Cooking for Brevitt

Philly Flyers Make it 5!

Dear NHL and Colin Campbell,

When is enough just enough?

After waking up this morning, I turned on ESPN to catch some of the highlights and surprise, surprise - what did I see? Well besides a lack of hockey coverage, I also got to see yet another Philadelphia Flyer deliver a cheap blow in their game against Dallas. This time it was the lowly skilled Riley Cote who felt a flying elbow to Matt Niskanen with time running out was a grand thing to do. Luckily Niskanen was able to avoid serious injury, but that's not the point is it Colin?

My question is this: This is now the 5th Flyer to commit a totally fucked up dirty cheap ass hit this year and it's ONLY early-December! So when is the NHL and your office going to step up and make a decision against the entire Philadelphia organization? It's obvious that the players are being allowed to play like this, so isn't it the responsibility of the league to ensure this type of play isn't encouraged?

The whole situation is fucked up!

We are promoting a fast, quick and powerful game - yet you let goons like this continue to go unpunished. I'm not talking about 5-games here and there. It's time for the league to send notice that this type of shit is no longer tolerated.

Wake up Colin.

--Brevitt!

Hockey Gone Bad

Thanks to the Bird for this one, but looks like things up in Canada are a bit crazy these days! I'm sure I could come up with a quirky headline or something to entice my fans to read the story, but I think just a simple copy and paste will work for this one.....

Hockey brawl between 8-year-olds stuns police

Really? You think that a brawl between 8-year olds, coaches and themselves is a stunner? Thanks Edmonton Sun for the insight.

Only 2 Games?!?

The Lords of the Boards at NHL HQ have handed down their suspension for Randy Jones of the Flyers - two games! Two fuckin games for delivering a Grade 3 concussion during a pretty blatant dirty hit over the weekend to Patrice Bergeron of the Bruins. Now I understand that there are circumstances where a player turns at the last moment and a 'bad' hit can't be avoided, but please - this was not one of those situations.

Going through the stories this morning, I came across this one from Scott Burnside where he states:

"Jones tracked Bergeron as he headed into the Flyers' zone. Bergeron's back was to Jones the entire time leading up to the hit, but Jones still used his forearm to drive Bergeron's head into the boards." If you watch any reply, you can see this occurring.

As I mentioned, I fully understand that there are times when shit just happens and it's a freak moment. This was not one of them. It was a blatant hit and delivering a 2-game suspension is a complete joke. What will happen now - as Burnside mentions:

"If the NHL responds as if this were just another hockey hit and penalizes Jones lightly or lets him off altogether, all the league's statements that it is serious about eliminating dangerous play would be rendered moot."

It only makes it worse that this is now the third....yes, the THIRD Flyer's player to be involved in an ugly incident that has resulted in a suspension. Is this a team that is out of control and will the league do something about them? Apparently not.

Maybe my reactions are a bit harsh - I'm not sure, it's still early here in Iceland, but bottom line this was a dirty hit and both the player and the organization should have been penalized more than they have been. For those around Boston, this hit had a direct connection to what happened to Travis Roy. You watch Bergeron falling down and it could have been Roy 10-years ago.

These kind of hits need to stop in hockey. Hard hits, fights, scraps, emotions - it's all part of the game, but dirty plays like this are not.

End rant. Go Bruins. Get well soon Bergeron. Fuck you Flyers.

World Champions: Boston Red Sox

Although I'm in Iceland, I've done my best to keep up to date on the Red Sox and their latest trip to the World Series. Thanks to the Bz for sending me emails about the game, which was followed by me going to Boston.com every morning to get the final score. So early this morning around 7am GMT I woke up and headed over to see that:

The Boston Red Sox won the World Series!

Oh holy hell....now, I realize there will be a billion postings about this everywhere today, but I don't care. See I'm not like some of the new fangled fans out there who hopped on board since the run of 2004. Nope - I'm one of those long time fans who has always had a soft spot for the Sox even though my favorite Boston team is the Bruins. Although I'll never claim to be a historian on the team, I vividly remember the Buckner Ball as a boy and have been with them ever since.

So congratulations Boston Red Sox. It was a hell of a year and a hell of a playoff series from beginning to end. Let's get on signing Series MVP Lowell to a contract now....mmmkay?

I Ain't Got My Taco

Watch and enjoy.

Chara Breaking Yo Face

Good to see Chara throwing his might around a bit more with the Bruins this year. Last year he was held back by ex-coach Dave Lewis, but thankfully the Chara of old has returned for 2007.

This video from last night's game against the Chicago Blackhawks is a perfect example of why you don't fight a pissed off 6'9" guy.

More Sox!

2-1......Schilling to Okajima to Papelbon! Although I didn't get to see any of the game last night (hello Iceland!), the first thing I did this morning was check out the highlights at Boston.com - seems like it was a great game.

Seems like so much is going right for Boston sports right now, it's great to see. The Red Sox are on a roll, Boston College football is #2 and keeps on winning, what is there left to say about the Patriots, hype is up for the Celtics and finally the Bruins are turning it around!

Those who watched the game - let me know how it was!

Iceland, Sox, Rain and More

Few random thoughts for the day:

• Brevitt has landed safely in Iceland as of 6:30 this morning thanks to the pilots of Icelandair who had favorable winds and decided to fly at 700mph. Although I arrived an hour earlier than I was supposed to, my driver was waiting for me which was good and away we went.
• The Hotel Cabin should be named the Hotel Closet - it has by far the smallest rooms I've ever seen.
• The Boston Red Sox won 13-1 last night! I'm excited for the team, but bummed that I'll be in Iceland the entire Series and won't be able to catch any of the action.
• It's been rainy here for days and it doesn't look like it will end anytime soon - sweet!
• I'm missing a lot of things about home right now, so looking forward to getting back to the States once this trip is wrapped up.
• The Lord and MC Winks are becoming quite good at Halo 3.
• Magic the Gathering is meant for people over the age of 13, but my deck will still kick that crap out of The Lord's deck!

Well that's it for now - it's a bit crazy with little sleep and so much going on, but check back in soon kids as I start to post a bit more.

American Gladiator is Back!

Ok - before we begin, let's get one thing clear.....I consider American Gladiator to be one of the best tv shows ever. Not sure if it was because of the premise or more likely it was on when I was younger and thought the sets and gladiators were just super cool. Either way, that show has a permanent happy spot in my memories.

It is also one of those shows and concepts that I've always wondered why they didn't bring back for a whole new generation..............well kidz guess what - not only is the American Gladiators coming back to tv, but they've also selected their new host - the one and only Hulk Hogan!

My only hope is that Hawk makes a comeback as well!

Oh No.....The Bruins Preseason Ranking

In case you haven't stopped by in the past let me go over a few things. I'm from Boston (but don't live there right now as I'm on an extended business trip in the Durty) and despite their current issues, I am a huge Boston Bruins fan. Always have and always will.....

The new season is rolling along and I think the team made some decent moves in the off season to shore up the piss poor team that hit the ice last year. A little more grit was added, a new goalie and probably most importantly - a new coaching staff. Every new season brings hope though that this once storied franchise will pull it together and recapture some of the glory it once held.

Although the team made some improvements, looks like ESPN doesn't think they did enough. Looking over their NHL Preseason Rankings you'll find the Bruins at #27.....out of 30 teams - that's not so good...hah!

In true Brevitt style, let me throw out my thoughts on this ranking, the team and it's chances for the upcoming season.

• Trying to decide what is worse - the low ranking or the fact that the information blurb notes on Cam Neely's role as VP as opposed to any of the players
• I love the San Jose Sharks - they are a great team, but seeing Joe Thorton's picture at the top of these rankings only gets me more pissed off that the Bruins traded him for what has essentially become just Marco Sturm
• Two of the most storied franchises in NHL history are ranked together - Boston at #27 and Chicago at #26 - that is no good
• Milan Lujic making the B's this year is great for the team - he, Kessel and Bergeron are the future
• I like Tim Thomas because he is insane, I like Manny because Boston needs another guy with that name, but please - Rask is the goalie, let's just not burn him up like this organization has done to other tenders in the past

Ehhh - I could go on and on, but.......the puck drops this weekend, so another new season full of hope awaits!

Da B's.