Citizen 'Cane (WelcomeHomeNC.com)

Selke

2006-05-10T12:29:00.000-04:00

Poor, poor Frank Selke.
What an unfortunate title to have next to your name etched onto the Stanley Cup.

YES! Still alive!

2006-04-27T08:35:00.000-04:00

STAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!

Rod Brind'Amour scores a beautiful individual effort goal (with a little help from Hedican and the Montreal defense) in the final 10 minutes to send game 3 into overtime tied 1-1. If the 'Canes lose this game, the series is basically over, needing then to win 4 straight.

Eric Staal made sure that wouldn't happen as he nets the game winner on a power play just minutes in to the first overtime! Congrats Eric, that's a pretty darn good way to score your first ever playoff goal.

'Canes survive to play another day! And, most importantly, game 5 is back in Raleigh Sunday night.... and I have tickets. Yes! Tailgating starts early!

0-2 ugh.

2006-04-26T16:36:00.000-04:00

Not good.

The 'Canes have put themselves into a deep, deep hole, losing the first two games of the series AT HOME. Now they must go to Montreal tonight for games 3 and 4, and are in a bit of trouble.
Montreal has been playing VERY well, completely dominiating the first 4 perriods of this series (all of game one, a 6-1 loss, and the first period of gmae 2). The Hurricanes finally emerged from their fog in the second period of game two, carrying the play for just about the entire 20 minutes. unfortunately, by this point they were already down 3-0 and were forced to pull Martin Gerber after he let in 3 goals on 14 shots. Cam Ward played very solid in goal when called upon.
The final period was played fairly even, as was the first overtime (the bright spot - Carolina came back from a 3-0 deficit to actually take the lead 4-3, only to have the game go into overtime tied 5-5.
Yes, of course I was there for both games, cheering dutifully from section 332 in game one, while at the same time wearing the rally towel give-away over my head. Gmae 2 started the same, but the crown finally came back in the second and it seemed once again like the loudest house in the NHL.
The overtime was chock full of fantastic, back and forth hockey. both teams were giving it their all, and it eneded still 5-5 and heading for overtime #2. Cam gets full credit here, as two extremely remarkable saves were the reson it even made it to overtime#2.

The air was let out of the building when Montreal scored eaqrly into the second overtime, sending the series back to Canada with Montreal holding a comanding 2-0 and home ice for the next two.
If there ever was a game 3 that was a must win situation.... it is tonight about 7:00 pm. If the Canes go down 3-0 in the series, well, lets just say that a comeback from that has only happened twice in the history of the NHL.

Lets go Canes! I've got tickets for Sunday night, so you better bring this series back to Raleigh!

Playoff Time!!

2006-04-19T10:22:00.000-04:00

Now begins the greatest postseason in professional sports. A battle for the hardest earned trophy in sports - the Stanley Cup.

The Hurricanes faltered down the stretch, which was more than a little frustrating since they held their fate in their own hands. Only needing to beat either Tampa Bay on Saturday or Buffalo last night to take the #1 seed in the eastern conference, the 'Canes failed on both occasions. Coupled with Ottawa's victory last night, Ottawa overtakes the 'Canes for the #1 seed and a playoff series against Tampa, while Carolina takes the #2 seed into a series with #7 Montreal.
The good news... Carolina in 4-0 against Montreal this season, averaging 6 goals/game for the series. The bad news... Perennial Carolina doormat Jose Theodore was traded away, so the 'Canes will face either Huet (one of the hottest goalies in the NHL down the stretch) or Aebischer.

Game 1 Saturday night, 7:00pm!!!
I've got my tickets for the first 2 rounds, can't wait. There is nothing like playoff hockey. The RBC Center will be rocking Saturday night!

And YES. We WILL be tailgating Saturday afternoon!!!

Seriously...
How can we lose with THIS guy on the blue line???? ---->

Let's Go 'Canes!!!

Downtown Raleigh magazine online

2006-04-06T08:59:00.000-04:00

There is a great new magazine with a focus on all things downtown. Lucky for all of us, the entire magazine is also available online.

Click HERE to be redirected to the site.

Definitley worth the bookmark if you are interested in what is happening with the current downtown raleigh resurgence.

NC Lottery Begins Today

2006-03-30T10:42:00.000-05:00

North Carolina has officially joined the fraternity of lottery states, rolling out the availability of the first scratch off tickets today. The large jackpot/powerball half of the lottery does not start until May, but as of this morning, scratch-off tickets are widely available throughout the state.

And for the record:
I'm 0-2 on the scratchoffs. (Had to do it, it's the first day!)

For more information, visit http://lottery.nc.gov/

North Carolina Education Lottery
In August 2005, Gov. Mike Easley signed into law the North Carolina State Lottery Act (H. 1023) and the 2005 Appropriations Act (S. 622) which enacted the North Carolina Education Lottery.
View Legislation (PDF).
The act created the 9-member North Carolina Lottery Commission to initiate, supervise, and administer the education lottery. The Commission was appointed in September 2005, with Dr. Charles Sanders of Durham as its first chair and its initial meeting was held on October 6, 2005. View Press Release.
The Commission will appoint and provide for the compensation of an executive director who may hire other staff and who will be responsible for the administrative management and daily operations of the Commission. 100 percent of the net proceeds of the North Carolina Education Lottery will go to education expenses, including reduced class size in early grades, academic prekindergarten programs, school construction, and scholarships for needy college and university students.

Classic Poster

2006-03-28T11:58:00.000-05:00

They have a saying in basketball called "posterizing". Translation, a photo so good that it gets put on a poster, usually with an opponent in the photo getting beaten badly...or "poterized".

Classic example...

FINAL FOUR!!!!!

2006-03-26T17:27:00.000-05:00

GMU 86 - UConn 84 (OT)

George Mason is going to the final four!!!

The road to this point included two of last years final four, and the last two national champions.

They become only the second team to advance to the final weekend with an 11 seed in tournament history (also the highest seed to ever advance that far), with the first being LSU back in the 80's.
Mason almost had the game wrapped up in regulation, but a missed free throw by Tony Skinn allowed UConn to run all the way down for the tying layup with less than a second left to send the game to overtime. In overtime, it was almost Deja Vu, with Mason up only 2, a missed free throw allowed UConn to come all the way down and get off a good look for a three pointer to WIN as time expired. As the ball clanged off the back of the rim and out, It took a few seconds to sink in (and to re-start my heart) that Mason had just won.
Mason knocked off #6 seed Michigan State (sorry Rob), #3 seed UNC (sorry Ian, and, well, everybody else in town), #7 seed Wichita State, and now the overall #1 seed, #1 in all the polls, and favorite to win it all since the season started University of Connecticut.
Whew.
I think I need to go lie down for a minute...

I'll just let ESPN talk about it...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- George Mason is no longer the cute little underdog. The Patriots, by golly, are going to the Final Four. The suburban commuter school from Fairfax, Va., beat top-seeded Connecticut 86-84 in overtime Sunday in the Washington Regional final, ending the stranglehold that big-time programs have enjoyed for 27 years in college basketball's biggest showcase.
They lacked in size, athleticism and history relative to their opponent, but the 11th-seeded Patriots made up for it with tenacity. Buoyed by a partisan crowd and playing some 20 miles from their campus, George Mason rallied after trailing by 12 late in the first half and nine early in the second. They hit six straight 3-pointers in the second half, shot 5-for-6 in overtime and outrebounded a UConn team with three starters taller than any of the Patriots frontcourt players.
The Patriots became the second double-digit seed to make the Final Four, matching LSU's run, also as an 11th seed, in 1986. The Colonial Athletic Association team is the first true outsider to crash the Final Four since Penn and Indiana State both got there in 1979. The Patriots celebrated after the final horn by standing on the press row table and saluting their fans. All five Mason starters finished in double figures. Jai Lewis had 20, and Lamar Butler and Will Thomas each scored 19. Jim Larranaga's team kept the same five players in the game from the 10:37 mark of regulation to the very end of overtime.
George Mason (27-7), having by far the best season in school history, had never won an NCAA tournament game until it beat half of last year's Final Four -- Michigan State and No. 3 seed North Carolina -- back-to-back in the first two rounds.
Now it can say it has beaten the last two national champions --
Connecticut (30-3) and North Carolina.

Am I Dreaming??

2006-03-26T11:12:00.000-05:00

George Mason in the ELITE 8!?!?!?

Hope this is a loooonggggg dream....

GMU takes on UConn today at 2:40pm to play for the right to go to the FINAL FOUR.
I have to read that again to believe it.
GMU takes on UConn today at 2:40pm to play for the right to go to the FINAL FOUR.
Yup. sounded even better the second time.

David vs. Goliath?
You decide...

From ESPN.com...

George Mason's budget for men's hoops was $1.02 million; Elite Eight opponent UConn spent more than 540 percent than that ($5.52 million) on its men's basketball operation over the same season.

GO MASON GO!!!

Game Time

2006-03-23T13:57:00.000-05:00

How SWEET it is!!

2006-03-21T09:59:00.000-05:00

Me = GMU, class of '91!!! Go Mason Go!!!

Patriots Earn Sweet Win Over #3 Tarheels - Head to Sweet 16 for first time in School history.
Forwards Will Thomas and Jai Lewis dominated up front, and the 11th-seeded Patriots dug out of an early 16-2 hole to upset the Tar Heels, 65-60 on Sunday.
March 19, 2006

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) - Upstart George Mason turned defending champion North Carolina a whole different shade of blue.
Forwards Will Thomas and Jai Lewis dominated up front, and the 11th-seeded Patriots dug out of an early 16-2 hole to upset the Tar Heels, 65-60 on Sunday.
George Mason (25-7) became the first Colonial Athletic Association team to reach the round of 16 since 1988, when Richmond went. The Patriots will play Wichita State on Friday in the Washington Regional semifinals.
George Mason got an at-large bid, which rubbed some of the power conferences the wrong way. After a rough start, the Patriots switched to a recently installed zone defense and showed they belonged, knocking off the region's No. 3 seed.
Carolina (23-8) faded down the stretch, missing four straight shots and repeatedly fouling. George Mason went 9-of-12 from the line in the final 3 minutes to pull away.
It was yet another second-round stunner for coach Roy Williams, who suffered one of his worst in the same arena 16 years ago. His Kansas team was considered a title contender in 1992, but got knocked off by Texas-El Paso in the second round.
Williams was so upset as it wound down that he picked up his folding chair and slammed it down courtside.

Two days after setting a new school record for wins in a season, Mason broke that mark with its 25th win.
It's the first-ever win for Mason over an ACC school and the 10th-ranked Tar Heels are the highest ranked opponent Mason has ever defeated.

Mason is playing in the round of 16 back in Washington D.C. Chances are extremely good to move on to the Elite 8, with the D.C. game being basically a home game. Let's fill those stands, Mason people!!
Mason already defeated Wichita State in Kansas about a month ago, so lets hope for a repeat!

Good Advice...

2006-03-13T10:14:00.000-05:00

**Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
**Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, theirconversational skills will be as important as any other.
**Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
**When you say, "I love you," mean it.
**When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
**Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
**Believe in love at first sight.
**Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don'thave much.
**Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only wayto live life completely.
**In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
**Don't judge people by their relatives.**Talk slowly but think quickly.
**When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smileand ask, "Why do you want to know?"
**Remember that great love and great achievements involve greatrisk..
**Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
**When you lose, don't lose the lesson
**Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; andresponsibility for all your actions.
**Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.**When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps tocorrect it.
**Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in yourvoice.
**Spend some time alone.

Recchi waives no-trade clause, traded to Hurricanes

2006-03-09T15:30:00.000-05:00

'Canes add more scoring depth for the stretch run and the playoffs by adding Recchi, who ought to fill in nicely for Cole until he can return.
When Cole comes back during the playoffs, the Canes will be even stronger and have to be considered one of the Cup favorites at this point.

Good job, Jim Rutherford!

***Side Note***
I wonder if Recchi left a thank you note on Brooks Orpik's locker on his way out the door?

from ESPN.com

The Carolina Hurricanes added another important offensive piece Thursday, acquiring veteran forward Mark Recchi from Pittsburgh less than an hour before the NHL's trade deadline. Recchi gives the NHL's top team a replacement for injuredforward Erik Cole, who will miss the rest of the regular season after fracturing a vertebra in his neck less than a week ago against the Penguins. Cole already had a career-high 60 points in 60 games before the injury.
"I didn't feel pressure to do it, it wasn't an absolute necessity," Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said. "It's not like we were out looking at several players. While the loss of Erik hurts our team, if we weren't able to get Mark Recchi, we weren't going to get anyone else."
To make the move, Recchi waived his no-trade clause.
The Hurricanes sent defenseman Niklas Nordgren, minor league forward Krys Kolanos and a second-round pick in 2007 to Pittsburgh. It was the second surprising trade in about a month for one of the league's small-market teams; Doug Weight also had a no-trade clause before arriving from St. Louis on Jan. 30.
Rutherford expects Recchi to join the Hurricanes in time for Saturday's game at the Florida Panthers.
"This group of players have played extremely well," Rutherford said. "They certainly have shown that we have as good a chance as anyone else in the playoffs. Any time you get to that point, and you can add elite players such as Weight and Recchi, you need to get that kind of depth to do well." Carolina led the NHL with 91 points entering Thursday night.

Brick Mason Wanted

2006-03-06T15:10:00.000-05:00

Our interoffice email has never been known to be anything close to entertaining, whimsical or funny.
But an exchange just came across I HAD to share. (and I'm sure this is not the last of it, the responses should be swift and ugly...) This is not a joke, though it sure seems like one, this is an actual email exchange.

First email - sent 3/6/06 3:01 pm From agent in one of our Durham offices...

Does anyone know of a good brick mason in Durham that could do a small job on the foundation of a house?

Immediate response:
sent "reply to all" 3:05 pm

how about JJ Redick??

and YES, the second comment was from an agent in out Chapel Hill office. Imagine that.

I swear, I did not make this up.

COLE TO MISS AT LEAST 6-8 WEEKS WITH FRACTURED VERTEBRA

2006-03-05T17:53:00.000-05:00

Rod Brind'Amour said Orpik has a reputation for hitting late and from behind and, he said,

So put those two together, that's pretty much what happened there. I understand playing hard, but you don't run guys from behind - ever. I mean I have played 100 years and I've never run a guy from behind. That's one of the best players in the league, and we need him, and these guys aren't really playing for anything. It's frustrating.

Erik Cole

Godspeed Erik, for a quick and full recovery.

Tar Heel Freshmen Crash Duke Senior Night

2006-03-05T17:49:00.000-05:00

From www.blog.850thebuzz.com
read the whole entry here

On a night where Duke's veterans were being honored, Carolina's freshmen
stepped up to outscore the Blue Devil seniors, 55-51. Tyler Hansbrough had a
huge game(27 points, 10 rebounds) and even nailed a desperation three
pointer as the shot clock ran out to cap an 11-2 Carolina run that gave the
Heels room to grab the win.

UNC vs NCST

2006-02-26T11:09:00.000-05:00

(apologies to NC State fans, I was rooting for State, I swear, really...)

Funniest thing I heard after the UNC Tar Heels rolled into town and slapped a huge beat-down of the NCSU Wolfpack on their home court here in Raleigh this week...

"I never knew that Roy Williams was such a pot-head."
"Yeah, I heard he smoked Herb last night."

Might be an oldie but a goodie, but I never heard it before, so it was new to me!
(for those not from the area or that don't follow college basketball, scratching their head wondering why that's funny.... NC State's head caoch is named Herb)

To get a flavor for the rabid nature of the locals when it comes to College basketball...blog.850thebuzz.com//1044#comments

A star-spangled embarrassment.

2006-02-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

"GREAT MOMENTS AT THE GAMES....

So Bode Miller, how were the Olympic games?

"It's been an awesome two weeks. I got to party and socialize at an Olympic level"

And lets not forget...

"I had a great time. I had a lot of fun. I was out a lot, and despite what you guys think, I didn't get drunk very often, and never the night before a race."

Gee Bode, umm... thanks for at least not showing up drunk, I guess.
Absolutely the biggest flop in recent Olympic history. World Champion skills, 0-5. Not even a bronze. Bode makes the Canadian hockey team look like they were extremely sucessful in Turino.

Other notables....

Skiing analyst Todd Brooker on Miller - pretty much summed it all up.

"I'm not disappointed that he didn't win a medal. I am disappointed that he didn't seem to care."

Proving that Miller isn't the only skier who can go downhill in a hurry, U.S. aerials skier Jeret "Speedy" Peterson was sent home from the Olympics after a night of partying ended in a fight that police had to break up.

Bryant Gumbel. (this was amazing. How did this make it to the air?!?)

Count me among those who don't like them and won't watch them ... Because they're so trying, maybe over the next three weeks we should all try too. Like, try not to be incredulous when someone attempts to link these games to those of the ancient Greeks who never heard of skating or skiing. So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of Blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Try not to point out that something's not really a sport if a pseudo-athlete waits in what's called a kiss-and-cry area, while some panel of subjective judges decides who won ... So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they're done, when we can move on to March Madness - for God's sake, let the Games begin."

Lindsey Jacobellis - right after showboating on the last jump, causing her to fall and lose the gold medal she easily would have won.

"I really don't care what people think," said. "I still won a silver medal, and no one can take that away from me."

Her fall while celebrating a snowboard race is clearly the "what in the heck was she thinking" moment that will be replayed endlessly. More than once I heard her referred to as the "Leon Lett" of the Olympics. If you aren't familiar what that means, trust me, it isn't flattering.
My favorite part was the Ashley Simpson-esque cover up immediately after. When she tried to convince us all that she wasn't showboating, but merely trying to keep her balance. Ummm... Yeah. O.K. And Ashley had acid reflux and her band played the wrong song. Right.

The other problem with these Olympics is, there was no defining moment. No one athlete whocaptured our hearts. It could have been Sasha Cohen, who was a gold medal favorite in figure skating. But in the long program she fell on her first two jumps. And while she won silver, she clearly lost gold. It could have been Chad Hedrick, who did win three medals, but only one was gold and he couldn't muster up an Eric Heiden-like performance. Sadly, the thing we will remember most about Hedrick is his feud with fellow speedskater Shani Davis. Davis, by the way, could have taken his gold medal in the 1,000 meters to the bank after becoming the first African-American to win gold, but his selfish decision to quit on his team in the team pursuit cost them a chance for gold and him a chance to be a winner in the eyes of those that matter - the purchasing public. Hedrick won the 5,000 meters but airing his dirty laundry about Davis and failing to congratulate him after the 1,000 meters will be his legacy.

And then there's good old Johnny Weir... (after blaming the bus schedules)

"I never felt comfortable in this building. I didn't feel my inner peace, I didn't feel my aura. Inside I was black" (after finishing a disappointing fifth in men's figure skating).

______________________________________________________________

At least there was Apolo Ohno to put things back in perspective.
Someone finally "gets it". Someone who isNOT out for himself.

"There's too much emphasis put on the color of the medals, and not enough on the spirit of the Games, the passion."

Also, how can you NOT like and cheer for Shawn White, the "Flying Tomato"! What a character! The one single athlete in Turino who seemed to have the most fun and appreciate the experience the most. When asked about his gold medal, I actually think he said he was "stoked"!

Any guesses on what this guy might endorse? Tomatoes, obviously, but will he be able to branch out into the other food groups? Actually, a Wheaties box is the same color as his hair, isn't it? Hmmmm......

Shawn White and Ohno. Great job representing your country. Sorry your spirit couldn't rub off on the rest of the US contingent. If we can get more athletes to Vancouver with your attitude, then the Olympics might just get higher ratings than "American Idol" next time.

Don Knotts

2006-02-26T10:51:00.000-05:00

A NC icon passes...

LOS ANGELES - Don Knotts, who won TV immortality and five Emmys for playing the bumbling Deputy Barney Fife on "The Andy Griffith Show" with self-deprecating humor, was remembered by his friend and co-star as a comedic genius who wrote some of the show's best scenes.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060226/ap_en_tv/obit_knotts

FIRST TIME IN HISTORY

2006-02-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

HOLY CRUD.

George Mason University, ranked in the top 25 for the first time in school history!
(#25 in ESPN/USA Today, #26 in AP)
http://gomason.collegesports.com

Congratulations to Coach Larranaga and the Green and Gold!
Just to finally be mentioned in the same vain with more nationally known programs is a testamant to coach Larranaga and the program he's built. Maybe soon the rest of the country will recognize us as more than the "other" Washington D.C. area "George" school (George Washington and Georgetown being the others)

Week 16 ESPN/USA Today Poll
1. Duke (26) 25-1 770
2. Villanova 21-2 730
3. Memphis (3) 24-2 706
4. Connecticut (2) 23-2 700
5. Gonzaga 22-3 645
6. George Washington 22-1 594
7. Texas 22-4 568
8. Illinois 22-4 497
9. Florida 22-4 483
10. Pittsburgh 20-4 473
11. Tennessee 19-4 457
12. Ohio State 19-4 431
13. Boston College 21-5 428
14. N.C. State 21-5 366
15. West Virginia 18-7 298
16. Michigan State 19-7 280
17. UCLA 20-6 263
18. Kansas 19-6 233
19. Washington 20-5 197
20. Oklahoma 17-6 178
21. North Carolina 17-6 167
22. Iowa 20-7 147
23. Georgetown 17-7 141
24. LSU 18-7 99
25. George Mason 21-5 48

Congratulations to Coach Larranaga, Tony Skinn (clutch shot), Jai Lewis (see you in the NFL), Will Thomas, Lamar Butler, the rest of the team, staff, and the entire Green and Gold Nation!

As a GMU alum in the middle of ACC country (Raleigh, NC), it's great to see Mason right there with NC State and UNC and Duke (o.k., maybe not Duke, but you know what I mean).

Keep it up, boys, and we are looking forward to not only our first ever win in the field of 64, but maybe a few?!?!?

Raleigh Convention Center Imploded

2006-02-19T13:35:00.000-05:00

The Raleigh Convention center was imploded early this morning to make way for the new Convention Center and hotel complex.
Wish I was there to see it, but 7:00am is just too darn early on a Sunday morning. ; - )

The video was on the news tonight, but it was anti-climactic to say the least. No big explosion and dramatic fall, just some pops of the well placed charges, and the building dropped a floor or two. Nothing like the dramatic implosions on the Discovery Channel.
The new Convention Center is scheduled to open by 2008.

To see details on the entire project, click HERE

George Mason with big win!

2006-02-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

I was great to see my Alma Mater play on prime time national TV for the first time ever, but to come away with a win with really big NCAA tourney implications was even better!

Go Mason!
Read the article from GoMason.com

Skinn's 3-Pointer Lifts Mason to School's Biggest Regular-Season Win
Patriots down Wichita State, 70-67
It was the biggest regular-season game in George Mason school history and the Patriots came to play.
Mason has now won eight straight and 14 of 15 games since a road loss on Dec. 30 at Mississippi State. The Patriots tied the school record for best start after 26 games. Mason also held the opposition to fewer than 70 points for the 23rd straight game, the second-longest active streak in the nation behind Princeton's 30-straight.

The Tick on Ice

2006-02-19T11:04:00.001-05:00

It might be just me, but as I watched the Swiss speed skaters and their bright blue bodysuits...

All I could think of was....

SPOOOOON!!!!!

Like a great blue salmon of Justice, the mighty Tick courses upstream to the very spawning ground of evil.

"I'm sure millions of viewers out there are just wondering what it's like to wear the tights of justice. Well, it's tingly and it's uncomfortable, but it gets the job done and, oh, the job of it. "

other great quotes from The Tick...

And so, may Evil beware and may Good dress warmly and eat lots of fresh vegetables
Arthur, that belt is an accessory of evil, and evil is never in fashion.
You're not going crazy. You're going sane in a crazy world!
You know, though today was the worst day of my life, I learned many things. First, the world looks a lot different when you're six inches tall and covered with feathers. Second, two heads are definitely not better than one. And finally, you can lay eggs and still feel like a man.
Yes, my slimy friend, once again slime does not pay. You can't just coat yourself with artificial mucous and slip through the long fingers of the law. It's wrong and it's gross.
You know why super villains are so unhappy, Arthur? They don't treasure the little things.
Supermodels usually don't date guys who live in the dirt.
Nobody mucks around with the Tick's bodily membranes. Prepare for swift justice.
I am mighty. I have a glow you cannot see. I have a heart as big as the moon. As warm as bathwater. We are superheroes, men, we don't have time to be charming. The boots of evil were made for walkin'. We're watching the big picture, friend. We know the score. We are a public service, not glamour boys. Not captains of industry. Keep your vulgar moneys. We are a justice sandwich. No toppings necessary. Living rooms of America, do you catch my drift? Do you dig
Eating kittens is just plain... plain wrong! And no-one should do it, ever!
Destiny's powerful hand has made the bed of my future, and it's up to me to lie in it. I am destined to be a superhero. To right wrongs, and to pound two-fisted justice into the hearts of evildoers everywhere. And you don't fight destiny. No sir. And, you don't eat crackers in the bed of your future, or you get all... scratchy.

Gerber!

2006-02-19T11:04:00.000-05:00

And the winner... of the "Will NEVER, ever, ever be asked to give a pre-game motivational speech before a big game" award...

Asked if he thought beforehand this was possible, Swiss forward Flavien Conne said, "Are you crazy, man? With the players they have, it would be impossible."

Martin Gerber. wow.
Switzerland 2, Canada 0.
Gerber = 49 saves for the shutout. Simply amazing.
Don't sleep on Gerber and the Swiss. Just ask the Czech's and Canada!
(and, oh yeah, the USA too, but at least the USA tied the mighty Swiss.)

All the talking heads, beat writers, professional and non-professional opinionators who have been doubting the Carolina Hurricanes chances in the playoffs, citing the lack of playoff tested goaltendng........ well, how about that!

I'd say that Gerber has shown the ability to handle the pressure. How about you!

''If we don't learn from that, we'll be going home early.''
Team Canada head coach Pat Quinn on his crew's 2-0 loss to
Switzerland.

How good is team Canada?

2006-02-16T15:06:00.000-05:00

The NHL has a salary cap in place for the 2005-2006 season.
The maximum per team is 39 million dollars.

Team Canada's NHL salary for 2005-2006?
$89,307,036.00
Over twice the NHL salary cap.
SCARY.

To Compare...
Team USA NHL combined salary for 2005-2006?
$41,403,498.

<side note: Monday, Feb 20. >
Both Canada and the US lost two games this weekend. Not unexpected from the USA team, but mighty Canada losing two Finland and Switzerland, and being shut out both times? Hockey fans in Canada must be losing their minds.
Go to TSN.ca and read the "your call" section after the articles. Granted, it's probably populated by opinionated 12-17 year olds (are you allowed to have an opinion at that age?), but reading through them, you would thing that the men's hockey team had committed high treason by not being undeviating at this stage and outscoring opponents 40-4 after 4 games. And PLEASE, can we stop hearing about Crosby. No, he should NOT be on this team yet (Staal, on the other hand....).

Maybe I should rewrite this entry and call it "How good SHOULD be Team Canada?" Or even better, "How good is Team Finland, or Russia, or Sweden, or Slovakia, or the Czechs".
USA plays Russia next, and we need a win or tie to make it to the next round. The way Russia is playing, that is going to be an uphill climb.

Olympic Hockey has begun!

2006-02-15T09:39:00.000-05:00

sweet.
If there ever was a major advantage to being able to work from home, it's that I can have the live games on in the background. If the announcers get really excited, it's time to stop for a minute and watch.

WEDNESDAY:

Canada beat the home country Italy this morning 7-2. What little I saw, two things stood out.
1. Canada is really, really, really, really good. But, c'mon, it's not like we didn't know that going in. Any team that is so full they can leave Jason Spezza and Eric Staal OFF the team, well that's just scary good.
2. Italy played unexpectedly fantastic, and were tied 1-1 with this monstrous Canadian team early in the second. Their goalie - wow. What a performance. Canada could have scored 15.

Finland vs Switzerland is on now.
Finland might have the stars (Selanne, Koivu, Jokinen, Ruutu, Salo, Numminen, etc.), but Finland has our hometown favorite, Martin Gerber, in goal.
Gerber is wearing his Carolina Hurricanes helmet, how cool is that.
oooooohhhhhh... Finland has a really good power play.
Marty got Shelled. 5-0 final.

U.S.A. ties Latvia 3-3.
Big disappointment for the US team. Can be considered an upset.
Congrats to former 'Cane Arturs Irbe, who stood on his little tiny head to earn the tie for Latvia.

THURSDAY:

Congrats to the Swiss! Pulling off the biggest upset in the games so far with a 3-2 win over the Czechs early this morning!

Russia vs Sweeden on now. No score early in the second period. Check that - Kovalev ust put Russia up 1-0. This is a great game, too bad I have to leave now. Set the DVR, watch the rest later.
Canada plays at 2:00pm eastern, US at 3:00. Set the DVR again.

2:23pm - It's already getting ugly. 3-0 Canada over Germany, 11 minutes into the first period - and it looks easy. If the Germans don't stay out of the penalty box, this will be over before the second period starts (if it isn't already).

3:59pm - USA up 3-0 in a MUST WIN game over Kha-something-stan.

Don't Create Your Own Bad Press

2006-02-13T12:11:00.000-05:00

Ever seen something like this in your inbox before?

I hear we are going to hit close to $3.00 a gallon by the summer. Want gasoline prices to come down? We need to take some intelligent, united action. This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the "don't buy gas on a certain day" campaign that was going around last April or May! The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we wouldn't continue to "hurt" ourselves by refusing to buy gas.
Here's the idea: For the rest of this year, DON'T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest companies (which now are one), EXXON and MOBIL. If they are not selling any gas, they will be inclined to reduce their prices. If they reduce their prices, the other companies will have to follow suit. But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Exxon and Mobil gas buyers.
I am sending this note to about thirty people. If each of you send it to at least ten more (30 x 10 = 300) ... and those 300 send it to at least ten more (300 x 10 = 3,000)...and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people, we will have reached over THREE MILLION consumers! If those three million get excited and pass this on to ten friends each, then 30 million people will have been contacted!
If it goes one level further, you guessed it..... THREE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!
How long would all that take? If each of us sends this email out to ten
more people within one day of receipt, all 300 MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!! I'll bet you I didn't think you and I had that much potential, did you! Acting together we can make a difference.

We have all gotten these types of emails.

They announce some monumental event that you can't believe you missed on the morning news, and then prompt you to forward the message to as many people as you can so you can save a life, get a petition to the government, or lower gas prices, etc. The truth is that most of these emails are tall tales commonly referred to as "email hoaxes". Email hoaxes may even warn of a "serious virus" and tell you to delete an important system file from your computer.

As people in an industry of service, we want to help people...clients...or potential clients. So we forward these emails to our entire address book, because we think, "hey, who wouldn't want to know what they can do to help lower gas prices", right? What ends up happening is that you just gave yourself your own bad press. You did not investigate the truth of the claim on any of the popular email hoax verification websites, you just forwarded it along. And, if you didn't BCC (blind carbon copy) everyone, then your entire address book is now being forwarded to millions of others who continue to pass the message along.

What's the harm, really? Well, aside from clogging email servers with these messages, and increasing the cost of managing email, you increase the risk to your computer, and the computers of others. The risk becomes a little more clear when we realize that the majority of these emails originate from spammers trying to get the message around and back to them enough that they will be able to gather some good email addresses to which they can send their junk email. Each time you hit that forward button, you are helping them win and clogging your own inbox!
This is why using the BCC option is important whenever you send any email. Protect your family, friends, colleagues, and clients from more SPAM by simply deleting the email. As a courtesy, you may first want to reply to the person who sent it to you and refer them to an email hoax verification website such as Snopes.com (if you've never been, it is a MUST VISIT website that can shed some light on many false beliefs).
Other risks include the ability for people to begin attaching viruses to the emails. So, your "virus warning" could become a virus email itself. Think about that scenario..."my friend sent me an email that crashed my entire system...". You don't want to be that friend!

So, how can you be sure an email is a hoax? The first step is to be on the lookout for these characteristics:

The email says, "This is not a chain letter" or "This is not a hoax"
The email says to send it to "everyone you know" or to "as many people as possible"
The email contains technical sounding language to sound more credible
The author of the email identifies him/herself as a leader of a foreign country or part of the leader's family or staff
The author of the email claims that the original email was sent to them by someone who works for the company involved or is a lawyer or doctor or some professional who supposedly "backs" whatever is said in the email

The easiest way to check on a hoax if you are unsure is to visit a site like Snopes.com and search for the subject matter of the email. Another great site is Symantec.com where you can see a list of hoaxes collected by email subject line.

So, the next time you get an email promising $800 from Microsoft for forwarding an email, think twice and use the delete button instead of the forward button. The people in your address book will be happy you did!

Good Luck in Olympic Tournament

2006-02-12T13:59:00.001-05:00

GOOD LUCK TO THE HURRICANES IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES!

Erik Cole - Team USA
Matt Cullen - Team USA (taxi squad)
Martin Gerber - Team Switzerland
Bret Hedican - Team USA
Frantisek Kaberle - Team Czech Republic
Eric Staal - Team Canada (taxi squad)
Doug Weight - Team USA
Peter Laviolette - Team USA (Head Coach)

Why North Carolina?

2006-02-12T13:32:00.001-05:00

Growing up a Yankee (a damn yanke, to be precise - explained below), spending my formative years in Southeastern NY and south western Connecticut, then to college in Northern Virginia (Fairfax - GMU - go Mason!) and a few years living just outside Washington, D.C., I'm often asked why I relocated to and settled in North Carolina instead of returning "home" to the north east.

This is why. (photos from Rueters, 2/12/06)

Yankee - a northerner, or a northerner visiting a southern state. (usually from the northeast, you never hear pf someone form Oregon or North Dakota referred to as a "yankee")
Damn Yankee - a northerner who comes to a southern state... and stays.

Now if you'll excuse this damn yankee, it's time to go tailgate for the Buffalo/Carolina hockey game this fine Sunday afternoon (Olympic send-off day). I'd like to see them tailgate in Boston today! Brother-in-law will be wearing his Buffalo gear, this could turn ugly. ;-)

Downtown Raleigh Revitalization

2006-02-08T18:07:00.000-05:00

(Artists rendering of downtown Raleigh viewed from the south with the new convention center in the foreground. For scale, the first building is only a parking deck, the huge structure behind it is the new convention center. The RBC Centura building will join this skyline soon)

Click on the downtown Raleigh map below to be taken to a great website, focusing on several of the major downtown Raleigh renovation and revitalization projects, including those currently under construction, planned for the near future and proposed.

The biggest story and catalyt for the new wave of activity centered around downtown is the new Convention Center complex (currently under construction). If you've driven through the south side of downtown, you've probably been detoured around it! The goal - to make a convention center that will rival those of other major US cities, bringing Raleigh into the same league as major convention destinations. We might not be able to compete head to head with the overall amenities of top tier destinations like Vegas, NYC, Chicago, or Miami, but when the construction is finished, the high end center they are building will bring activity and revenue to downtown Raleigh the likes of which we have yet to see. I for one can't wait to see the effect on downtown and Raleigh in general when it is complete and operational. With the BTI center right across the street (we are going to see the Broadway cast of "Stomp" there next week) and the monstous Marriott Hotel and parking deck that will accompany the project, that area of the city will become a major destination point.

Hot on the heels of the Convention center construction is the re-opening of Fayetteville Street to traffic (also currently under construction). Fayetteville Street was closed to traffice and turned into a pedestrian mall 30 years ago, but te lack of parking, lack of downtown residential housing, lack of destination businesses, and on and on, kept the concept from being sucessful. There just were not enough peolple coming downtown to support it. The growth and expansion of Raleigh in general, and the things that naturally go with that (restaurants, shopping, housing, etc. moving away from the city center) marked the decline of Fayetteville street. The emergence of a new concept called a MALL, and a few major ones being built, well, that certainly didn't help matters either. This is another major project in an attempt to re-energize downtown Raleigh by giving it back it's "Main Street". The plans look great, see them in detail on the website linked to below. Shops and restaurants are already clamoring for space on the street, expecting Fayetteville street to be the major downtown place to be that it once was. For housing, check out the Hudson (currently under construction) condo's, located in the old Hudson-Belk building right on Fayetteville street, downtown urban living at it's best.

There is a huge push bringing both new businesses, buildings, restaurants, clubs, shops, hotels and most importantly, residential housing, back to downtown.

Progress energy already built their new headquarters last year, and is constructing a condo/retail development on the same site (One Progress Plaza). RBC Centura already has plans in motion to move it's headquarters from Rocky Mount to a new high rise they will build in downtown Raleigh. If you've been here any length of time, you already know about the emergence of the Glenwood South district, as well as the numerous new clubs and restaurants that have opened recently, but that's only the beginning.
Condo developments include: The Palladium, Dawson on Morgan, The Hudson, Park Devereux, 510 Glenwood, Person Point, The Cotton Mill, the Paramount, The Quorom, Boylan Flats, and many, many others. For those who want a yard, don't forget about the Historic Oakwood district! If you haven't recently, you should drive through Oakwood, see some of the renovations to the historic homes. If old homes aren't your thing, there is the Village at Pilot Mill, the only new construction single family homes community downtown. You'll have to wait for someone to move out, though, they sold out very quick! Just outside of Downtown, Mordecai, Boylan Heights, Five Points and the high end Hayes Barton districts are available for your housing needs. The push for residential housing for those who wish to live downtown again is gaining steam and shows NO sign of slowing down!

Mother of the Year

2006-02-08T12:55:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Britney. As if the quickie Vegas marriage and subsequent annulment, the wonder that is Federline, and the public bathroom/barefoot incident were not enough.
You have now TRULY earned your White Trash Hall of Fame status.

Justice served

2006-02-03T16:02:00.000-05:00

Good to see some bad people who flat out stole our tax money from the school system finally get whats coming to them.

From the Raleigh News & Observer 02/03/06
Hatley sentenced to at least 7 years
The former senior transportation director for Wake County Schools will spend at least 7 years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the school system of more than $3 million.
Vernon Hatley learned his fate today after a hearing in which friends and family members testified to his good character

Hatley was sentenced to at least 7 years

Friends and family testifying to his character is hilarious!
"Yes, he might have stolen 3 million dollars from the taxpayers and the school system, but he's realy a good person. Really. I swear. He likes puppies and goes to church. He drives my kids to Sunday school in the Mercedes he bought with your tax money and donates 1% of all money stolen to charities. See, he's a good man. Didn't you hear me about the puppies?"

Star Wars in 30 seconds

2006-02-03T11:10:00.000-05:00

Re-enacted by bunnies.
Star Wars Bunnies
heeheeheeheeheeheehee
(Thanks Jamie)

<>The 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Library

Brind'Amour for the Hart trophy! (Selke, too)

2006-02-03T09:04:00.000-05:00

Brindy for MVP? Sure, why not!
This year he is every bit as deserving as any other player who could be considered.
By definition of the trophy is awarded by he professional Hockey Writers Association to the player judged to be most valuable to his team

It has nothing to do with the scoring race, they have a trophy for that.

Lets look at the year Brind'Amour's is having....

* The Hurricanes were quite emphatically picked (by the same hockey writers who vote for the Hart trophy) to finish either second to last or dead last in the league.
* Rod is the Captain and leader of the team picked to finish dead last. With the help of his leadership, the 'Canes are in first place in the Southeast division, first place in the Eastern Conference, and in first place in the entire NHL through 53 games. In October everyone was talking about who the 'Canes might take with their high draft pick. In February, the conversation centers around the Stanley Cup. That's a pretty big swing.
* 48 Points in 48 games. Pretty good by any standard. Will he win the Art Ross trophy? No, of course not. But, a point per game is pretty darn impressive. 23 Goals and 25 assists through Feb. 2nd. Balanced scoring.
* Leads ALL forwards in time on ice per game (just under 25 minutes/game). No one else is even close. Is 18th in the league in TOI/G, with the 17 in front of him and 27 behind him being defenseman. Next forward in line - Kovalchuk (8+ minutes of PP time per game, 11 seconds of penalty kill time per game. Not quite the same thing.)
* 7th in league in shifts per game. Who does Coach Laviolette want on the ice? Pretty obvious. The next closest non-defenseman is at #28 (Rolston - someone else who should get more credit than he does, but that's another story).
* #2 in the NHL in Power Play Goals with 16 through Feb. 2nd. Seriously, who saw that coming? Has put up some big goals at big times; late goals, game tying goals. This while playing mostly on the SECOND power play unit! Secondary scoring, a huge reason the 'Canes are where they are now.
* Face offs. Where to begin. Takes 44% of the teams face offs, ranks #1 in the league, and by a large margin! (Thorton #2 at 36%) Wins 60.7% of faceoff taken, ranks #2 for all players who've taken 100 or more. First place is Yanic Perreault, as usual, but here's the difference: Perreault has taken 20% of his teams faceoffs to Brindy's 44%. Perreault has take 682 faceoff through 2/2/06, Brind'Amour has taken 1346 faceoffs through 2/2/06, by far #1 in the league, and won over 60% of them!
* When there is an important offensive zone face off late in a game, who is taking it? Brind'Amour, every time.
* When there is an important defensive zone faceoff late in a game, who is taking it? Brind'Amour, every time.
* When there is a big penalty kill needed, who is on the ice? And he stays for most of the kill.
* All this, and don't forget one major factor... Brindy also draws the responsibility of shutting down the biggest offensive threat of the other teams at even strength - and is +9. Can you say Selke??

Did I miss anything?

Brind'Amour for MVP! (Selke, too)

Weight lift (cartoon)

2006-02-01T11:04:00.000-05:00

HURRICANES ACQUIRE DOUG WEIGHT IN TRADE

2006-01-30T20:13:00.000-05:00

HURRICANES ACQUIRE U.S. OLYMPIAN DOUG WEIGHT IN TRADE WITH BLUES

RALEIGH, NC (January 30, 2006) - Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired center Doug Weight from the St. Louis Blues.

Weight will join the Hurricanes for the team's practice at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Thursday. Rutherford will be available to the media today at 3 p.m. in the RBC Center's fourth floor conference room.

"Doug is one of the premier forwards in the National Hockey League and will add a strong element to our top lines," said Rutherford. "His skill, leadership and experience will be a great benefit for our team."

WAAAAHOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Congratulations Jim Rutherford for the boldest move you've made since trading away Keith Primeaudonnakoff for future Captain Rod Brind'Amour!
Not only do the 'Canes become ridiculously strong down the middle with Staal, Weight, Brind'Amour, Adams, and Cullen, but even better, Ottawa does NOT get their hands on Weight! Instead of worrying about Weight passing to Heatley and Alfredsson, he'll be on the 'Canes power play dishing to Staal, Cole and Williams!
Seems like a lot to give up (3 draft picks and 3 players) but looking closer, the three players are 1+2. a career 4th liner/enforcer and a potential career 4th liner, neither of whom played any significant minutes this year and were mostly healthy scratches. and 3. A player who never made it to Raleigh and Rutherford had no intention of signing anyway.
The first round draft pick would be late in a very shallow first round anyway. It's not like we are giving up a chance to get Phil Kessel or Toews. There's just as much talent in the later rounds as there is late in the first. (see the draft selection of certain current NHL'ers: Zetterberg (210,'99), Demitra (227,'93), Nabokov (219,'94), Robitaille (171,), Bondra (156,'90), and - OH YEAH- Martin St. Louis - Undrafted!!

Can't wait to see Dougie in a 'Canes sweater tomorrow night.
If you didn't beleive the 'Canes had a chance to come out of the east this year, you gotta beleive now. An Ottawa/Carolina Eastern Conference finals would be a beautiful thing!

We'll be there. Section 332. Screaming.

USA Olympic team

2006-01-27T09:22:00.000-05:00

Chris Chelios, chosen to play defense on the USA Hockey team, just turned 44 years old. Granted, his career (including playing for the Red, White and Blue since 84, Olympics, world championships, etc.) has been beyond stellar, and there is no arguing the great things he has done and his importance to USA Hockey in the past. However... He is the first player to play in the NHL past his 44th birthday since Gordie Howe. There are currently 71 players in the NHL who were born AFTER Chelios played his first NHL game.
Where's Brian Leetch. How about Bret Hedican? Thanks for all you've done, Chelly, but it's time to follow in the footsteps of your Detroit teammate Stevie Y, and gracefully bow out to let the younger guys have a chance to play. I hope he still has what it takes, and I'll still root as hard as ever since he'll be wearing the Red, White and Blue and not the Red with the winged tire on the chest. Especially if he crushes Kovalchuk.

The Sabre's Ryan Miller should be in goal. Period. It is a travesty that he is not on this team. He is the future of USA Hockey in goal. He needs to not only be put on the team soon, he needs to be in net.

Just my opinion.

State of the NEW NHL

2006-01-26T15:26:00.000-05:00

See the new rules explained here...
Scoring is up. Clutching, grabbing, hooking and holding is a thing of the past (and I hope it stays that way). The "trap" defense no longer works. The "new" NHL is overall a much better product than it has been in YEARS!
tag-up offsides: Great rule change. Game flows better, less whistles, more forechecking.
No red line: Best rule change of them all. Long lead passes and breakouts leading to odd man rushes are a very exciting result. Best example - How about the 70 foot pass from the defensive zone to a streaking Paul Kariya, who flashed in to score the winning goal in overtime against the Red Wings the other day. What a thing of beauty! Would never have been legal a couple of years ago.
Shoot out: Ties stink! A shoot out might not be the best way to decide an extra point, but it sure as heck is the most exciting way for the fans. How else would we have been able to see Marek Malik's ridiculous between the legs flip for the win... SEE THE GOAL HERE

Speaking of the shootout... How about that move by Eric Cole last night in Florida? Luongo was schooled. 'Canes win. Carolina had no business coming out of Florida with 2 points, none. Late goal by Brind'Amour, and a shootout later, 72 points and first place in the NHL. what a ride so far!

Ovechkin. The goal. On his back, sliding, somehow scoring? C'mon. That's just not right. If it wasn't a meaningless 6th goal in a 6-1 rout, it would be one of the greatest of all time. Still... If you haven't seen it... SEE THE GOAL HERE.

Just my opinion.

Ron Francis Night - 01/28/2006

2006-01-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

What a great topic for my first post on this blog.
I have been lucky enough to meet Ron Francis a couple of times, though I'm sure I remember it waaaaaaay more than he does. That's me with my wife Tiahna along with Ron and Mary Lou Francis at a charity event. A complete gentleman that completely lives up to the reputation he has earned.

A long deserved night for the Captain. Ronnie was the face and voice of this franchise for so long, and nobody ever did it with more grace, class and professionalism. #10 will hang from the rafters and not be worn again. Fitting too, for no one could ever fill the void left when the Captain retired.

That stats speak for themselves for the most underated and under the radar superstar in ALL of sports, not just Hockey, and an easy first ballot hall of famer.
Here are just a few to consider:

Ranks fourth in league history in points (1,798) and second in assists (1,249)

Ranks 21st on the NHL's all-time goals-scored list (549) 20th

Is the franchise all-time leader in games played (1,186), goals (382), assists (793), points (1,175), hat tricks (9), game-winning goals (57) and power-play goals (132).

Ranks first in franchise playoff history in points (39), goals (14), assists (25) and games played (62).
Had 22-consecutive 50-point seasons, matching Gordie Howe for the longest streak of seasons with 50 or more points.
Owns club records for most 20-goal seasons with 13, most assists in a season (69 in 1989-90), most assists by a rookie (43 in 1981-82), most goals in a game (4 - 2/12/84 against Edmonton), most assists in a game (6 - 3/5/87 against Boston) and most points in a game (6 - 3/5/87 against Boston; 10/8/89 at Quebec - 3g, 3a)
Led the franchise in scoring seven times and assists 11 times.
Named to NHL All-Star team as a member of the Hurricanes franchise four times (1983, 1985, 1990, 1996).
Won Alka-Seltzer Plus Award for league best plus/minus (1995)
Won Frank J. Selke Trophy - Top defensive forward in the NHL (1995)
Won Lady Byng Trophy - gentlemanly play (1995, 1998, 2002)
Won King Clancy Trophy - charitable and community contributions (2002)
assisted on 1,249 goals, second all-time to Wayne Gretzky
549 goals, which ranks 19th all-time
1,731 games played ranks third all-time

Francis never had the game of Gretzky, the strength of Messier, the overall skill of Howe or the speed of Dionne. But what the former Carolina captain possessed was a lot of each of the above players, which ended up molding him into one of the game's all-time greats.

Welcome

2006-01-26T14:54:00.000-05:00

Everything new has to start sometime.

Today is as good as any.

Welcome to my Blog.