Hipchecks - A Phoenix Coyotes Blog
Social media and this years playoffs have slightly diminished my passion for the great sport of hockey. The internet has become a virtual playground for cyber bullies. What used to be good natured ribbing between rival fans has turned into offensive words and, at times, threats.
I understand these people would most likely never follow through on such threats but the negativity is everywhere and I do not like to read such hatred. I try to be a positive person. Even though nothing has been personally directed at me, it is difficult to read such hate and it is almost impossible to avoid it unless you stay off social media.
What happens when one of those cyber bullies takes his or her threats to the game? Innocent people can be hurt. Why is there so much outrage when a child is bullied online but we all stand by as fellow "fans" put down, threaten, abuse and mistreat other fans? Why is this ok?
There is plenty of research about bullying in the workplace. It causes undue stress, medical problems and lead to violence, by the bully or the bullied. I wrote a research paper on workplace bullying for my masters program; these issues are real. I can only imagine the results would be similar amongst sports fans.
I have seen tweets, comments etc and it makes me feel ashamed to be a fan of the NHL. I am reaching the point I no longer enjoy watching. I'd rather watch other levels of the sport than the NHL but then you hear stories of parents bullying coaches or children. It is all just deplorable.
The anonymity of the internet makes people think it is ok to act like this. Yet when they go out in public they never utter a word to the opposing fans. Why is this? Because they know their actions are wrong. They feel they are getting away with something online and no one is hurt by it.
This years playoffs have become about attacking fans of other teams, not jokes about the team, the on ice play. Even when a joke is made about a team, the response is an insult to the fan, some kind of personal attack.
On twitter I have seen people retweet personal attacks. I have gotten so tired of seeing retweets of "fans" calling rival fans fags and cunts and various other insulting, hurtful words. I know some people find these attacks funny, that the person can't think of anything better to say then insult someone else.
I have seen a Coyotes blogger received threats by email. Someone in Quebec threatened to come to the first game of round one and beat him up. He didn't say it in quite as eloquent of terms though. There were many other insults and threats added in. A broadcaster has received threats after saying a hit was clean right after it happened, even though a few minutes later he retracted when he was able to see a replay. This is getting ridiculous. This is taking a game too far.
This time of year should be fun for fans. Our teams are battling for the Stanley Cup. The greatest trophy in sports. We should be focused on supporting them not afraid we may receive a threat or a tweet about what fucking cunts we are or how only fucking fags would cheer for that team or other such demeaning slurs. On top of this bullying, as a Coyotes fan we are still dealing with those who think we know nothing about hockey, we don't deserve a team, and the Coyotes should be moved to Canada immediately. After three years or so, it becomes tiresome.
I'd like to say, grow up. Don't post anything on line you wouldn't say to someones face. Stick to the team if you feel the urge to participate in some good, old fashioned ribbing. Tell me the Coyotes and Predators are going to be boring, low scoring games. Tell me Yandle or DMo will assist on the other teams goals. Find something about the play on ice to joke about. Do not insult me as a fan. I may have been an NHL fan longer thatn you realize, longer than the Coyotes have been in Phoenix. You do not know me, I don't know you. Let's leave it on the ice for round two. no comments
I understand these people would most likely never follow through on such threats but the negativity is everywhere and I do not like to read such hatred. I try to be a positive person. Even though nothing has been personally directed at me, it is difficult to read such hate and it is almost impossible to avoid it unless you stay off social media.
What happens when one of those cyber bullies takes his or her threats to the game? Innocent people can be hurt. Why is there so much outrage when a child is bullied online but we all stand by as fellow "fans" put down, threaten, abuse and mistreat other fans? Why is this ok?
There is plenty of research about bullying in the workplace. It causes undue stress, medical problems and lead to violence, by the bully or the bullied. I wrote a research paper on workplace bullying for my masters program; these issues are real. I can only imagine the results would be similar amongst sports fans.
I have seen tweets, comments etc and it makes me feel ashamed to be a fan of the NHL. I am reaching the point I no longer enjoy watching. I'd rather watch other levels of the sport than the NHL but then you hear stories of parents bullying coaches or children. It is all just deplorable.
The anonymity of the internet makes people think it is ok to act like this. Yet when they go out in public they never utter a word to the opposing fans. Why is this? Because they know their actions are wrong. They feel they are getting away with something online and no one is hurt by it.
This years playoffs have become about attacking fans of other teams, not jokes about the team, the on ice play. Even when a joke is made about a team, the response is an insult to the fan, some kind of personal attack.
On twitter I have seen people retweet personal attacks. I have gotten so tired of seeing retweets of "fans" calling rival fans fags and cunts and various other insulting, hurtful words. I know some people find these attacks funny, that the person can't think of anything better to say then insult someone else.
I have seen a Coyotes blogger received threats by email. Someone in Quebec threatened to come to the first game of round one and beat him up. He didn't say it in quite as eloquent of terms though. There were many other insults and threats added in. A broadcaster has received threats after saying a hit was clean right after it happened, even though a few minutes later he retracted when he was able to see a replay. This is getting ridiculous. This is taking a game too far.
This time of year should be fun for fans. Our teams are battling for the Stanley Cup. The greatest trophy in sports. We should be focused on supporting them not afraid we may receive a threat or a tweet about what fucking cunts we are or how only fucking fags would cheer for that team or other such demeaning slurs. On top of this bullying, as a Coyotes fan we are still dealing with those who think we know nothing about hockey, we don't deserve a team, and the Coyotes should be moved to Canada immediately. After three years or so, it becomes tiresome.
I'd like to say, grow up. Don't post anything on line you wouldn't say to someones face. Stick to the team if you feel the urge to participate in some good, old fashioned ribbing. Tell me the Coyotes and Predators are going to be boring, low scoring games. Tell me Yandle or DMo will assist on the other teams goals. Find something about the play on ice to joke about. Do not insult me as a fan. I may have been an NHL fan longer thatn you realize, longer than the Coyotes have been in Phoenix. You do not know me, I don't know you. Let's leave it on the ice for round two. no comments
Over the past several years I have heard many fans say that the playoff tradition of the Coyotes Whiteout needs to change. There have been many reasons bandied about such as it is cursed, it is not our tradition, Winnipeg has a team now so let them have it etc etc etc.
Even with a new owner I don't think the Whiteout will ever change nor should it. It is well known in the Valley. People who have never seen a Coyotes game know the Whiteout. I've had people ask me about it before completely out of left field. There is nothing like a Whiteout atmosphere for hockey.
In person the sight gives you goosebumps. There is electricity in the air. Everyone knows these are the big games; the games we fought so hard to get to since September (or earlier if you want to add free agency). Walking in early and seeing all those white pom poms or t shirts against the red seats is just a sight to behold. Then the arena starts filling up and you see almost everyone wearing white, weather it is the free t shirt handed out at the gate, their jersey or even a full on white suit. The images of Whiteouts past are burned in my mind. The commercials, the pictures, the sounds... it all comes to mind and gives me goosebumps just sitting here.
Without the Whiteout what would our fans wear to games? This is just one of the people who go all out for the Whiteout but that's right, Phoenix doesn't have hockey fans. Yes, I helped him with his face paint.
If you have ever listened to any interview by any Coyotes player about the Whiteout they mention how amazing the atmosphere is when they first step out onto the ice for a home game. They are amazed at the support of the crowd and seeing all that white. It makes a difference to them. They want to win for the fans in white.
On tv, it makes quite the visual impact. I believe more so than the "sea of red" does (which would be another option for the Coyotes with the "sedona red" jerseys). The only other color I have seen that comes close to the Whiteout is the all black in LA. Maybe it's because the seats are already red so I am used to seeing red at games but it just doesn't make the same impact to me as white and black do. Or maybe because black and white are such a stark contrast to most other colors. I don't know why but those two colors make a bigger statement. Maybe it has something to do with the white crowd and the white ice transforming an entire arena that makes such a visual impact. The ice is white and the stands are reflecting the ice.
I don't know but there is just something about seeing all that white, even if it is just the t shirts draped over the seats.
The other color suggested has been tan, as in sandstorm. I get the idea behind it and that makes sense but tan isn't going to have as huge of an impact. It's a bland neutral. It certainly wouldn't make as much of an impact as white. And do you think the Detroit fans would be willing to wear a tan t shirt like they were to wear their white Redwings jerseys? Doubtful. We were lucky we even got them to wear white.
As far as it being "Winnipeg's" tradition? Ok, it was at one point then the team, along with all the players, retired numbers and traditions moved to Phoenix. The whiteout came with. The Coyotes hold the copyright for the Whiteout in the US (I believe the Thrashers have now obtained the Canadian copyright, but I could be wrong about this. I thought I had read that). If Winnipeg wants to have a Whiteout too, that is their prerogative. If they want to continue Atlanta's tradition (was there one?), they can do that too since the are the former Atlanta Thrashers and should own that history much as we own the true/first Winnipeg Jets history. Besides, giving up on the Whiteout means those fans win; they get partially what they wanted. Might as well have given them the team last year. Lets prove how great of fans we really are and rally behind the Whiteout and the players. Be loud and proud but wear white!
We don't need to create our "own" tradition. The Whiteout is our tradition. We were the Jets. They moved here and brought the Whiteout. We have been using it for the past 15 years (minus those few in the FOG era where we didn't actually make the playoffs). It is ours and we need to embrace it and go with it. Show the rest of the NHL why the Whiteout is ours and why they should be jealous.
"But we haven't gotten out of the first round with the whiteout!" Ok, so when Gretzky was the coach, was it the fans fault that the Coyotes didn't make the playoffs? Is it the fans fault when Yandle yandles the puck and we lose the game? Is it the fans who caused Vrby to be a 30+ goal scorer? In all reality, no. That is the coaches and the guys on the ice. What we fans wear to games isn't going to affect the outcome. It pains me to say this because I like to believe what I wear matters but in all reality, it doesn't. It wouldn't matter if I wore the same pair of underwear (clean of course) to every game we won. My underwear is not the reason the team won. All we can do to support our team to victory is show up and cheer our lungs out.
Ok, so we're cursed you say? Oh yah? How so? Because we can't win a round 1? Could it be that the other team was better than us or had more in their tanks than we did? Could it be that our Captain went down with a shoulder injury at a crucial time? No... it has to be the Whiteout. Oh puh-lease!
Here's a curse or two (I also googled to add to the list but found no mention of a Whiteout curse):
Ever heard of the Bambino? Check with the Red Sox fans.
Pretty sure the only cursed team in Phoenix is the Cardinals. And it is a pretty lame curse dating way back before they were ever in Phoenix.
Don't get me started on the Chicago teams curses...
One could say Buffalo is cursed.
Ask a NY Ranger fan when they won a Cup prior to 1994 was. Go ahead... ask them.
Apparently the brand Gillette is a curse too. Let's ask Tiger about that one. ;)
Let's see... there is also the curse for being on the cover of pretty much any sports related video game.
At least the Dbacks have won something. That means at least our city isn't cursed. Take comfort in that people. :D The Whiteout is not cursed. The last two years we have had a good team but not the best and we were up against Detroit. I know everyone hates Detroit but you have to admit that is one talented team regardless of how most of their fans act at games. Two years ago Doan went down with a shoulder injury. Last year Douchegalov decided he'd rather start dreaming about how much money he could screw out of Philly. I wasn't here in the early years so I cannot speak to why we didn't win those games but I am sure it was not because of the Whiteout. It could be because this team has never had a powerplay. Maybe we have a powerplay curse?!?!?!
So after all that talk, I say keep the Whiteout. It is ours. It is not cursed. And it is damn amazing to see on tv and in person.
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Even with a new owner I don't think the Whiteout will ever change nor should it. It is well known in the Valley. People who have never seen a Coyotes game know the Whiteout. I've had people ask me about it before completely out of left field. There is nothing like a Whiteout atmosphere for hockey.
In person the sight gives you goosebumps. There is electricity in the air. Everyone knows these are the big games; the games we fought so hard to get to since September (or earlier if you want to add free agency). Walking in early and seeing all those white pom poms or t shirts against the red seats is just a sight to behold. Then the arena starts filling up and you see almost everyone wearing white, weather it is the free t shirt handed out at the gate, their jersey or even a full on white suit. The images of Whiteouts past are burned in my mind. The commercials, the pictures, the sounds... it all comes to mind and gives me goosebumps just sitting here.
Without the Whiteout what would our fans wear to games? This is just one of the people who go all out for the Whiteout but that's right, Phoenix doesn't have hockey fans. Yes, I helped him with his face paint.
If you have ever listened to any interview by any Coyotes player about the Whiteout they mention how amazing the atmosphere is when they first step out onto the ice for a home game. They are amazed at the support of the crowd and seeing all that white. It makes a difference to them. They want to win for the fans in white.
On tv, it makes quite the visual impact. I believe more so than the "sea of red" does (which would be another option for the Coyotes with the "sedona red" jerseys). The only other color I have seen that comes close to the Whiteout is the all black in LA. Maybe it's because the seats are already red so I am used to seeing red at games but it just doesn't make the same impact to me as white and black do. Or maybe because black and white are such a stark contrast to most other colors. I don't know why but those two colors make a bigger statement. Maybe it has something to do with the white crowd and the white ice transforming an entire arena that makes such a visual impact. The ice is white and the stands are reflecting the ice.
I don't know but there is just something about seeing all that white, even if it is just the t shirts draped over the seats.
The other color suggested has been tan, as in sandstorm. I get the idea behind it and that makes sense but tan isn't going to have as huge of an impact. It's a bland neutral. It certainly wouldn't make as much of an impact as white. And do you think the Detroit fans would be willing to wear a tan t shirt like they were to wear their white Redwings jerseys? Doubtful. We were lucky we even got them to wear white.
As far as it being "Winnipeg's" tradition? Ok, it was at one point then the team, along with all the players, retired numbers and traditions moved to Phoenix. The whiteout came with. The Coyotes hold the copyright for the Whiteout in the US (I believe the Thrashers have now obtained the Canadian copyright, but I could be wrong about this. I thought I had read that). If Winnipeg wants to have a Whiteout too, that is their prerogative. If they want to continue Atlanta's tradition (was there one?), they can do that too since the are the former Atlanta Thrashers and should own that history much as we own the true/first Winnipeg Jets history. Besides, giving up on the Whiteout means those fans win; they get partially what they wanted. Might as well have given them the team last year. Lets prove how great of fans we really are and rally behind the Whiteout and the players. Be loud and proud but wear white!
We don't need to create our "own" tradition. The Whiteout is our tradition. We were the Jets. They moved here and brought the Whiteout. We have been using it for the past 15 years (minus those few in the FOG era where we didn't actually make the playoffs). It is ours and we need to embrace it and go with it. Show the rest of the NHL why the Whiteout is ours and why they should be jealous.
"But we haven't gotten out of the first round with the whiteout!" Ok, so when Gretzky was the coach, was it the fans fault that the Coyotes didn't make the playoffs? Is it the fans fault when Yandle yandles the puck and we lose the game? Is it the fans who caused Vrby to be a 30+ goal scorer? In all reality, no. That is the coaches and the guys on the ice. What we fans wear to games isn't going to affect the outcome. It pains me to say this because I like to believe what I wear matters but in all reality, it doesn't. It wouldn't matter if I wore the same pair of underwear (clean of course) to every game we won. My underwear is not the reason the team won. All we can do to support our team to victory is show up and cheer our lungs out.
Ok, so we're cursed you say? Oh yah? How so? Because we can't win a round 1? Could it be that the other team was better than us or had more in their tanks than we did? Could it be that our Captain went down with a shoulder injury at a crucial time? No... it has to be the Whiteout. Oh puh-lease!
Here's a curse or two (I also googled to add to the list but found no mention of a Whiteout curse):
Ever heard of the Bambino? Check with the Red Sox fans.
Pretty sure the only cursed team in Phoenix is the Cardinals. And it is a pretty lame curse dating way back before they were ever in Phoenix.
Don't get me started on the Chicago teams curses...
One could say Buffalo is cursed.
Ask a NY Ranger fan when they won a Cup prior to 1994 was. Go ahead... ask them.
Apparently the brand Gillette is a curse too. Let's ask Tiger about that one. ;)
Let's see... there is also the curse for being on the cover of pretty much any sports related video game.
At least the Dbacks have won something. That means at least our city isn't cursed. Take comfort in that people. :D The Whiteout is not cursed. The last two years we have had a good team but not the best and we were up against Detroit. I know everyone hates Detroit but you have to admit that is one talented team regardless of how most of their fans act at games. Two years ago Doan went down with a shoulder injury. Last year Douchegalov decided he'd rather start dreaming about how much money he could screw out of Philly. I wasn't here in the early years so I cannot speak to why we didn't win those games but I am sure it was not because of the Whiteout. It could be because this team has never had a powerplay. Maybe we have a powerplay curse?!?!?!
So after all that talk, I say keep the Whiteout. It is ours. It is not cursed. And it is damn amazing to see on tv and in person.
no comments
The other day I purchased my playoff tickets AND upgraded to a full season ticket holder (again). Why? Because this team is going to stay here. This is where they belong and where their fans are.
I love this from this opinion piece:
Where were the fans? The announced crowd of 14,446 more than aptly illustrates why it’s time for the league to get out of the desert. Talk about wasting an opportunity to capitalize on a hardworking team that could be headed for its third straight playoff berth. Not blaming the fans who have endured three years of uncertainty with the league owning the team, but it’s time to move on, my friend, time to move on.
Not blaming the fans? By saying the attendance "aptly illustrates" why that sure sounds like you are blaming the fans. Sure you go on to say a little bit about the uncertainty of ownership but some how we are supposed to just suck it up and keep spending our hard earned money on something that has gone nowhere the past 5+ years or so? What would you do? Would you keep pouring in more and more money when you haven't gotten a raise in four or more years?
Yes, I am going back farther than the bankruptcy because I was here for the Moyes/Gretzky/FOG era. I saw how they cheapened the team and gave huge contracts to washed up d-men *cough Jovo cough*, how he took fans money and used it to prop up his other business. The zero advertising that happened. I spoke with dozens of ex-coyotes season ticket holders at RoadRunner games who stopped going to games because of how Moyes was handling the team. I saw all of it. Where were you when that was going on? How come the media didn't give a rats ass as Moyes and Gretzky bumbled the team to such a dire status and bankruptcy court? No one cared about our attendance or our play until that fateful day.
How come no one complains about the attendance in other arenas? I watch more than just Coyotes games and have seen many empty arenas. One article came out about how the league is propping up a few other teams. One. Yet everyone villainizes the Coyotes and the fans. Grow up. Get over it and move one. The team left Winnipeg years ago. They aren't going back. We, the fans, didn't move the team here. Stop blaming us. Stop acting like immature idiots hiding behind your computer screen. Go cheer for your own hockey teams. Watch the race to the Stanley Cup. We have the greatest game on Earth and you waste your time trying to "hurt" Coyotes fans. Enough is enough.
But wait... I know, there are no fans in the desert. Youth hockey does not exist except if I wear anything hockey related I get people asking if I'm a hockey fan and telling me that their kid plays at fill-in-the-blank ice or club/league. Yet according to the media and other fans, we have no ice here. That's why there haven't been new ice rinks built in the last few years and older rinks are expanding. Oh, and hockey is Canada's game? Ok, go tell that to a group of Flyers or Rangers fans or someone in Detroit or Minnesota. See what they have to say about that. It's ok to say to someone in Phoenix because we don't know anything about hockey or really care, right? We aren't real fans. Most of us have never seen snow or ice before. We've never played any kind of hockey. We never watched a lick of hockey before the Coyotes moved here. That's right.
And by the way, I was at that game last night that Burnside is complaining about the attendance. The crowd was loud and into the game. There were loud chants of "Let's Go Coyotes" all game long. There was standing when the guys looked like they might score. Everyone was on the edge of their seat when Vrby got his second goal and Whitney got to 999 points. The ENTIRE arena knew he was at 999. We all wanted to see the 1,000th point and the Vrby hat trick. But yah, we are terrible fans and should burn in hell. I think it was the loudest game I have been to this season, except maybe the home opener. It's games like that when I am shown just why I have loved hockey for over half my life. Yup, that's right. I have loved hockey for quite some time. FAR before I even lived in Phoenix. I've played hockey in gym class. I skated on frozen creeks, school yard rinks as a child. I was at all my high school teams games. But nope, I know nothing about hockey and do not deserve a team.
Ok, I have said my piece. I took a few pictures with my cell phone last night. If any of them look ok, I will post those later. I took a few of the DMo thousand game ceremony and a few of the play.
no comments
I love this from this opinion piece:
Where were the fans? The announced crowd of 14,446 more than aptly illustrates why it’s time for the league to get out of the desert. Talk about wasting an opportunity to capitalize on a hardworking team that could be headed for its third straight playoff berth. Not blaming the fans who have endured three years of uncertainty with the league owning the team, but it’s time to move on, my friend, time to move on.
Not blaming the fans? By saying the attendance "aptly illustrates" why that sure sounds like you are blaming the fans. Sure you go on to say a little bit about the uncertainty of ownership but some how we are supposed to just suck it up and keep spending our hard earned money on something that has gone nowhere the past 5+ years or so? What would you do? Would you keep pouring in more and more money when you haven't gotten a raise in four or more years?
Yes, I am going back farther than the bankruptcy because I was here for the Moyes/Gretzky/FOG era. I saw how they cheapened the team and gave huge contracts to washed up d-men *cough Jovo cough*, how he took fans money and used it to prop up his other business. The zero advertising that happened. I spoke with dozens of ex-coyotes season ticket holders at RoadRunner games who stopped going to games because of how Moyes was handling the team. I saw all of it. Where were you when that was going on? How come the media didn't give a rats ass as Moyes and Gretzky bumbled the team to such a dire status and bankruptcy court? No one cared about our attendance or our play until that fateful day.
How come no one complains about the attendance in other arenas? I watch more than just Coyotes games and have seen many empty arenas. One article came out about how the league is propping up a few other teams. One. Yet everyone villainizes the Coyotes and the fans. Grow up. Get over it and move one. The team left Winnipeg years ago. They aren't going back. We, the fans, didn't move the team here. Stop blaming us. Stop acting like immature idiots hiding behind your computer screen. Go cheer for your own hockey teams. Watch the race to the Stanley Cup. We have the greatest game on Earth and you waste your time trying to "hurt" Coyotes fans. Enough is enough.
But wait... I know, there are no fans in the desert. Youth hockey does not exist except if I wear anything hockey related I get people asking if I'm a hockey fan and telling me that their kid plays at fill-in-the-blank ice or club/league. Yet according to the media and other fans, we have no ice here. That's why there haven't been new ice rinks built in the last few years and older rinks are expanding. Oh, and hockey is Canada's game? Ok, go tell that to a group of Flyers or Rangers fans or someone in Detroit or Minnesota. See what they have to say about that. It's ok to say to someone in Phoenix because we don't know anything about hockey or really care, right? We aren't real fans. Most of us have never seen snow or ice before. We've never played any kind of hockey. We never watched a lick of hockey before the Coyotes moved here. That's right.
And by the way, I was at that game last night that Burnside is complaining about the attendance. The crowd was loud and into the game. There were loud chants of "Let's Go Coyotes" all game long. There was standing when the guys looked like they might score. Everyone was on the edge of their seat when Vrby got his second goal and Whitney got to 999 points. The ENTIRE arena knew he was at 999. We all wanted to see the 1,000th point and the Vrby hat trick. But yah, we are terrible fans and should burn in hell. I think it was the loudest game I have been to this season, except maybe the home opener. It's games like that when I am shown just why I have loved hockey for over half my life. Yup, that's right. I have loved hockey for quite some time. FAR before I even lived in Phoenix. I've played hockey in gym class. I skated on frozen creeks, school yard rinks as a child. I was at all my high school teams games. But nope, I know nothing about hockey and do not deserve a team.
Ok, I have said my piece. I took a few pictures with my cell phone last night. If any of them look ok, I will post those later. I took a few of the DMo thousand game ceremony and a few of the play.
no comments
Radim Vrbata has often been called a streaky player. I am not one to disagree with this statement. He always seems to score in bunches. He may go eight to 10 games without a goal but then will get four or five over the next few games. This in no way diminishes what he has done for the Coyotes over the past few seasons. He is definitely talented and calm on the ice; I just wish he would be more consistent with goals.
Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of Vrbata. He has done a lot for this team, especially this year. His patented shootout move won us a few games, although goalies have him figured out. I'd like to see him come up with a new move. That works. He works well with Hanzal, helping to shut down some good lines. He has good chemistry with Ray Ray (who also has done a lot for this team this year). I think I just want more consistency... from the whole team. ;)
Vrbata was drafted in 1999 by the Colorado Avalanche, 212th overall. He played 2001-2002 and part of 2002-2003 with the Avs before being traded to Carolina Hurricanes. He played with the Hurricanes through 05-06 and then was traded to the Blackhawks. Chicago traded him to Phoenix in 2007 for Kevyn Adams. I'd say we won that trade. I was never a fan of Adams time here.
After playing a year here Vrbata became a free agent. He decided to test the waters and signed with the Lightning. A lot of Coyotes fans were upset but we just thought the grass isn't always greener. Who knew how right we would be?
Vrbata never really did much in Tampa Bay. After a few games in Tampa, he left for Czech as his wife was having difficulties with her pregnancy. While in Czech he did still play hockey for his local team. Once everything was ok with his family (thankfully both wife and baby were ok) he decided to rejoin the NHL. The Lightning didn't need him and let his agent (whom I met randomly) work out a trade. He ended up back in Phoenix and returned to his comfort zone.
For whatever reason, Vrbata has excelled as a Coyote compared to his other teams. Until joining the Coyotes he never had over 20 goals in a season.
2001-2002 Avs 18
2002-2003 Avs 11 Hurricanes 5 Total 16
2003-2004 Hurricanes 12
2004-2005 Lockout
2005-2006 Hurricanes 2 Blackhawks 13 Total 15
2006-2007 Blackhawks 14
2007-2008 Coyotes 27
2008-2009 Lightning 3
2009-2010 Coyotes 24
2010-2011 Coyotes 19
2011-2012 Coyotes 30 (and still counting?)
Obviously his goal production in 2010-2011 is the lowest he's had with the Coyotes (an anomaly?) but he is having a career year currently. Maybe he has gotten better with age. Some players take longer to develop than others. I don't know why he scored more goals as a Coyote than on any other team, as under Gretzky there was no system, but I like it. He is currently signed through the end of 2013-2014. If he keeps up these type of numbers I would like to see him resigned. He would still have a few good years left in 2013 baring injury of course. I cannot see Maloney trading him unless he gets a more consistent goal scorer. Anything less than a 20-30 goal scorer would leave a huge whole on the right wing side.
The one thing I always think about Vrby is his crazy eyes. I wrote in this post about it when he got him back from Tampa. Obviously I have gotten over my distrust. I believe he wants to be here in Phoenix and knows it is a good place for him. And here is said picture I reference:
And in case you think this is just a one time, crazy eye picture I present:
Taken from: http://www.sportsoverdose.com/nhl-players/radim-vrbata & http://www.hcbilitygri.cz/hrac.asp?ID=Radim-Vrbata-173
And yes those are both roster pics but do a google image search for Radim. Almost every picture has the crazy eyes.
Also, who knew Vrby has a little artist in him. I posted this previously, with all the Christmas Cards, but in case you forgot:
I also wrote a song about Radim before. Yes, I used to write songs about hockey players to the tune of other songs. Somewhere I still have a Shane Doan song I started but never finished... I digress. Some of Vrbata's song still applies today. Like the chorus:
Come on Radim, you need a goal
At this moment, you need to score
With you in that sweater my thoughts I confess
Verge on scoring Ah come on Radim
Yes Vrby, it has been awhile again since you had a goal. I'd love to see one when you are back and healthy.
So in conclusion, the Coyotes make Vrbata better. Coyotes fans love Vrbata but wish he would score more (or maybe more consistently). And he has crazy eyes. The end. ;)
no comments
Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of Vrbata. He has done a lot for this team, especially this year. His patented shootout move won us a few games, although goalies have him figured out. I'd like to see him come up with a new move. That works. He works well with Hanzal, helping to shut down some good lines. He has good chemistry with Ray Ray (who also has done a lot for this team this year). I think I just want more consistency... from the whole team. ;)
Vrbata was drafted in 1999 by the Colorado Avalanche, 212th overall. He played 2001-2002 and part of 2002-2003 with the Avs before being traded to Carolina Hurricanes. He played with the Hurricanes through 05-06 and then was traded to the Blackhawks. Chicago traded him to Phoenix in 2007 for Kevyn Adams. I'd say we won that trade. I was never a fan of Adams time here.
After playing a year here Vrbata became a free agent. He decided to test the waters and signed with the Lightning. A lot of Coyotes fans were upset but we just thought the grass isn't always greener. Who knew how right we would be?
Vrbata never really did much in Tampa Bay. After a few games in Tampa, he left for Czech as his wife was having difficulties with her pregnancy. While in Czech he did still play hockey for his local team. Once everything was ok with his family (thankfully both wife and baby were ok) he decided to rejoin the NHL. The Lightning didn't need him and let his agent (whom I met randomly) work out a trade. He ended up back in Phoenix and returned to his comfort zone.
For whatever reason, Vrbata has excelled as a Coyote compared to his other teams. Until joining the Coyotes he never had over 20 goals in a season.
2001-2002 Avs 18
2002-2003 Avs 11 Hurricanes 5 Total 16
2003-2004 Hurricanes 12
2004-2005 Lockout
2005-2006 Hurricanes 2 Blackhawks 13 Total 15
2006-2007 Blackhawks 14
2007-2008 Coyotes 27
2008-2009 Lightning 3
2009-2010 Coyotes 24
2010-2011 Coyotes 19
2011-2012 Coyotes 30 (and still counting?)
Obviously his goal production in 2010-2011 is the lowest he's had with the Coyotes (an anomaly?) but he is having a career year currently. Maybe he has gotten better with age. Some players take longer to develop than others. I don't know why he scored more goals as a Coyote than on any other team, as under Gretzky there was no system, but I like it. He is currently signed through the end of 2013-2014. If he keeps up these type of numbers I would like to see him resigned. He would still have a few good years left in 2013 baring injury of course. I cannot see Maloney trading him unless he gets a more consistent goal scorer. Anything less than a 20-30 goal scorer would leave a huge whole on the right wing side.
The one thing I always think about Vrby is his crazy eyes. I wrote in this post about it when he got him back from Tampa. Obviously I have gotten over my distrust. I believe he wants to be here in Phoenix and knows it is a good place for him. And here is said picture I reference:
And in case you think this is just a one time, crazy eye picture I present:
Taken from: http://www.sportsoverdose.com/nhl-players/radim-vrbata & http://www.hcbilitygri.cz/hrac.asp?ID=Radim-Vrbata-173
And yes those are both roster pics but do a google image search for Radim. Almost every picture has the crazy eyes.
Also, who knew Vrby has a little artist in him. I posted this previously, with all the Christmas Cards, but in case you forgot:
I also wrote a song about Radim before. Yes, I used to write songs about hockey players to the tune of other songs. Somewhere I still have a Shane Doan song I started but never finished... I digress. Some of Vrbata's song still applies today. Like the chorus:
Come on Radim, you need a goal
At this moment, you need to score
With you in that sweater my thoughts I confess
Verge on scoring Ah come on Radim
Yes Vrby, it has been awhile again since you had a goal. I'd love to see one when you are back and healthy.
So in conclusion, the Coyotes make Vrbata better. Coyotes fans love Vrbata but wish he would score more (or maybe more consistently). And he has crazy eyes. The end. ;)
no comments
It's that time again... The best of the anti-Coyotes tweets. As this is an on-going series in progress I have made some changes. I was inspired for a title by a comment on the last post. Good? Bad? Rework it? I also tried to group tweets into categories and added my own smart ass responses for entertainment purposes. I appreciate positive, constructive feed back on these changes. Enjoy!
As usual, tweets copied and pasted directly from twitter. Spelling and grammer are as they were found on twitter.
Thrashers Fans Got Jokes!
Darryl Mills @ABBigBluJetsfan
@rdrunnerxxx @pamyotesfan @nhlwinnipeg Coyotes fans?!?!?! What are those?!Are they like Area 51, people say they exist but they really don't
rdrunner @rdrunnerxxx
@ABBigBluJetsfan @pamyotesfan @nhlwinnipeg easy there cowboy.#coyotes have at least a few dozen fans!! Some go to the games at times.
Yes... we are aliens. We came to this planet to take over Canadian hockey and bring it back to our home planet. We will enslave the Canadians and force them to play on our home planet.
Aaron Colon @freshair_04
"@NHLWinnipeg: Random question but how much does the average#Coyotes fan weigh?" Trick Question, there are no Coyotes fans.
Har har har. That was so original. I don't think we have ever heard anything close to it! At least it wasn't a lame fat joke.
Relocation humor:
Charles Gauthier @DowntownCharles
Loved hearing a few weeks ago that #coyotes could move to Saskatoon. Would be great to have another Cdn team. #canucks#sportsnet
Saskatoon? Really? LOL
JCL Boudreau @JCLBoudreau
#NHL deputy commish, #Glendale spokeswoman both say there's nothing new to share on #Coyotes negotiations." // #Nordiques#nhlrelocation
Keep dreaming Quebec, keep dreaming.
Attendance Complaints:
randy e votava @randallevee
I wonder if Jobing.Com Arena will tarp off sections to save on clean-up costs after #yotes games? #gojetsgo
Yes, that is exactly what they do. That way they also save on usher and security costs. The NHL is cheap... what can you do?
austinbri @austinbri
@Russostrib How do the #Yotes survive in Phoenix with crowds like that? #cuetumbleweed
What? You mean we have small crowds all the time? Like we never have a sell out? Damn, you could have fooled me. I thought the attendance in Dallas and Anaheim look worse but you aren't asking how they survive.
Brace Hemmelgarn @bracehemmelgarn
11,000+ in attendance at the #Coyotes and #mnwild game in Phoenix last night. 17,000+ at the MN HS State Hockey Tournament today.#hmmm
Josh Williams @Josh_Williams6
About 3X the #coyotes normal attendance RT @Kyndra620: MN state HS hockey tourney! This is how we do it in MN! twitpic.com/8ur9yx
Maybe if all the Minnesota transplants to Phoenix supported the Coyotes and went to all the games the attendance figure would be the same at your little high school tournament. There are plenty of transplants here who ONLY go to their teams games. Support the local team.
Daniel Blanchet @mxdan316
#CrowdWatch in Phoenix tonight against #Sharks #Coyotes#Nordiques
Daniel Blanchet @mxdan316
14,994 personnes annoncé à Phoenix ce soir #Coyotes#CrowdWatch #Nordiques
Daniel Blanchet @mxdan316
Announced attendance in Phoenix tonight 14,994 #Coyotes#CrowdWatch Why did TV hid the crowd then? Not that bad eh?
Oh yes, only about 1300 short of a sell out on a night when the Suns played amongst all the other activities going on in Phoenix and the surrounding cities. SO TERRIBLE. I hang my head in shame.
Conspiracy Theorist Run Rampant... Better Call Jesse "The Body" Ventura!
BRETT IRELAND @RockmanHalo
@NHL helping its golden boys out with the soft calls here. #CBJ#refyousuck #yotes
Amccloy @amccloy14
@Yotes1912 Seriously. Nice to see another 4-1 PP advantage for the NHL owned #Coyotes in their loss last night #fixisin @tmac69_in_yyc
Kirk Pitaoulis @KirkPita
@walshtodd @BizNasty2point0 the @NHL must have a lot of cash to throw around! I mean having a private jet for their #coyotes! Wow!
Carnell Turton @carnellsitka
"@walshtodd: The duel on the tarmac....hockey style. #coyotes#sharks yfrog.com/oet0imyj" how the hell do yotes afford a plane
Yes because the Coyotes are supposed to travel the US and Canada on a broken down bus. Hate to break it to you but Slap Shot wasn't real, neither is Major League. Those are works of fiction.
Rafal Zacharski @GambleVII
@NHL I have seen the #Coyotes on the #NHL36 like 4 times now.#Coincidence much?
Yes it is because the NHL owns the Coyotes. It was nothing to do with going to the playoffs the last two years, being in the playoff run this season and going 11-0-1 in February and then beating the flailing Sharks 3-0. Nope, totally because we are "owned" by the NHL. Way to uncover the great conspiracy. Your mother must be so proud.
Jealous bitches get stitches
Travis Yost @TravisHeHateMe
That's just dumb. RT @ArponBasu: Under Dave Tippett, the#Coyotes are 94-12-4 when scoring the game's first goal #wowza
Jealous much that a fellow Canadian is making an American team in the desert win? A team that is supposed to suck and come crawling back to the motherland? Awwww, you are! That's so cute!
Coyotes Fans tweets:
These are tweets I found funny or just plain relevant at the time. All are in support of Coyotes. You need to have a little good mixed in with the bad.
Ben Shroyer @BenShroyer
This is a nightmare right? I'm going to wake up and it's going to be feb 29th right? #Coyotes
Luke Lapinski @LukeLapinski
If Whitney keeps producing at his current pace, he'll reach 1000 career pts in the last regular season game. No more math for me.#Coyotes
Todd Walsh @walshtodd
Welcome to the worst case scenario for the #coyotes. Down a goal in the blink of an eye. Or more like..another turnover.
Todd Walsh @walshtodd
My bad. That wasn't worse...2-0 behind is. This has been par for the course for the #coyotes. Next 50 minutes must be epic.
Michael Kasher @kash2112
#Coyotes need large doses of Viagra during intermission.#HockeyTheSoftWay
Benny J @JohnsBenjamin
Officially a #Coyotes fan, fun environment, team hustles, good shit.
Greg @gregdunaway
"Stranded" yeah, #Coyotes fans are stranded with a disinterested media, 3 years of "fuck you fans" & we still show up. /steps off soapbox
Ian Berg @ianberg
I saw someone wearing an old Hawerchuck #Jets jersey at #Flamesgame. Does he know that franchise still exists? #Coyotes
Patrick Lauder @phxpatrick
Crowd was wound-up, waiting to explode with a score, and the#Coyotes obliged! Great crowd reaction! #greatfans
Shaun M @ShaunMcG21
No arena equals no NHL. RT @mcmikex Dear #Coyotes Lowest attend in NHL x lowest avg tix price in NHL = #Nordiques in 2013
Ben Shroyer @BenShroyer
Does anyone else catch the irony of playing a song from West Side Story, during the #Sharks and #Coyotes 1st intermission?
Ben Fidler @benfidler
Guy on front of me w/ Sharks jersey. His kid has a #Coyotes jersey. That's how the fanbase has to grow in AZ.
I am still trying to figure out how to get the twitter names to keep the link to their account. I have tried several ways but joomla doesn't cooperate with an easy solution. I'd have to insert a hyperlink for each and everyone. I will keep working at it. :\
no comments
As usual, tweets copied and pasted directly from twitter. Spelling and grammer are as they were found on twitter.
Thrashers Fans Got Jokes!
Darryl Mills @ABBigBluJetsfan
@rdrunnerxxx @pamyotesfan @nhlwinnipeg Coyotes fans?!?!?! What are those?!Are they like Area 51, people say they exist but they really don't
rdrunner @rdrunnerxxx
@ABBigBluJetsfan @pamyotesfan @nhlwinnipeg easy there cowboy.#coyotes have at least a few dozen fans!! Some go to the games at times.
Yes... we are aliens. We came to this planet to take over Canadian hockey and bring it back to our home planet. We will enslave the Canadians and force them to play on our home planet.
Aaron Colon @freshair_04
"@NHLWinnipeg: Random question but how much does the average#Coyotes fan weigh?" Trick Question, there are no Coyotes fans.
Har har har. That was so original. I don't think we have ever heard anything close to it! At least it wasn't a lame fat joke.
Relocation humor:
Charles Gauthier @DowntownCharles
Loved hearing a few weeks ago that #coyotes could move to Saskatoon. Would be great to have another Cdn team. #canucks#sportsnet
Saskatoon? Really? LOL
JCL Boudreau @JCLBoudreau
#NHL deputy commish, #Glendale spokeswoman both say there's nothing new to share on #Coyotes negotiations." // #Nordiques#nhlrelocation
Keep dreaming Quebec, keep dreaming.
Attendance Complaints:
randy e votava @randallevee
I wonder if Jobing.Com Arena will tarp off sections to save on clean-up costs after #yotes games? #gojetsgo
Yes, that is exactly what they do. That way they also save on usher and security costs. The NHL is cheap... what can you do?
austinbri @austinbri
@Russostrib How do the #Yotes survive in Phoenix with crowds like that? #cuetumbleweed
What? You mean we have small crowds all the time? Like we never have a sell out? Damn, you could have fooled me. I thought the attendance in Dallas and Anaheim look worse but you aren't asking how they survive.
Brace Hemmelgarn @bracehemmelgarn
11,000+ in attendance at the #Coyotes and #mnwild game in Phoenix last night. 17,000+ at the MN HS State Hockey Tournament today.#hmmm
Josh Williams @Josh_Williams6
About 3X the #coyotes normal attendance RT @Kyndra620: MN state HS hockey tourney! This is how we do it in MN! twitpic.com/8ur9yx
Maybe if all the Minnesota transplants to Phoenix supported the Coyotes and went to all the games the attendance figure would be the same at your little high school tournament. There are plenty of transplants here who ONLY go to their teams games. Support the local team.
Daniel Blanchet @mxdan316
#CrowdWatch in Phoenix tonight against #Sharks #Coyotes#Nordiques
Daniel Blanchet @mxdan316
14,994 personnes annoncé à Phoenix ce soir #Coyotes#CrowdWatch #Nordiques
Daniel Blanchet @mxdan316
Announced attendance in Phoenix tonight 14,994 #Coyotes#CrowdWatch Why did TV hid the crowd then? Not that bad eh?
Oh yes, only about 1300 short of a sell out on a night when the Suns played amongst all the other activities going on in Phoenix and the surrounding cities. SO TERRIBLE. I hang my head in shame.
Conspiracy Theorist Run Rampant... Better Call Jesse "The Body" Ventura!
BRETT IRELAND @RockmanHalo
@NHL helping its golden boys out with the soft calls here. #CBJ#refyousuck #yotes
Amccloy @amccloy14
@Yotes1912 Seriously. Nice to see another 4-1 PP advantage for the NHL owned #Coyotes in their loss last night #fixisin @tmac69_in_yyc
Kirk Pitaoulis @KirkPita
@walshtodd @BizNasty2point0 the @NHL must have a lot of cash to throw around! I mean having a private jet for their #coyotes! Wow!
Carnell Turton @carnellsitka
"@walshtodd: The duel on the tarmac....hockey style. #coyotes#sharks yfrog.com/oet0imyj" how the hell do yotes afford a plane
Yes because the Coyotes are supposed to travel the US and Canada on a broken down bus. Hate to break it to you but Slap Shot wasn't real, neither is Major League. Those are works of fiction.
Rafal Zacharski @GambleVII
@NHL I have seen the #Coyotes on the #NHL36 like 4 times now.#Coincidence much?
Yes it is because the NHL owns the Coyotes. It was nothing to do with going to the playoffs the last two years, being in the playoff run this season and going 11-0-1 in February and then beating the flailing Sharks 3-0. Nope, totally because we are "owned" by the NHL. Way to uncover the great conspiracy. Your mother must be so proud.
Jealous bitches get stitches
Travis Yost @TravisHeHateMe
That's just dumb. RT @ArponBasu: Under Dave Tippett, the#Coyotes are 94-12-4 when scoring the game's first goal #wowza
Jealous much that a fellow Canadian is making an American team in the desert win? A team that is supposed to suck and come crawling back to the motherland? Awwww, you are! That's so cute!
Coyotes Fans tweets:
These are tweets I found funny or just plain relevant at the time. All are in support of Coyotes. You need to have a little good mixed in with the bad.
Ben Shroyer @BenShroyer
This is a nightmare right? I'm going to wake up and it's going to be feb 29th right? #Coyotes
Luke Lapinski @LukeLapinski
If Whitney keeps producing at his current pace, he'll reach 1000 career pts in the last regular season game. No more math for me.#Coyotes
Todd Walsh @walshtodd
Welcome to the worst case scenario for the #coyotes. Down a goal in the blink of an eye. Or more like..another turnover.
Todd Walsh @walshtodd
My bad. That wasn't worse...2-0 behind is. This has been par for the course for the #coyotes. Next 50 minutes must be epic.
Michael Kasher @kash2112
#Coyotes need large doses of Viagra during intermission.#HockeyTheSoftWay
Benny J @JohnsBenjamin
Officially a #Coyotes fan, fun environment, team hustles, good shit.
Greg @gregdunaway
"Stranded" yeah, #Coyotes fans are stranded with a disinterested media, 3 years of "fuck you fans" & we still show up. /steps off soapbox
Ian Berg @ianberg
I saw someone wearing an old Hawerchuck #Jets jersey at #Flamesgame. Does he know that franchise still exists? #Coyotes
Patrick Lauder @phxpatrick
Crowd was wound-up, waiting to explode with a score, and the#Coyotes obliged! Great crowd reaction! #greatfans
Shaun M @ShaunMcG21
No arena equals no NHL. RT @mcmikex Dear #Coyotes Lowest attend in NHL x lowest avg tix price in NHL = #Nordiques in 2013
Ben Shroyer @BenShroyer
Does anyone else catch the irony of playing a song from West Side Story, during the #Sharks and #Coyotes 1st intermission?
Ben Fidler @benfidler
Guy on front of me w/ Sharks jersey. His kid has a #Coyotes jersey. That's how the fanbase has to grow in AZ.
I am still trying to figure out how to get the twitter names to keep the link to their account. I have tried several ways but joomla doesn't cooperate with an easy solution. I'd have to insert a hyperlink for each and everyone. I will keep working at it. :\
no comments
I was looking for content ideas for the blog. I don't want to do game summaries. I want to do something different, like with the player profiles. I get a kick out of some of the things I read on twitter about the Coyotes so I thought maybe you would enjoy it too. I haven't come up with a name for this series yet. Any ideas?
This is the good, the bad, the ugly and the just plain ridiculous - can you guess which is which - of the twitter hashtags #coyotes and #yotes for the past week or so.
azcentral - sports @azcsports
Our suggestion for when a meteor comes toward Earth: Put Mike Smith in front of it. #Coyotes
brian degnan @degs09
@Commish_Gary ever think of putting the #coyotes in #mexicocity? never put anything past you as you are off your rocker!
Alan Ho @HoNewWay
#NHL teams that need to rebuild & reshape their team: #Flames,#Coyotes, #BlueJackets, #Panthers & m/b #Canadiens. Get Better/Younger player
Ryan Bains @ryan_bains
Just saw #Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's quote on #Canucks Mason Raymond's spin-a-rama move - "It seemed like he was turning a school bus" Haha
Eric Sorenson @Eric_Pros2Preps
Radim Vrbata from hottest team in #NHL (@phoenixcoyotes) joins@bradcesmat @XTRA910 @ 1:35 to talk about big win over@VanCanucks. #Coyotes
Mike Cochrane @mikecochranewpg
Buyer?? "@SenJohnMcCain: Big #Coyotes win last night vs best team in hockey #Canucks to make them stellar 11-0-1 for the month of February"
eric osterberg @ericosterberg
@SenJohnMcCain that's a great win by the #coyotes last night...too bad they'll be in #Quebec this time next year! #NHL
Aaron @bernsboogie
What do you call many dejected #Canucks fans leaving Jobing.comarena after 2-1 loss to the #Coyotes ? Quiet Riot #WakaWakaWaka
Jets Hockey Forum @NHLWinnipeg
Who needs libraries! RT @LisaHalverstadt #Glendale budget talks turn testy over possible library cuts, #Coyotes debt. bit.ly/xH9vQk
Cory Wray @CoryTycoles16
Before you clowns start bashing our city. PS. Can't wait to see#Quebeccity gets the #coyotes! #atl #phx #nhl #gojetsgo #Jetsnation
NHLJets2.0 @NHLJets2point0
@LisaHalverstadt is my regular fix for civic debt, library closures and hockey disasters. Love my daily soap opera fix! #coyotes
T Mac in YYC @tmac69_in_yyc
Who is the least penalized team in the nhl? Who owns Phoenix...just sayin...the fix is in #coyotes #flames @BizNasty2point0@coyoteshockey
Jason @AndroidSummer
I should rephrase my statement: "All five of the Phoenix Coyotes fans are online tonight" #Yotes #Flames #CheekyCheapShot
Jason @AndroidSummer
You know the #yotes are the league's team so naturally the league#NHL are going to do anything to help them out. #Flames
Jason @AndroidSummer
league takes over the #Yotes and they're leading the pacific div.#noconspiracythere
Alan Sutliff @asutliff
@ShinboSlice as much as you irritate @SeattleTbirds fans, congratulations! Now maybe we can move #coyotes to #seattleNHL
Heather Frackiewicz @Lovebugsphoto
If #glendale wants to be a destination, libraries aren't the way. Get rid of the #coyotes and I won't have reason to spend a cent there.
The Canuck Fan @253CanuckFan
@JaneBlaze_ So you caretrolled for the 14 #Yotes fans? Lord I hate the #Leafs even more. Get a 2nd team, MTA>
The Canuck Fan @253CanuckFan
@JaneBlaze_ When 45 people came out to the "Save the #Yotes" rally, that pretty much showed me how little i should care for PHX.
*Disclosure: These tweets have been copied directly from Twitter. Any misspellings or grammatical errors on part of the tweeter. :)
If you see any tweets that you think would go well in this series, please feel free to send them to me. I hope to collect these and post each week. If we ever get an owner maybe the tweets will stop and I will have to think of something else to do. One can only dream.
If you see any way to refine this series please let me know. I am open to exploring other options involving twitter and the Coyotes. Maybe a weekly roundup of players tweets? no comments
This is the good, the bad, the ugly and the just plain ridiculous - can you guess which is which - of the twitter hashtags #coyotes and #yotes for the past week or so.
azcentral - sports @azcsports
Our suggestion for when a meteor comes toward Earth: Put Mike Smith in front of it. #Coyotes
brian degnan @degs09
@Commish_Gary ever think of putting the #coyotes in #mexicocity? never put anything past you as you are off your rocker!
Alan Ho @HoNewWay
#NHL teams that need to rebuild & reshape their team: #Flames,#Coyotes, #BlueJackets, #Panthers & m/b #Canadiens. Get Better/Younger player
Ryan Bains @ryan_bains
Just saw #Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's quote on #Canucks Mason Raymond's spin-a-rama move - "It seemed like he was turning a school bus" Haha
Eric Sorenson @Eric_Pros2Preps
Radim Vrbata from hottest team in #NHL (@phoenixcoyotes) joins@bradcesmat @XTRA910 @ 1:35 to talk about big win over@VanCanucks. #Coyotes
Mike Cochrane @mikecochranewpg
Buyer?? "@SenJohnMcCain: Big #Coyotes win last night vs best team in hockey #Canucks to make them stellar 11-0-1 for the month of February"
eric osterberg @ericosterberg
@SenJohnMcCain that's a great win by the #coyotes last night...too bad they'll be in #Quebec this time next year! #NHL
Aaron @bernsboogie
What do you call many dejected #Canucks fans leaving Jobing.comarena after 2-1 loss to the #Coyotes ? Quiet Riot #WakaWakaWaka
Jets Hockey Forum @NHLWinnipeg
Who needs libraries! RT @LisaHalverstadt #Glendale budget talks turn testy over possible library cuts, #Coyotes debt. bit.ly/xH9vQk
Cory Wray @CoryTycoles16
Before you clowns start bashing our city. PS. Can't wait to see#Quebeccity gets the #coyotes! #atl #phx #nhl #gojetsgo #Jetsnation
NHLJets2.0 @NHLJets2point0
@LisaHalverstadt is my regular fix for civic debt, library closures and hockey disasters. Love my daily soap opera fix! #coyotes
T Mac in YYC @tmac69_in_yyc
Who is the least penalized team in the nhl? Who owns Phoenix...just sayin...the fix is in #coyotes #flames @BizNasty2point0@coyoteshockey
Jason @AndroidSummer
I should rephrase my statement: "All five of the Phoenix Coyotes fans are online tonight" #Yotes #Flames #CheekyCheapShot
Jason @AndroidSummer
You know the #yotes are the league's team so naturally the league#NHL are going to do anything to help them out. #Flames
Jason @AndroidSummer
league takes over the #Yotes and they're leading the pacific div.#noconspiracythere
Alan Sutliff @asutliff
@ShinboSlice as much as you irritate @SeattleTbirds fans, congratulations! Now maybe we can move #coyotes to #seattleNHL
Heather Frackiewicz @Lovebugsphoto
If #glendale wants to be a destination, libraries aren't the way. Get rid of the #coyotes and I won't have reason to spend a cent there.
The Canuck Fan @253CanuckFan
@JaneBlaze_ So you caretrolled for the 14 #Yotes fans? Lord I hate the #Leafs even more. Get a 2nd team, MTA>
The Canuck Fan @253CanuckFan
@JaneBlaze_ When 45 people came out to the "Save the #Yotes" rally, that pretty much showed me how little i should care for PHX.
*Disclosure: These tweets have been copied directly from Twitter. Any misspellings or grammatical errors on part of the tweeter. :)
If you see any tweets that you think would go well in this series, please feel free to send them to me. I hope to collect these and post each week. If we ever get an owner maybe the tweets will stop and I will have to think of something else to do. One can only dream.
If you see any way to refine this series please let me know. I am open to exploring other options involving twitter and the Coyotes. Maybe a weekly roundup of players tweets? no comments
Mike Smith has lead the Coyotes to 11-0-1 for the month of February and first place in the pacific division. But what do we really know about #41 for the Coyotes? At 29, Smith signed as a free agent with the Coyotes in the summer of 2011. It was expected he would be started by most fans while LaBarbera did what he’s best at... backup. Smith came from a deep playoff run with the Tampa Bay Lightning after struggling with the team over his tenure.
Who doesn't love a goalie with crazy hair? At least his hair is the only crazy thing about him...
(photo from Coyotes website)
Smith was drafted by Dallas in 2001, 161st overall in the fifth round. Ironically his NHL debut was a shutout against Phoenix in 2006. While in Dallas Smith was backup to Marty Turco, a goalie well known for his roaming style of play. Smith had a pretty decent run in Dallas but was later traded to Tampa Bay.
What makes Smith stand out from most goalies is his ability to act as another defense man. He can handle the puck, pass up ice and even notch a few points along the way. His style of play may “scare” some fans, and he has garnered a few haters along the way in Phoenix, but as with any player, he has good and bad games. Overall Smith has been one of the better goalies I have seen with this organization. I became a fan during the Gretzky years and I loved Cujo but what followed was nothing to write home about. Overall Smith is one of the best puck handling goalies in the NHL. Watching Bryzgalov or LaBarbera try to handle the puck or wander from the crease was a scary thing but with Smith it is a thing of beauty.
A tad intimidating. (photo from Zimbio.com)
Things may have been a little rough for Smith throughout the season but lets be honest... the Coyotes defense isn’t exactly chock full of the best players and has been riddled with injuries. Our ability to score goals and take advantage of power plays was non-existent for awhile. We cannot expect Smith to stop every shot, every game. Like any goalie, he needs help from the d and the forwards to put the puck in the back of the other guy’s net once in awhile.
I will say that I am glad we no longer have crazy Bryz to deal with. If you remember, I have never been a huge proponent of Bryz. He never played consistently well and we would wait with baited breath to see if this was the game he would implode during. I am glad to have a more stable presence in net right now. Smith is much more calm and controlled than Bryz ever seemed to be.
Plus if you compare their stats from this year, you can see that we should be glad we didn’t resign Bryzgalov. Also, look at Bryz’s totals from last year. Smith has put up better numbers as a Coyote than Bryz. The team wasn’t vastly different last year. We made changes over the off season but mostly replaced guys who left with guys similar to them.
Smith- Bryz- Bryz Last Season (68 Games)
GAA 2.24 2.78 2.48
SV % .927 .899 .921
SO 4 2 7
29-14-7 23-12-6 36-20-10
I also think that both Dave Tippett and Sean Burke have helped Smith immensely. Tippett knows Smith from Dallas and what he is capable of. Burke seems to have a magical touch. Tippett knows Burke can make almost any goalie better (ahem Bryzgalov, LaBarbera) than they have been previously. Unfortunately for Bryz he did not carry this knowledge with him to Philly..
Burke works with Smith during training camp. (picture my own)
Interesting Facts on Smith:
-First goalie to record a shutout, score a goal and receive a fighting major in the same game
-First time the Coyotes have gone 11 wins in one month in 25 years. As the Jets the franchise did this three times 3/1982, 11/1986 & 1/1987.
-Recorded 11 consecutive wins in one season (only reached by Biron 05-06, Brodeur 05-06, Fleury 10-11 and Rinne 11-12.
-First Star of the week for 2/13/12
-First Star of the month of February
I wouldn't want to mess with him either. (photo originally tweeted by BizNasty2point0).
I hope you all enjoyed my first post in awhile. I decided to do something I really enjoyed. I am open to suggestions of which players you would like to see profiled. It is not as thorough as my previous one on Shane Doan but I did that while on vacation. In Wisconsin. At Christmas. I had nothing else to do. ;) I also kind of rushed this one to get it up after his tremendous month of February.
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Who doesn't love a goalie with crazy hair? At least his hair is the only crazy thing about him...
(photo from Coyotes website)
Smith was drafted by Dallas in 2001, 161st overall in the fifth round. Ironically his NHL debut was a shutout against Phoenix in 2006. While in Dallas Smith was backup to Marty Turco, a goalie well known for his roaming style of play. Smith had a pretty decent run in Dallas but was later traded to Tampa Bay.
What makes Smith stand out from most goalies is his ability to act as another defense man. He can handle the puck, pass up ice and even notch a few points along the way. His style of play may “scare” some fans, and he has garnered a few haters along the way in Phoenix, but as with any player, he has good and bad games. Overall Smith has been one of the better goalies I have seen with this organization. I became a fan during the Gretzky years and I loved Cujo but what followed was nothing to write home about. Overall Smith is one of the best puck handling goalies in the NHL. Watching Bryzgalov or LaBarbera try to handle the puck or wander from the crease was a scary thing but with Smith it is a thing of beauty.
A tad intimidating. (photo from Zimbio.com)
Things may have been a little rough for Smith throughout the season but lets be honest... the Coyotes defense isn’t exactly chock full of the best players and has been riddled with injuries. Our ability to score goals and take advantage of power plays was non-existent for awhile. We cannot expect Smith to stop every shot, every game. Like any goalie, he needs help from the d and the forwards to put the puck in the back of the other guy’s net once in awhile.
I will say that I am glad we no longer have crazy Bryz to deal with. If you remember, I have never been a huge proponent of Bryz. He never played consistently well and we would wait with baited breath to see if this was the game he would implode during. I am glad to have a more stable presence in net right now. Smith is much more calm and controlled than Bryz ever seemed to be.
Plus if you compare their stats from this year, you can see that we should be glad we didn’t resign Bryzgalov. Also, look at Bryz’s totals from last year. Smith has put up better numbers as a Coyote than Bryz. The team wasn’t vastly different last year. We made changes over the off season but mostly replaced guys who left with guys similar to them.
Smith- Bryz- Bryz Last Season (68 Games)
GAA 2.24 2.78 2.48
SV % .927 .899 .921
SO 4 2 7
29-14-7 23-12-6 36-20-10
I also think that both Dave Tippett and Sean Burke have helped Smith immensely. Tippett knows Smith from Dallas and what he is capable of. Burke seems to have a magical touch. Tippett knows Burke can make almost any goalie better (ahem Bryzgalov, LaBarbera) than they have been previously. Unfortunately for Bryz he did not carry this knowledge with him to Philly..
Burke works with Smith during training camp. (picture my own)
Interesting Facts on Smith:
-First goalie to record a shutout, score a goal and receive a fighting major in the same game
-First time the Coyotes have gone 11 wins in one month in 25 years. As the Jets the franchise did this three times 3/1982, 11/1986 & 1/1987.
-Recorded 11 consecutive wins in one season (only reached by Biron 05-06, Brodeur 05-06, Fleury 10-11 and Rinne 11-12.
-First Star of the week for 2/13/12
-First Star of the month of February
I wouldn't want to mess with him either. (photo originally tweeted by BizNasty2point0).
I hope you all enjoyed my first post in awhile. I decided to do something I really enjoyed. I am open to suggestions of which players you would like to see profiled. It is not as thorough as my previous one on Shane Doan but I did that while on vacation. In Wisconsin. At Christmas. I had nothing else to do. ;) I also kind of rushed this one to get it up after his tremendous month of February.
no commentsWith a little a bit of downtime as we move towards the playoffs (hopefully), we thought we would take some time to look at some other sporting events in the area.
A couple weeks back the PGA Tour was in town and Kyle Stanley walked away with the win and a mighty big check. Check out the video below to see what goes on behind the scenes at this great event in addition to why golfers love coming to Phoenix.
If you're dying for more golf coverage, I'd suggest checking out the Haney Project which premiers on The Golf Channel on February 27th.
Click here for more info on The Haney Project and Feherty on Golf Channel
I have been thinking about this for quite awhile and it has not been an easy decision to make. I am taking a break from blogging for a bit. I thought I wasn't writing much because of school. I have been out of school for about a month and a half yet am still not writing. I feel I have lost my passion for it. Writing is starting to feel like work. I am no longer having fun with it.
I have decided to take a break, to rejuvinate my creativity, to find the passion I used to have for writing. I am not sure how long I will be away. I might just step away until the fall, start fresh with a new season. I may be back sooner. You just never know.
If you, or anyone you know, would like to contribute to the blog, please feel free to contact me. I would like to keep new content going but I am not in a place to be that writer. More than likely, the writer(s) could stay on once I decide to return. It's always nice to have another voice.
I will still be on Twitter but I just don't have the energy to keep up the blog at this point in time.
So, until my return... this is goodbye,
no comments
I have decided to take a break, to rejuvinate my creativity, to find the passion I used to have for writing. I am not sure how long I will be away. I might just step away until the fall, start fresh with a new season. I may be back sooner. You just never know.
If you, or anyone you know, would like to contribute to the blog, please feel free to contact me. I would like to keep new content going but I am not in a place to be that writer. More than likely, the writer(s) could stay on once I decide to return. It's always nice to have another voice.
I will still be on Twitter but I just don't have the energy to keep up the blog at this point in time.
So, until my return... this is goodbye,
no comments
The Coyotes downfall stated when Turris returned to the ice after about a six week hold out. Tuesday night he took the ice in Glendale again but this time as a visiting Ottawa Senator. Will the Coyotes victory over the Senators be the turn around the Yotes need? Wouldn't it be poetic if Turris' return to Phoenix is just the spark needed to get the Coyotes back on the road to the playoffs?
Turris said he expected boos (click here to read the article) and the Coyotes fans did not disappoint. Apparently Kyle had paid attention to the fans reactions of players that insult the team, like maybe Blake Wheeler. We fans do not forgive or forget quickly here in the dessert. I don't know... maybe it is the heat. In my opinion the booing of Turris was well deserved. The fans here had been nothing but supportive of Turris and he treats the team, and therefore the fans, like dirt. A friend tweeted the following and I thought it summed up the situation well (it was in response to who is the whiner baby: Lamar Odom or Turris):
Ahhh, yes... hit the nail on the head.
Ahhhh, Kyle at more simpler times. Look how young he looks! This was the rookie camp after he was drafted. He was super stoked that I asked him to sign a Badgers tshirt. He could not believe that people wanted his autograph or picture. What happened to that dear, sweet boy?
Will this pre-asg victory be the turning point for the Coyotes? I sure hope so. If they can't string together some wins, the playoffs will be outside our grasp. And I would love more playoff games, against someone other than Detroit. I have had just about enough of them.
Besides wins, what do the Coyotes need to get there? Obviously more scoring would be nice. We sometimes can score a lot and then other times we are lucky if we get one. I would like to see more consistency on this part. The powerplay has been looking better and they have actually been getting some goals. I am actually going to leave the powerplay alone this entry. ;) Faceoffs. We need to win those. We've struggled bit lately. It is getting better with Hanzal and Gordon back. Also, shoot outs. I hate the blasted things but we seem to keep ending up in them and losing. Vrby needs to stick to his move. Doan, if played, needs to elevate the puck. We need at least one more guy that is money in the shoot out. Maybe it will be Brule, even though his last one kind of sucked... so did Vrby's.
With the trade deadline nearing... does GMDM make a trade? Jeff Carter seems pretty available. Would you want him? What would you give up for him versus what do you think Columbus would want? Do we keep the status quo and go forward with the team we have now? Do we trad DMo? If so, what could we possible get for him? Who else would you be willing to trade?
We are currently in the middle of the ASG break. Yandle is in Ottawa, Biz is in Vegas. I am in Phoenix, refusing to give in to the ASG. I have never been a huge fan of the ASG and break. Somehow I get suckered into the skills competition. That is probably my favorite part of the entire weekend.
What happens after the break is a toss up. Do the guys come back rested and ready to go? Or is too much down time a bad thing and they come back rusty? We will find out Tuesday when the Ducks roll into town. I just hope for a win. We really could use another one, especially against a Pacific division team.
There is more stuff going on with the ownership saga. Bettman announced a third group interested. No idea if this is to keep them here or move them. I hope there is an answer to the ownership issue soon. I just want to know.
Hmmmm, maybe I am asking too much? Can I change this entire entry to I want to win games and get an owner?
Dearest readers.. I am thinking about making tshirts (or other such gear) with Coyotes themes, kinda like this (but Coyotes related obviously) Thoughts? Would you be interested in buying such items?
Until next time,
no comments
Turris said he expected boos (click here to read the article) and the Coyotes fans did not disappoint. Apparently Kyle had paid attention to the fans reactions of players that insult the team, like maybe Blake Wheeler. We fans do not forgive or forget quickly here in the dessert. I don't know... maybe it is the heat. In my opinion the booing of Turris was well deserved. The fans here had been nothing but supportive of Turris and he treats the team, and therefore the fans, like dirt. A friend tweeted the following and I thought it summed up the situation well (it was in response to who is the whiner baby: Lamar Odom or Turris):
Ahhh, yes... hit the nail on the head.
Ahhhh, Kyle at more simpler times. Look how young he looks! This was the rookie camp after he was drafted. He was super stoked that I asked him to sign a Badgers tshirt. He could not believe that people wanted his autograph or picture. What happened to that dear, sweet boy?
Will this pre-asg victory be the turning point for the Coyotes? I sure hope so. If they can't string together some wins, the playoffs will be outside our grasp. And I would love more playoff games, against someone other than Detroit. I have had just about enough of them.
Besides wins, what do the Coyotes need to get there? Obviously more scoring would be nice. We sometimes can score a lot and then other times we are lucky if we get one. I would like to see more consistency on this part. The powerplay has been looking better and they have actually been getting some goals. I am actually going to leave the powerplay alone this entry. ;) Faceoffs. We need to win those. We've struggled bit lately. It is getting better with Hanzal and Gordon back. Also, shoot outs. I hate the blasted things but we seem to keep ending up in them and losing. Vrby needs to stick to his move. Doan, if played, needs to elevate the puck. We need at least one more guy that is money in the shoot out. Maybe it will be Brule, even though his last one kind of sucked... so did Vrby's.
With the trade deadline nearing... does GMDM make a trade? Jeff Carter seems pretty available. Would you want him? What would you give up for him versus what do you think Columbus would want? Do we keep the status quo and go forward with the team we have now? Do we trad DMo? If so, what could we possible get for him? Who else would you be willing to trade?
We are currently in the middle of the ASG break. Yandle is in Ottawa, Biz is in Vegas. I am in Phoenix, refusing to give in to the ASG. I have never been a huge fan of the ASG and break. Somehow I get suckered into the skills competition. That is probably my favorite part of the entire weekend.
What happens after the break is a toss up. Do the guys come back rested and ready to go? Or is too much down time a bad thing and they come back rusty? We will find out Tuesday when the Ducks roll into town. I just hope for a win. We really could use another one, especially against a Pacific division team.
There is more stuff going on with the ownership saga. Bettman announced a third group interested. No idea if this is to keep them here or move them. I hope there is an answer to the ownership issue soon. I just want to know.
Hmmmm, maybe I am asking too much? Can I change this entire entry to I want to win games and get an owner?
Dearest readers.. I am thinking about making tshirts (or other such gear) with Coyotes themes, kinda like this (but Coyotes related obviously) Thoughts? Would you be interested in buying such items?
Until next time,
no comments
