95 thoughts on “April 30, 2014: Legendary Wings”

  2. Wild Playoff Watch - Game 7 Edition

    Tonight at 8 PM Central - (on CNBC again)

    The Wild are back in Denver. Since their last playoff series win (2003 against Vancouver), the Wild are 1-13 on the road, including 3 losses in this series.

    2 of the 3 games in Denver have gone to overtime so far and every game this series has been a one goal game (not counting empty net goals) so I'm guessing there are going to be some nervous moments in this one.

    2. Some points from Russo:
      Regarding Parise and MacKinnon.

      Both big-game players are tied for the NHL’s playoff scoring lead with 10 points as their teams meet in the decisive Game 7 Wednesday night at Pepsi Center.

      and

      In three home games (all Colorado victories), MacKinnon has two goals and eight assists, 10 shots and is plus-7. In three road games (all Colorado losses), MacKinnon had no points, four shots and was minus-2.

      Also,

      Six games into this series, the Wild seems the deeper team. At even-strength, the Avs have not gotten a single point, let alone goal, from a forward on their bottom two lines.

      1. If only those bottom line goals counted more.

        Heck of a series, no matter what. Tonight might turn into a game where I can't watch, but I also can't look away.

      2. On paper, the Wild are winning this series handily. Fancystats (Fenwick, Corsi, etc.) all have the Wild completely dominating the Avs. Varlamov, and of course the two last-minute goals, are what got this series to Game 7.

        2. You Ain't Lyin'!
          2013-2014 Playoffs team total stats: 5 on 5, score close:

          Place Team GP TOI GF GA GF% CF CA CF% FF FA FF% SF SA SF% Sh% Sv% PDO
          1 Minnesota Wild 6 211.6 10 6 62.5% 222 153 59.2% 165 108 60.4% 116 71 62.0% 8.6% 91.5% 100.2
          16 Colorado Avalanche 6 211.6 6 10 37.5% 153 222 40.8% 108 165 39.6% 71 116 38.0% 8.5% 91.4% 99.8

          Edit: Select link for descriptions (though not necessarily explanations) of acronyms ... new to the hockey "Fancystats" myself.

          1. Interesting that the shooting percentages (and thus PDO) are so similar. Neither team has been particularly lucky in that regard in this series it seems.

    1. No surprise there, unfortunately. I saw some news indicating a renewal as likely, but waiting so long after the season ended was not a good sign.

      2. that is disappointing. I thought it was a pretty entertaining show (despite an awful opening credit sequence -- what, you can't afford a theme song?).

    2. Can't say I'm surprised. It wasn't an amazing show, but I enjoyed watching it just the same.

    3. I didnt watch the show, but I loved this headline from the AV Club
      "Fox cancels Almost Human (Firefly also still canceled)"

        1. You just gave me a new restaurant concept: Vietnamese adjusted for Midwestern palates, Hue Cool.

    1. I tried but I'm getting "Tickets Currently Not Available" on the webpage. I think I was too slow.

    3. I was unsuccessful. Now I'll be out of the country starting tomorrow so I guess Sheenie's flashing yellow worked (unless someone is feeling generous and wants to let me snag one of theirs).

    5. I had one friend who was succesfull and one who was not. Of course the unsuccesful person was going to get my ticket.

        1. Would someone be so kind as to snag me one? I will pay when I return to the US.

          1. And be subjected to the wrath of a soon-to-be-mother Sheenie!?!?!! No thank you. :o)

            p.s. I know lots of people getting tickets and will keep you in mind if I hear they need to unload one.

          2. I can do it W, or try anyway. God forbid both kiddos are early and really do show up within a day of each other.

        2. I'm not going to be able to be near the internets at that time tomorrow, so if somebody wants to add another to their cart I'd be good for it.

  5. If Pat Riley had drawn up the first round of the NBA playoffs, this is probably how it would have looked.

    Heat sweep. Indiana, OKC on the verge of being out. Chicago out. SA in a tough series with Dallas. Toronto and Nets going at least six. Houston in real trouble.

    It will be a huge upset if the Heat don't win the East for a fourth consecutive year. I think SA is the favorite (still) out West, but look out for the Clippers. Heat/SA rematch would be epic. So would Heat-Clippers.

    Yum.

    1. I think I agree with various commentators that this has been the Greatest First Round Evah. Just a lot of interesting story lines and incredibly competitive series. (Washington-Chicago and Miami-Charlotte excepted, I suppose).

  6. I just wanted to say that my life has been really hectic lately, and when it is, it makes me appreciate this place even more. It's my little oasis to come and give myself a break and think about something else for a few minutes. Thanks for being here, guys.

  7. Finally finished Parks and Rec. Is there more to come? Do I want to see it? I have such a good taste in my mouth right now from it that I'm worried what the next bites would provide.

    1. I think it was announced (or heavily hinted at) that next year is the last year. I dont expect it to be S7-10 of The Office or HIMYM levels bad.

      1. It seems like they must have a plan of some sort, at least, given that ending. I trust these writers. They seem like smart people. Maybe they even like baseball.

    2. Linds and I were thinking similar things, but the ending gives them a ton of wiggle room on new directions they can go.

      Either way, it's a top-tier episode, and operates well as a series finale, a season finale, or just a crazy, action-packed episode of the show.

      1. Actual Spoiler SelectShow

  8. RIP Bob Hoskins. Everybody seems to be mentioning Roger Rabbit today, and that performance was fun. But the one that I really remember is Mona Lisa.

      2. Don't sleep on Mona Lisa. Took a woman on a first date to that movie which began a rather interesting but short relationship.

    2. He'll always be Smee to me (he played it in both Hook and Neverland, the TV mini-series). He also was on a classic Frasier. He played Frasier's gym teacher, Coach Fuller. Frasier started dating a female gym teacher and flashed back to when Fuller was his teacher when she was yelling at her students. Eventually, Frasier would only see Fuller when he was with his girlfriend, so Hoskins would play the girlfriend. He kissed and hugged Frasier and there was even a scene where he read poetry to Frasier while rubbing him down in the bathtub. He was smoking a cigar the whole time he was doing all of this.

      1. Wait. Brazil?

        ::imdbs::

        Well, there it is... I had forgotten. Also, I never realized (or, I suppose, had forgotten) that that Stoppard was a writer on that one. Cool.

  9. I just got an automated reminder that I have books checked out from the University library that are due at the end of the semester (next Friday).

    It includes the note that for faculty, the books will be automatically renewed for 4 semesters if they aren't returned. So these books that I checked out in January of this year won't be considered overdue until August of 2015. Maybe I'm not in the appropriate professorial mindset yet, but if I need a book for 20+ months, I'll probably just buy it myself. Anyway, no real point here, I was just a little shocked that they were that lenient.

    1. A couple years ago, after my email was posted on my department's website, I had to jack up the spam filter on my university email account. After I did this the due date/renewal reminder/recall emails from the university library's circulation desk were sent to my junk mail folder. I wound up with a hold and a hefty library fine because our email system is so awesome that it can't figure out that an email from an important address within its own domain wasn't actually spam. I still wonder what other emails I missed.

    2. As a regular collector of autographs, I wanted to get your take on this notification I rec'd. I'd love a Joe Mauer autographed baseball, but I've always imagined getting it in person ... and for free (or cheap anyway).

      Steiner Sports is conducting private autograph sessions with Joe Mauer and Kevin Garnett and Fan HQ is your Twin Cities Metro drop-off location.

      Bring your items to Fan HQ now through May 15th and we will send them to Steiner to be signed by Joe or KG. Each item with include a Steiner Sports Certificate of Authenticity and Fan HQ covers the shipping charges both ways!

      JOE MAUER PRIVATE SIGNING PRICING:
      Baseballs, Cards, Photos (up to 8x10), Magazines: $99.99 each
      Large Photos (larger than 8x10), Canvas Prints: $129.99 each
      Equipment, Bobbleheads: $149.99 each
      Bats, Jerseys: $169.99 each
      Inscriptions* or Personalizations (4 word max): $39.99 each

      KEVIN GARNETT PRIVATE SIGNING PRICING:
      Flats: $179.99 each
      Equipment: 249.99 each
      Inscriptions: 69.99 each

      BRING YOUR ITEMS TO FAN HQ NO LATER THAN MAY 15 TO TAKE PART IN THESE SPECIAL PRIVATE SIGNINGS.

      *Only game used items with MLB Authentication are eligible for "game used" inscriptions.
      *Oversize or extremely heavy items not accepted.
      *Pricing is for autograph only (does not include the item to be signed)
      *Signing currently scheduled to take place in late-May. Items expected to be returned to Fan HQ in early June. Signing date subject to change.

      1. Holy crap, no way. I'd hold out on getting it signed yourself, or wait until he's signing at a show (even after he's retired) where it shouldn't be over $15-$25

        You can get his (certified) autographed baseball cards on eBay for $20-$25 on the low end

        1. I didn't know what his autograph was worth, but getting to actually hand him the ball or card would be worth the price of admission. This seems so ... lazy.

      2. I can understand this. Between the two of them, they've only made about $500 million in salaries.

        1. KG: $315 million (with another $12 million guaranteed).
          Joe: $126 million (with another $92 million guaranteed).

          1. The crazy thing is why do it at all? When you are making oodles of money, and signing shit is a pain in the butt, why do it? Is he (Joe) raising money for charity? If that were the case, you'd think he'd make a big deal out of the fact. And that would be worth it for his reputation and for the charity.

            1. Right. Say that make $10,000 on this or $20,000 or $50,000. Why freaking bother (unless charity)? Is it worth it? Do they even notice that kind of cash? Meanwhile, poor schlubs can't afford that.

  14. My wife was visiting a friend in Stillwater yesterday and they made a jaunt over to Hudson to get me a New Glarus variety pack. Spotted Cow tonight, but tomorrow night it's Two Women and Totally Naked!

    2. I'm a big fan of Two Women. Also, two very attractive curlers dressed up as the "two women" from the label for the Halloween spiel back in October, which was awesome. (They even made a giant six pack container to walk around in)

  15. Well, I may just have to drive down to Cedar Rapids for the Kernels game on July 4th. Who wouldn't want one of these babies?

  16. Three minutes into the Wild game and . . . ROBOT UMPS NOW! GIT R DUN BILLY SMITH!

    2. That. Was. Epic. Buddy helps run the Herkimer and bought a fog machine for the playoffs - after Niederreiter's sniper shot, it was like a foam party in there!

  18. The survey was decidedly unscientific, but the Twins television combo of Dick Bremer and Bert Blyleven finished with the seventh-highest overall grade this week in voting conducted by awfulannouncing.com. Of the 962 readers who voted, the website said, 243 gave the Twins crew an A and 365 rated them a B.

    “I appreciate the patience and tolerance of Twins fans,” Bremer said.

    1. Think about this difference between those dudes and the experience of having Kevin Harlan call TWolves games.

      1. The Twin Cities are blessed with great radio talent right now. Bob Kurtz is fantastic calling hockey, I wish FSN would simulcast the radio feed. Al Horton is a one man show doing Timberwolves games (his OH Ed Malloy! outrage is just fantastic). Dave Benz is not the best (yet), but the Wolves tv crew is one of the best because of the strength of Jim Peterson. Corey Provus is a pro and somehow has made Dan Gladden tolerable.
        I appreciate Bremers knowledge of Twins history and his play by play skills are probably better than I give credit for, I do think he dumbs down his broadcasts becuase of Bert. Listen closely next time Tom Kelly or Roy Smalley fills in and you hear a smarter broadcast.

        1. Agree with all this. I think Bremer is an above average play caller (a grand slam for Jason Kubel, and the cycle is complete!) and his poor analysis can be offset by a good analyst beside him.

          Provus is a great play caller, but his analysis is not much better than Gladden's. He does rein Gladden in a bit, but for some reason Gladden still gets PBP duties and he's still terrible at it.

          1. I don't think Provus' analysis is that lacking. He just matches who is with him. When Atteberry is paired with him, there are few crews I would prefer (Atteberry + former player is a disaster though).

              1. I really like Provus. And I agree with dw that Gladden seems better with him than he did with Gordo.

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