Boston Bruins

It's been more than two weeks since the Boston Bruins lost the deciding game 7 against the Florida Panthers. To say that the series loss shocked and depressed Boston fans would be an understatement (myself included). You have to understand that any Bruins season that ends before the anniversary of Bobby Orr's iconic goal (May 10, 1970) is considered a failure. This season even more so because Boston had set the NHL record for success in the regular season and were the top ranked team in the playoffs. 

It should be remembered, though, that great things were not expected of this team before the season started. They were a 25-1 long shot to win the Stanley Cup before the first puck was dropped in the season. They were a long shot for a reason. New coach, and big questions on both the goaltending and blue line fronts. These expected deficiencies did not rear their heads during the regular season. In fact the Bruins had the best goaltending in the league. It was in the first round of the playoffs that these deficiencies made their presence known and now hockey fans in Boston are forced to watch other cities strive for the cup.

What saddens me the most is that this was no way for Captain Patrice Bergeron to end his Hall of Fame career. If he does retire, he'll do so as the reigning Selke Award winner as the top defensive forward in the NHL. Basically still at the top of his game. Bergeron is one of the nicest people in all of sports and I'll be sad to see him go if he does decide to hang up his skates.

Happy 75th Birthday to the Great Bobby Orr

I think the expectations in Boston have become such that any Bruins season that ends before the anniversary of Bobby Orr flying through the air to beat St Louis in the Stanley Cup (May 5, 1970) is a disappointment. Happy birthday Robert Gordon Orr!

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Why is it that the people who consider themselves the most ardent "environmentalists" seem to also have the most political signs on their lawns? Don't they see see the irony?... Heh Heh...  Why do people call cocaine "blow"? Shouldn't it be called "snort"? Blow is literally the opposite of how the drug is consumed (Stevie Nicks being the exception that proves the rule)... This is why Elon Musk is awesome... The name the Washington Football Team is growing on me to the point that I think the Washington Bullets Wizards and Washington Senators Nationals should also change their names to the Washington Basketball Team and Washington Baseball Team. The Capitals can stay with their same name... Just saying but when individually Jack Nicklaus and Bobby Orr endorsed Donald Trump many sportswriters were quick to bemoan that their heroes couldn't keep silent for just a few more days but when frequent ESPN contributor and well-known rapper Lil' Wayne made the same endorsement - the predominantly white sportswriter found themselves oddly silent. They won't see the irony either... 

Flotsam and Jetsam

 Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

At almost any time while they were playing in the NFL if you offered almost any GM the choice of Eli Manning or Matt Ryan pretty much the consensus would have been Matt Ryan. Yet it is Eli Manning who has the better shot at the Hall of Fame... Maybe its just me but I consider the TV remote a much bigger innovation than sliced bread... If I were President - I would make Bill Belichick my Press Secretary. Those press briefings would be epic... Oral sex in the Bible... In my opinion it is criminal that Warren Zevon is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The irony is I doubt Zevon himself would give a damn about the honor. He'd just want you to appreciate your sandwich... If I were President I'd also make Bobby Orr my Ambassador to Canada. Not kidding. Who can you think of that would be better? And I don't care that Orr's not a US citizen... "Remember - with Great Pumpkin comes great responsibility." - Linus... 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Expectations in Boston are such for the Bruins that any season that ends before the May 5th anniversary of Bobby Orr flying through the air after beating the St Louis Blues in 1970 is deemed a failure... Crossover movie idea - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Infinity Stone... This is 100% true... Is it just me or did the entire national media agree to forget that Senator Dianne Feinstein employed a Chinese spy as her personal driver for years? Seems to me that should have been a bigger story... This is insane! And this zoomable photo is just our galaxy. We are so infinitesimal... "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin... A jumper cable walks into a bar. The bartender says, "I'll serve you but don't start anything."... 

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Happy 71st birthday to #4 Bobby Orr. Not only one of the 3 greatest hockey players in history but arguable the greatest MAN to play hockey.

Here's a reminder of the type of person Robert Gordon Orr is.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Amid all the recent protestations I am reminded that Barack Obama arranged for an internship for his daughter Malia at Harvey Weinstein's company back when EVERYONE KNEW what type of person Harvey Weinstein was. Think about that for a moment...  IF Jay Cutler did a 23andMe do you think he'd learn that Jeff George was his biological dad?... It looks like FitzMagic may be over but just a reminder I called Ryan Fitzpatrick's NFL success way back in 2005... Just saying but the people who love the intrigue and baseness of politics must share a common trait with the people who cannot get enough of the Dr. Pimple Popper videos... Maybe its not safe to go back in the water... Every time I find a dead fruit fly in my beer I think "That's the way he wanted to die." Then I finish my beer... Andre the Giant and Bobby Orr - such a great photo... I still say my first move as President would be to make Bill Belichick my Press Secretary. Those briefings would be epic!...

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Happy 70th birthday to #4 Bobby Orr. Not only one of the 3 greatest hockey players in history but arguable the greatest MAN to play hockey.

Here's a reminder of the type of person Robert Gordon Orr is.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Catalan separatists win election. Wish I understood what is going on in Spain.

- Cool - scientists have created a new material called diamene which is as flexible as tinfoil but strong enough to stop a bullet.

- It's OK Bobby - we understand that the 70's were a strange time

- Heh heh

- The Graduate just turned 50-years old. A good reason to remind people that Buck Henry (one of the most underrated comedy writers in history) is still alive.

- The Red Lion Inn. I've stayed here a few times and the place is very cool.

- Is it me or does this woman have serious crazy eyes? And now also an STD.

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Happy 69th birthday to #4 Bobby Orr. Not only one of the 3 greatest hockey players in history but arguable the greatest MAN to play hockey.

Here's a reminder of the type of person Robert Gordon Orr is.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Has to be described as one of the worst trades in history. In 2012 the Red Sox traded Theo Epstein to the Cubs for Chris Carpenter. No - not that Chris Carpenter. This Chris Carpenter... Rob Gronkowski needs just 1 more receiving TD to tie Stanley Morgan for the all-time lead in Patriots history. Gronkowski is in just his 7th season with the team. Morgan played 12 seasons with the Pats... Done and done!... I'm still disappointed that "the Junk Mailer" never caught on as a nickname for Brett Favre... If I were President I would make Bobby Orr my Ambassador to Canada. Not kidding. Who can you think of that would be better? And I don't care that he's not a US citizen... Heh heh... My favorite Cubs fan is not Bill Murray - it's Bob Newhart...  Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows... ESPN reports that 11 out of 12 Microsoft tablets the Patriots were using were defective... It might surprise you but I think many more Boston fans are rooting for Terry Francona and the Indians than for Theo Epstein and the Cubs. Me among them...

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing.

- The most dangerous stretch of water in the world? Looking so innocent helps make it so dangerous.

- 46-years ago today

- Very cool - Quebec teen find ancient Mayan city via astral calculations

- Heh heh - awesome!

- Heh heh - the 2016 Presidential election in a nutshell

- Bryce Harper does a nice thing

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Heh heh - Arizona's new state slogan

- Cool - the story behind hockey's most iconic photo

- This is what passes as "news" at CNN these days

- Boo!!! The FDA is trying to kill cigars

- Surprise surprise - Donald Trump is a golf cheat

- Over a million trees in California have died and now it is basically too late to do anything about it

- This is an awful story but the judge did the right thing

- Stephen Colbert is failing. He's akin to Jeb Bush. Was big in a smaller stage (Colbert Show vs Governor of Florida) and his "big brother" got him his initial name recognition (Jon Stewart and George W) but they both fell apart in the spotlight of the big stage despite all the establishment backing.

- Heh heh

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Happy 68th birthday to #4 Bobby Orr. Not only one of the 3 greatest hockey players in history but arguable the greatest MAN to play hockey.

Here's a reminder of the type of person Robert Gordon Orr is.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Does Amy Schumer steal material? Ken Levine makes me re-think my position.

- Heh heh

- Is a secret sniper killing off ISIS' top command in Libya?

- Getting an Irish Coffee here is now on my bucket list

- Another example of Bobby Orr being one of the classiest humans on the planet

- Mitch Harris is by far now my favorite Cardinal player

Happy Birthday to Number 4

Bobby Orr is a God

"First, he became a great teammate. Then he traded up and became a great humanitarian." Dave Silk on Bobby Orr.

Bobby Orr was one of the greatest players in NHL history but he's also perhaps the greatest MAN who ever laced up hockey skates. In Boston he's a god.

Today's must read article.

NHL Mount Rushmore

I know the "Mount Rushmore of" whatever memes are tiresome in general but I have to admit the NHL Mount Rushmore has gotten me thinking. The first three are no-brainers - Wayne Greztky, Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr. But who would be the Teddy Roosevelt of the NHL Mount Rushmore?

Would it be Mario Lemieux? What about having a goalie on the list? Martin Brodeur is the all-time NHL wins leader as a goalie. Brodeur also has one more Stanley Cup as a player than Super Mario. But if its Stanley Cups you want - how about Maurice Rocket Richard who had 8 with the Canadiens and was the first player to have 500 goals. Personally I would like to see Cam Neely but I'm a parochial Boston Bruins fans.

Who should be that forth person on the NHL Mount Rushmore?

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Today is Bobby Orr's 60th birthday and I'd like to extend my well wishes to one of the three greatest hockey players of all-time and one the the three greatest athletes to ever play in Boston.

I've never met Mr. Orr but a friend tells this story of meeting Bobby Orr in the men's room of a charity golf event. My friend happens to stand at the urinal next to the one Orr is using.

My friend: "Hey Bobby Orr!"

Orr: "That's me."

My friend" "I always thought you'd be bigger."

Orr [not missing a beat - looks down and smiles]: "I'm big where it counts."

Happy birthday number 4.

Happy Birthday to Bobby Orr

Today is Bobby Orr's 59th birthday and I'd like to extend my well wishes to one of the three greatest hockey players of all-time and one the the three greatest athletes to ever play in Boston.

I've never met Mr. Orr but a friend tells this story of meeting Bobby Orr in the men's room of a charity golf event. My friend happens to stand at the urinal next to the one Orr is using.

My friend: "Hey Bobby Orr!"

Orr: "That's me."

My friend" "I always thought you'd be bigger."

Orr [not missing a beat - looks down and smiles]: "I'm big where it counts."

Happy birthday number 4.