52 thoughts on “April 10, 2015: Blow it Up”

    1. At least they made it a game at the end. 4-1 was looking pretty depressing for the northern squad. I was enjoying it but the M-I-L was not happy.

      1. Nothing will ever beat 0.6 but I did get perverse fun in seeing the Fighting Whoix get their hopes up, just to see them crushed.

        1. Yeah, 0.6 was cool for Minnesotans because it was actually your squad doing the winning. When all you got is hoping your rivals lose, that's not a great place to be.

    2. Dave Hakstol (213-105-30 in his head coaching career) is now something like 1-7 in National Semifinal games. Man.
      As a Gopher fan, I don't love that guy, but I don't "hate" the Whoix like some do in this state either. That's gotta be bruise the ego a bit.

      1. Dave Hakstol, it should be said, is largely responsible for prolonging the nickname fight in ND. The University was ready to move on, but Hakstol led a letter writing campaign to state legislators in defiance of the University, his employer. The legislature then passed some law that required the state to challenge the nickname and kept the whole thing alive. Even now, they don't have a nickname and the plan is to delay the selection of a new name indefinitely, so that they can informally be the Sioux or wait until a time where they can reclaim the Sioux name. Apparently, these people have no idea how ridiculous they look to the rest of the country.

        UND was NDSU's biggest rival. What has happened over the last ten to fifteen years is that NDSU has built an athletic program that is the envy of pretty much every mid-major in the country. In addition, they've increased enrollment dramatically, making up a several thousand difference between UND to become the largest university in the state. Meanwhile, UND has carried around the embarrassment of the whole nickname fiasco, in part because of Hakstol. In addition, they've really struggled in their transition to Division I. They have practically begged NDSU for a game in football, and only got it when they accepted a 2 game series with both games being played in Fargo, four years apart. NDSU gave Weber St. a home-and-home, for Chrissakes. LOL.

        Heckuva job, Dave. And great job in the Frozen Four.

    2. Huh. Do I use that enough to call it out? Probably.

      This is a curiosity to me; I have never before been aware that there was an anti-"alright" movement, let alone did I know it was the much larger of the movements. I don't know where I picked it up, exactly, but it kind of shocks me that it isn't considered...well, you know.

      1. I frequently use it, and intentionally. It should be acceptable.

        Spooks, I think your Mathasaurus! character used it often.

    2. I was being watched?
      Black trenchcoat, Green bag.
      You stepped out the back door of the bus, you were already standing by it as your bus crossed Washington.
      Now that I know your bus number, I'll figure out where you live by working backwards.

      'Spoiler' SelectShow

  4. I tuned in last night in time to catch Zucker's first goal. Then I went to bed knowing that, at least, they hadn't been shut out. Checked the scores this morning and found they'd come back to beat Nashville, scoring 4 unanswered goals on Rinne!
    Positives:
    Kuemper made 32 saves after giving up 2 goals on Nashville's first 5 or 6 shots.
    They won despite sitting their top 3 goal scorers: Parise, Nino & Vanek and starting goalie.
    Zucker, back after missing 29 games, has scored 3 goals in 2 games.
    That makes 12 straight road victories for the Wild (& 5 straight losses for the Predators).

    1. Glad to see them picking up momentum. Didn't we have the tiebreaker over Chicago? They were talking on the radio today like the matchups were already set, but I thought there was still a chance for us to tie.

      1. I think it's if Chicago doesn't get a point against Colorado and the Wild get two against St. Louis, the Wild will be the 3 and Chicago the wild card.

        I don't know that there can be much of a strong preference between St. Louis and Nashville though, right? Seems to me from the stuff I've been reading that Anaheim, Winnipeg, and the Wild are the teams no one wants to face?

        2. Here you go:

          Blackhawks playoff outlook: The Blackhawks will begin the playoffs on the road, but their opponent is still unknown. The Blackhawks could play the Blues, Predators or Anaheim Ducks in the first round. In order to play the Ducks, the Blackhawks would have to lose in regulation to the Avalanche on Saturday, the Wild would have to defeat the Blues in overtime or a shootout and the Ducks would have to lose to the Arizona Coyotes in regulation. For the Blackhawks to play the Blues, the Blackhawks have to lose in regulation to the Avalanche and the Wild have to defeat the Blues. For the Blackhawks to play the Predators, the Blackhawks have to pick up at least one point against the Avalanche and/or the Wild have to lose in any fashion to the Blues.

          1. Things set:

            St. Louis has won the Central.
            Nashville has clinched 2nd place in the Central.

            Anaheim has won the Pacific.
            Vancouver and Calgary are second and third in the Central and will play each other in the first round.

            Winnipeg is the #8 seed and will play the #1 seed.

            Things yet to be determined:

            - Anaheim and St. Louis have not settled who will be #1 and who will be #2.

            Arizona @ Anaheim
            Minnesota @ St. Louis

            If Anaheim equals or betters the points earned by St. Louis - Anaheim is #1
            UNLESS
            Anaheim wins in Shootout AND St. Louis wins in Regulation or Overtime - St. Louis is #1

            If St. Louis betters the points earned by Anaheim - St. Louis is #1

            - Chicago and Minnesota are still determining who will finish 3rd in the Central.

            Chicago @ Colorado
            Minnesota @ St. Louis

            If Minnesota wins and Chicago loses in regulation - Minnesota is 3rd in the Central
            otherwise, Chicago is 3rd in the Central

            So the Wild can play Anaheim, St. Louis, or Nashville.

  5. Berardino is saying May up, Nolasco to the DL. Well, that's good, I guess. Not that Nolasco is hurt, but that May will get a shot.

    1. Heh, I was thinking about this the other day too, as I recently uncovered the video of the time I did a stand-up set. Beau had a much tighter, story set. I love that approach.

    2. Thanks man!

      Like three months afterwards, I thought of an awesome opening line to play off the emcee and get some big laughs.

  8. Kentucky has seven players going into the NBA draft. It sounds like at most four of them will be in the first round. Why would anyone leave Kentucky to be picked in the second round? Why wouldn't you play at least one more year to try to establish yourself as a first-round pick?

    2. The Harrisons were supposed to be top ten picks out of HS. Then, after their frosh years they dropped to late 1st round. Now, 2nd rounders. The longer you stay, the more you can be exposed.

  9. took my daughters's car to the shop. I am now sitting on a park bench in downtown sactown, communing with the homeless, waiting for the public library to open at noon. I refuse to go to my office on a vacation day.

      1. so, O2 sensor replacement was cheaper than expected -- $289 to get the front two replaced. (2002 Ford Escape XLT). But the battery warning light keeps going off and on. My guy thinks it is the voltage regulator in the alternator. Urg. On this vehicle, apparently it is a PITA to get to the alternator. He quoted me ~$600 for the job.

        1. I backed into a wall/fence thing the other evening (blind spot/ backing up relying on backup camera)- rear driver side bumper is crunched. Quote today: $850.
          Still haven't told the Missus.

  11. I know it isn't movie day, but the Netflix Daredevil series dropped today. I watched the first episode and it has loads of potential. (pretty violent, though, just to warn.) Fortunately, I have another whole night by myself so I have plenty of time for more episodes.

    3. I do. Just did DNA test. 75% golden retriever/25% Australian shepherd. Acts like a border collie.

Comments are closed.