blog. Finally, we settled on The Daily Gopher because we liked the Daily part to suggest to readers we’d update daily and, well, the logo is a play on The Daily Planet.
Maroon and Gold Headquarters: The Daily Gopher
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