Couple of notes:
* Please remember to bring your Komets Kare Packages donations to the games this weekend.
* All-time Komets scoring leader Len Thornson suffered a mild heart attack yesterday, so mild in fact he's already home in Florida and doing very well. Please include him in your prayers.
* Saturday night is ``Kill the Komets'' night in Dayton. Wonder if that will help draw a crowd?
* There are only a few home games left if you'd like to purchase some of the books for Christmas gifts.
* Wendy, who's the interview this weekend?
* Anybody else think the Komets could/should sweep this weekend
Comments
No one said you coudln't or shouldn't talk about it, just don't be upset when everyone else doesn't rise to the bait and get as riled up as you may want them to be. That's all.
If you go back through the history of this blog, you may find that there's not too much new that gets said or minds that get changed about A) the state of the league: B) the desire for more/less fighting; C) the argument that the Komets are too old/the need for more scoring. Just the way of life on a blog. Like everything else in life, it goes in cycles.
Wow, Chuckitt must be feeling better. He just made a speech! LOL.
Blake, I put in some comments about an hour ago. They have not yet appeared. This has happened in the past now and then as they get sent to one of your files. Could you please check and see what happened and "free" them so they appear on the blog. They were addressed to you but I am sure that you would not strike them for that.
Yep, just saw them and they are up now, Alan. No, not you necessarily, just similar tones in general. The broader "We." A lot of us just don't get too excited about that stuff, myself included. Cudos to Justin for getting the Quad City owner to say it publicly. But here's the question, does it really change anything now? Really?
Ditto what Chuckitt said.
The green and white ones are working pretty good, going to have to take a nap before the game though i am wiped.
Well,
I might get ripped for this one....but after cramming to get term papers completed, preparing for semester finals in Math, Business Law, and Management....balancing my budget since my hours at work have been reduced to about 9 hours a week, etc....I would like to be able to attend the games this weekend and relax, visit with friends and hopefully witness some wins.
Minor league hockey is always going to have problems, same with the major league sports. The main difference is this is closer to home then the things we see on ESPN, etc.
I'm going to get back to my studies and treat myself to an adult beverage at the game tonight.
See you at the rink...
Thanks for putting the comments up, Blake. To answer your question; no, it doesn't really change anything now. It does, however, illustrate how tender the IHL is. Remember back in the late summer how often I posted about the importance of Quad City joining the IHL. They and Bloomington offer Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria ready made rivalries and greatly reduced travel costs to entice them to the IHL when, and if, those cities lose their present teams. The fact that the Quad City people put that stipulation in their agreement really opened my eyes. Now we know a little more how important it is for each of the present franchises to survive. That was an important piece of information for IHL fans. So, again, no it doesn't change anything. However it does explain a lot.
get a foo foo bob
Alan, your comments are always welcome here. You may be totally and irrevocably full of crap sometimes, but your comments are always welcome. LOL. Totally kidding. We are ALL full of crap sometimes.
I guess I don't get that excited about it because I look back over 58 years of hockey and we've seen this same thing happen many, many times, and it always works out one way or the other. If it's not in the IHL, it will be in another league and we'll be having the exact same discussions. It's minor league sports and by that definition it will never be stable.
If some of these teams don't survive, there will be others who step up. The one absolute I've learned in 20 years of covering this team, there are always, ALWAYS people out there who think it's fun and cool to own a pro sports team. Some will succeed, MOST will fail and someone will follow them. Look at indoor football. Shoot, look at history of ownership with the Komets.
As for the lease in QC, does anyone really think the building would turn down the dates if the IHL suddenly had six teams? They aren't that stupid, knowing every building out there need tenants. Again, have you looked at indoor football? If they can get leases, anyone can -- and will. It will all work out.
I am also bound by professional blogger ethics to NEVER let anyone else get the last word in, either. :)
WOW! all of that I nobody cut me up, shot at me or tried to kill me. This has been great reading. All of you are doing a good job of expressing yourselves. Chuckitt wrote a book (for him). That is great! Know this I don't agree with everything everyone said but I will defend your right to say it till I die. Now let's go beat Quad City after all they need it.
Here's something funny: I always wonder how Ken Ullyot would have reacted to a blog during his time. Can you imagine the uproar there would have been after the McDougal trade? Oh. My. God. Or how David Welker would have reacted?
Blake, I just think Quad City would switch to the ECHL and thus not lose any dates for the building. Speaking of something being full of crap: The Terry McDougal trade to Flint for Mike Clarke was absolutely crap. Mike Clarke was a good player but not nearly in the same category as McDougal.....that might bring up an interesting topic. What were the best and worst trades in Fort Wayne Komet history? There were some beauties going both ways as I suppose a franchise that has been around as long as the Komets have could expect.
One of the better trades. Kevin Kotyluk for David Hukalo!
Koty for Huk? The Franke's should have taken guns and ski masks to that trade.. Kzoo got robbed!
McBain for Bashkirov
Picard for Hextall
The trade that wasn't: Jean-Marc Richard and Peter Hankinson for Max Middendorf.
How about Tim Findlay for Kevin Bertram? Pretty good deal.
Bruce Racine for future considerations. League MVP.
steve fletcher to atlanta for nothing except very bad tastes in the mouths of komet nation.
I always liked Bruce, very aggressive at times, not afraid to lay into someone. One of the few goalies who would drop the gloves. His wife Lori is a cool person too.
She's from Kzoo, her father had something to do with Wings stadium, managing it or maintenance or something. I think they met when Bruce played for Muskegon. She was active with the Fort Wayne Dance Collective when they were here.
Bruce was one goalie you thought twice about running.
I forgot to add Al Gore invented the shoot out. I think the double referee system was also his idea.
Alan, don't be silly. A gentleman you shall always be. And I'm sure you'll be able to tell Tim, Randi and Otto that in person at some point.
Burpee invented foo foo drinks....Blake invented Burpee....Hit Somebody!!! (with the help of Colin Chaulk) invented "Super-Fan"......and Jungle Monkey invented Schrocky Balboa.
I am too tired to think of anything more.
Actually al gore took credit for all that.
BAM24 is a sissy
chuckitt, amen to that Steve Fletcher comment....glad you are feeling better. We dropped off a bunch of stuff for the men and women in uniforms last night, so feel better that your usual donation did not go this year, since this was our first year doing so. :)
HitSomebody, do you sit in section 218? I heard someone there last night yelling your name a lot, if it was not you....you have fans, my friend! LOL...
And you know, I did not mean to open a can of worms. I get off-topic just as much as anyone on here. I gotta say, it's more accepted than on another blog, where I was ripped to shreds....as I recall, Jungle Monkey was kind enough to be quite the gentleman and stand up for me on that one. I have always appreciated that, JM. But on this one, we talk hockey AND have fun, and as I understand it, each post does good things for Blake, so if there is one that is off-topic....eh, no biggie! Heck, we talked about football the other day, and no one went all ballistic over that one! It's all good, we can all get along, we're not Rodney King or anything. With few exceptions, we are all rooting for the best team in the league, so that should tie us all together. "Nuff said from me.
This is my first year donating, too.
I don't know about yelling "Hit somebody", but if there were a broadcasdt drinking game in which participants took a drink every time Randi Marcom said "Take the body", everyone would be completely sloshed by the first tv time-out. ;)
Thanks to Blake for filling in for me last week even didnt wear a snazzy tie. At least he things mine are snazzy!! Alan thanks for the comment about me Randy and Otto. We only do it for the fans FIRST and to help promote hockey. God knows we dont do it for the money. As for priority stuff we have tried to get the Commish on twice but he was tied up with Chaser and was a no show last night. When we do get him on you can bet he will be asked about the future of the IHL. Keep tuning in fans as we love to hear you feedback!
Is it too late to say no, I don't think the Komets will sweep this weekend? LOL.