That was fun, though we could have used a little bit of a breeze. We also ran out of cozies way too soon. I kept looking for something to wrap mine in, but nobody handed me anything. I did think it was cruel irony that the Samaritan helicopter kept circling the parade like a vulture waiting for one of us to drop. Great crowd with tons of kids out there.
I actually though Jon Shepler had the coolest "float'' in the parade. Way to go Jon! You da man with the glads.
Komets who I saw that walked today included Colin Chaulk, Leo Thomas, Kevin Bertram, David Hukalo, Sean O'Connor (he's just starting talks with the Komets because he's been fishing), Bobby Phillips and Lincoln Kaleigh Schrock. There might have been some others, but I didn't get to see who arrived after 9 a.m.
Teresa, your message was relayed to Huk.
Comments
I thought that was O'Connor
I agree Blake...Jon did have the coolest "float"...He needed to give me a lift back to the van..but he told me the weight limit...i had to walk...
I didn't see Schrock at all. But OC and Bertram were there
dint get to the guys as the wife and i walked with the mad ants in the parade! what a great day for a walk!
Hey SuperFan!!!
LOL
Thought you might mention that one....oh well, easily forgotten I guess.
Pc Buddy was definitely there. OC was driving the 4 wheeler by us.
Heywood Banks walked past me.....I yelled "Hey Toast".....he looked at me smiled and yelled back " Yea Toast!!!!".......
Classic.
I am being moderated.....
Wow.
I guess someone didn't like being waved to? LOL
Fabulous Ficorelli Finds Fortune Flourishing Finally in Extremely Exciting Iceman Endeavor in Evansville!!!!!!!
No idea why it did that, Hit. Must be your lucky day.
Things that worry me right now....
1. We are almost half way thru July and still no word on the what the vital makeup of this CIHL endeavor will be...
2. 9 signings announced in the 'IHL' division with 8 belonging to the Komets (10 if you want to count Ficorelli...lol). Missouri in the CHL has more signings alone...
3. Only about 2 to 2 1/2 months to put teams together with training camps starting in October. Not a problem for a well run organization like the K's; but troubling for franchises like Evansville (1st year), Dayton (1st full season/ 1st offseason under new ownership group) , Quad City (2nd season), and Bloomington (3rd season for that ownership group?). With the exception of Quad City and Ft Wayne, the remaining IHL franchises need to start heavily marketing thier teams towards this new CIHL 'endeavour'; but with no player signings, no vital information on the makeup (or even what to call it), etc... makes this impossible.
4. K's STH's are down to what 20 days to pay off thier remaining balances? This has to make some nervous...
Whats the holdup at this point? I am hearing that its the negotiations with the players union that is taking much longer than anticipated... Any word Blake on when we 'could' hear any information? Are they close to making an anouncement or should we expect this to drag into August???
I agree with everything JR says here.
I have had the same worries much earlier, like 2-3 weeks ago, now I have to say this is getting alarming.
I had read in multiple places that July15th would be the day we learn the schedule. Is that going to happen, or not?
I would think that scheduling needs to be cemented in buildings as well, or we might run into a situation where Mad Ants and such start plucking the prime dates away??? That is just here in our arena....what about the others?
Not being negative here, so don't interupt you foo foo drinking and tanning schedules to lob insults at me or JR...these are very very very legitimate concerns.
How can Dayton or Evansville market their team to fans on this tight of a schedule? How can they set-up corporate sponsorships appropriately without having league and team details finalized? How can anyone not be nervous about getting into a team and league that has so much uncertainty this late in the summer?
They have to know in the office that no information=no season ticket money for most people. I want to pay my balance off now, but I also want to make sure what it is I will be paying for.
I heard that Odessa has 17 or 18 signed....including T-Rob, they are just spreading out the announcements over the remainder of the summer to keep their interest level high in the media. Most teams do this, including the Komets.
I am not as concerned about player signings as there will be tons of players looking for work as there are much less teams than last year.
The real concern is Dayton and Evansville with sponsorships and marketing, and ticket sales.
Not to mention that the CHL/IHL have nothing formal to announce on this affair they are proposing.
Don't worry, be happy.
I also have the same questions=TIME HAS COME.
The extinct elephant hasnt been spouting off his answers for everything lately. A couple weeks ago he was the fountain of knowledge, now nothing. Blake comes back and he disappears. Did Blake cage his pet??
JR and Hit: You pose great concerns. Im still trying to decide if Im going to cough up my remaining balance for my season tickets or if Im just going to cut my losses and eat my $100 deposit.
I really don't have $200 to eat.
RunningKomet, do you partake in the drinking of chilled beverages supplied by Anheiser Busch?
I seem to remember reading on the other blog last week that they were expecting to release details about the league BEFORE the schedule comes out on the 15th. Anyone want to hold their breath?
JM: I have to admit Im more of a liquor guy. Not foo foos, but the real stuff. I do appteciate the gesture though. I am also proud to report I outgrew Kool Aid around the age of 7.
Mightbite: Im not thrilled about throwing away my deposit either, but mathematically, it is less than my balance. I guess my question to you would be: If you dont have the $200 to eat, do you have the $800 to throw down for something you have no idea of what youre getting? (assuming you are talking about two season tickets). Add to that parking and refreshments for each game...
I am still on vacation until tomorrow. I think I'll stay that way. Not a liquor man myself but I sure do like ice cold Yuengling. Imported all the way from Philly. Think I'll go get another. I didn't spell that wrong either.
you are right RK. I didn't think "workmans comp" was a rip off.
Mightbite made a funny on the other blog.
Schebig, I was 3 mins from your place today, but since we were both on vacation, I spared both of us!, still tanning, third summer of weight loss started june 15, down 6, 76 total since summer 2008. At this rate I will be in shape in 4 more years and can try out for the K's, just need to learn how to skate first! See ya monday night boys, men only, no red headed hockey chicks.
Burgee, Way to go on the weight loss program! I've lost about 10 myself this spring/summer....way way too many to go still...
PC Buddy re-signs with the Komets. Thanks for the info Cohny.
Is that the Big Signing Mitebite?
25% of me has reservations about that signing ;)
That is the "BIG" signing. PC will be the best player in this IHL-CHL league even at 75% :)
RunningKomet - I think the elephant might be extremely busy trying to tell everyone at ESPN that they are negative nellies and how wrong they are for commenting on sports, sports teams, sports ownerships, players, etc. I was just thinking, homer writers don't do well there, do they?
Vacation is over! Lets get this hockey season underway.
Burgee lost 6 pounds I gained 6. It had to go someplace.
If you like Fort Wayne sports at all join the men at Bethlehem for Blake's Group tonight @ 7 PM. If you have never been there you will be completely surprised. It is one very enjoyable 1+hr. time. Besides all that we can see just how much sun our leader got walking in the parade on Saturday. Be there or be square! Now you know just how old I am! Oops!
Likely to be a two-hour session tonight if we want to see everything.
Schrock and O'Connor would seem to be pretty important signings to me. Schrock would be a "developmental player" while O'Connor would be a "tweener". Both are young and are known quantities.
The Komets really need to focus at the "center" position also. With Chaulk gone the only true center so far is Thomas.
I guess I'm expecting Dupuis to sign a contract and if he does that would make five experienced defensemen. He would also be the third of four veterans. (I hate that rule.) Maybe Burgee could give him a raise and then the K's could sign him for a little less.
No goaltenders signed and yet the Franke's have always made solid decisions when it comes to goaltending. ( I don't think goaltending counts against the "veteran limit" in the CHL.)
I'm not trying to cause a firestorm by what I print next, but I'm hoping they don't sign Tyler Sims. It isn't because I have any doubts about his talent. It is merely the fact that being the son of the Coach could, doesn't have to, but could cause some problems. It just might be "cleaner" for him to play somewhere else.
I'm not sure why I feel this way but I'm thinking the Komets need to make one or two "big signings". I'm talking goal scorers. Known goal scores who would be new to the Fort Wayne Komets.
As stated above by some, still no word on anything from the league. I hope something is settled and reported on this week.
Anyone read anything about Nolan's plans for the upcoming season?