For the record

I started this blog because I love hockey, and a good portion of my friends do not, and they got tired of reading about hockeyhockeyhockeyhockeyhockey on my personal blog all the time, so I decided to take it public, and write about what I knew and loved best - Kari Lehtonen, and myriad other players and teams I've come to love, or loathe, over the years.

I don't write here because I want a debate. I don't write here because I'm attention whoring and praying for comments. I'm not seeking attention, I don't ever want press credentials, I don't care if I'm acknowledged by the teams, or their fans. I write because I like writing, and I love hockey, and that's what I want to write on. I'm not breaking any new ground here. I rarely, if ever, write or post any original thoughts (except the ones that are littered with cuss words, those are all me!). This has become more of a scrapbook of my teams' and players' careers.

So if you don't agree with me, that's fine. I'm not trying to change your mind on anything. I'm writing what I feel and think, and what I want to remember. But in the same way I'm not trying to change your mind, please avoid attempting to change mine. Because it's not going to happen. I won't get into arguments, debates, or even heated discussions about anything I post.

All that said, from now on, I reserve the right to ignore or delete your comments. And frankly? If you don't have enough moxie to make up a fake name to comment with, don't even bother. If you feel strongly enough about what you think that you MUST tell me, and share with my 9 loyal readers, at least grow a set and attach SOME kind of name to your thoughts. You think my name is really Maali? Think again. The fact is, I don't care if you sign it "your mom," although I'd be a little shocked if either of my moms understood enough about hockey TO comment. I applaud creativity and well thought-out remarks, and love a great zing. If you can't contain your replies within that realm, just go start your own blog and post them there.

In summation:
- I'm writing for ME, not you;
- I'm not trying to change your mind on anything;
- Don't try and change my mind, cause you won't;
- If you're in accordance with the three rules above, comment away;
- Just keep in mind I'm not above deleting or locking comments.

And for further clarification? This WAS a sermon, NOT a thought.

Oilers organisation as shifty as previously thought

Heyyy, I knew I was onto something hating this team when they dumped Smyth and Smith (they're the new Johnson & Johnson, btw)! Have you heard about what happened to David Berry (not to be confused with Dave Barry) over at Covered in Oil? Fuck the Oil if that's how they're going to treat people!

Entire post here.

For those of you with ADD, this guy was hired to cover the game by not-the-Oilers, given a press pass, and while bored out of his mind in the press box, began live-blogging and probably talking a little bit of shit about the Oil. One of the press guys freaked out, told him he can't blog on someone else's media pass, he's gonna get thrown out, eh can never come back, the Oilers don't employ bloggers, yada yada yada. He didn't know this, no one cared or wanted his apology. He emailed another apology the next day, was basically told to go fuck himself, and then when he pointed out that bloggers at another blog had abused their media passes to get quotes only used in their blog, his media pass was reinstated, and he was told to act with more professionalism.

I don't think I make it sound as shady as it really comes across. But those are the salient points.God damn am I glad I have a 1st Ammendment right and can say whatever the fuck I want.

But this, my friends, is why you don't want press passes or official credentials. You get a quote no one else does? Whoop. Ee. It's a lot more fun to talk shit about the teams, and criticise them when they need criticism, praise them when they're praise-worthy, and in my instance, fawn excessively and create archived, transmutable evidence of the possible need for a restraining order. Or something. Um. Oh look, I have a meeting to go to!

Goofy Karppa; Waxing philosophical on blogging

Thanks to Jeff McRae for this pic of Kari, wearing a practice jersey he'd already autographed. Who was the lucky recipient of the practice-worn sweater? Was it you? Send me a pic of you in it, I'll post it!

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On blogging and credentials

There is a whole debate going on right now in the blogging community. Chances are pretty good you've read about it, or if you blog yourself, you've probably made your own post. I can't let it lie because damn it, I love to poke the bear!

The Thrashers announced yesterday (I guess?) that they will not give press credentials to the myriad of bloggers who write about the team. A move counter to what the Washington Capitals do, their bloggers being given mostly full access to the team. This has cause what, to me, appears to be a shitstorm in the blogging community that frankly leaves me baffled.

Let me put it into perspective, at least how I see it.

I work part time for a band in my life away from hockey, doing promotion. I've worked for bands for a long time. If there is one thing a band needs to succeed, it's fans. In a way, hockey is the same. Without the fans, the game suffers, the team suffers, and ultimately, is moved to a location with a better fan base. However, bands don't have corporate sponsors. Bands don't have advertisers. Bands don't sell space on their guitars or drums or monitors to whatever beer or insurance company wants their logo seen. They're not getting that revenue in, but hockey teams are. Mostly, bands have to rely on word of mouth, press, and their music to draw in fans. Yet despite that, it is extremely uncommon for someone who put up a fan site (which really, is all a blog is) to be granted an all access pass. Does it happen? Sure, in extreme and unusual circumstances. But not all the time, else everyone would be doing it (think about it. Love Luda? Put up a blog about him and get full access to him and his life! Awesome!). So, if bands, who rely almost wholly on their fans for their success, won't do it - why the hell would a hockey team?

Bloggers have no accountability, and I for one like it that way. I can say whatever the fuck I want on this blog, and no one can call me on it. I talk all the shit I want on here and no one can tell me what I can and can't say. Would I say the same things to the players that I wrote about them? Abso-fucking-lutely. And have, in a lot of cases. I've done websites for NHL players before, ones they approved of and contributed to, but were not "official," because once you put that word on a website, you become an employee of the player - just as you would be an employee of the team if they handed you press credentials, and you would have to toe the company line. That takes a lot of fun out of blogging, IMO. But I also like to see the amusing aspects of the game, as does Triz, and we sure as hell don't take ourselves seriously. Maybe some bloggers do, maybe they take themselves too seriously.

To think that your ability to read the news, watch games, and throw together a quasi-insightful daily column contributes enough to the organisation to qualify you for a press pass is beyond imaginable. You're essentially writing a journal. A hockey-based journal, about a team you love. The people reading it? Also lovers of the team. You're not bringing asses into the seats. You're not recruiting new fans. You're not really doing anything but spreading news that's already been published, even if it is with your own perspicacity, so to think you've a right or entitlement to anything above and beyond what the team already gives us (hello? Open free practices? You think they do that in Canada? Or even in the Northern states in the US? Oh hells no! We have more access to the players here down South than probably anywhere else in the NHL.), you're outcha damned mind.

You want to interview a player? Hit him up at practice. You want exclusive photos? Practice. Post game. Pre game. Hell, my aunt runs into Kari at least once a week just doing errands around town. And the guys are nice enough to stop and give you a few minutes of their time.

Honestly, to want, to expect press credentials, to feel slighted by a lack of them, is nothing more than incredibly greedy. Write about the team you love if you want - but don't expect extreme gratitude in return, no matter how much sugar you talk about them. I blow sunshine up Kari's ass pretty much every day on this blog. Do I expect anything because of it? Well, you know, aside from that restraining order that should be coming in aaaany day now... hahahaha. Ahem. But no. Just knowing other people out there take time out of their day to read these words I throw together and have the moxie to post - that's all the reward I need.

So in summation, if you feel what you write and do with your blog is so amazing that you honestly deserve press credentials... start covering the Caps. Because those boys need all the help they can get. Be thankful for your readers, and your commenters, especially those of you who have more than 3 commenters (hi Triz, Sandi and Knotwurth!), and enjoy what you're doing without a sense of entitlement. If you really wanted a press pass, you should've been a communications major. But, you know, hey drop me a line. I also work for a magazine. We're always hiring!