Sid > everyone

I was never planning on blogging the Olympics because I knew it would be a huge undertaking that I wouln't be able to handle especially since I would miss most of the games due to tape delay and the fact that they were being played while I was at work. I didn't want to blog about the games way late so I just decided not to. I'm not going to write up a huge recap right now either. I just want to say that I thought the US team looked really strong this entire tourney and think they did a good job. They should be proud to say they made it to the Gold Medal game and played well. It was a tight and low-scoring game, just like I thought it would be. Be proud you medalled at all, because Russia is really kicking themselves right now. They had the talent, they just screwed up and ended up playing Canada earlier than they thought they would. As much as I hate hate hate Patrick Kane, he scored a good amount of goals over the course of the Olympics.. more than Sid, but hey, Sid is always there. He's not a flashy player, he stays in the trenches and plays the puck to teammates. Sid is there when it matters, like in overtime during the Gold Medal game to score the game winning goal. Yeah.

I am so happy the Olympics are over and we get to return to NHL games, where players fight and Mike Rupp scores hat tricks. I've missed Billy G's wisdom, Max Talbot's bad hands, Staalsy's shorties, Feds' rosy red cheeks, TK's energy, Kris Letang's sex hair, and MAF's shirtless post-game interviews in the locker room after a win. I can't wait to have Sid and Geno be reunited as the two-headed monster. I look forward to having Brooks dish out free candy to dirty Flyer players and Gonchar's wicked slapshot speed past Henrik Lundqvist on Thursday. I'm ready to have all five of our Olympians home in Pittsburgh and inside the Igloo.

Of course, I know the trade deadline Olympic freeze ends tonight and could bring hell on earth tomorrow. I hope Shero doesn't do anything completely crazy and give me a heart attack at work. Please, I don't want to die on the floor of my cubicle all alone in a building that has really shitty lighting and psychos.

A final note: I am very proud of how all our boys played in these games, but especially Sidney. He is our captain. I am so proud he wears the black and gold. We love you, Sid.

Go get 'em Tuesday!

WTF NBC

Not that we don't always have something to grip about when it comes to hockey aired on NBC, but this is just absolutely ridiculous when it comes to the Olympics. We're used to having to suffer through Pierre's long monologues before games and his "Inside the Glass" crap segments during game breaks, but this is when everyone in America is watching. This is USA Hockey's chance to show everyone how awesome of a sport hockey is and NBC is really screwing them over.

I don't know how many times NBC has cut in to a live game with only two minutes remaining in the first period. That's such bullshit. No one cares about women's curling... at least I don't.

NBC is sticking the much-hyped Canada-USA game on Sunday on CNBC. Really, NBC? That could be great for USA hockey, but no. Let's screw it up.

MAF is supposed to get the start on Sunday, so I hear, via twitter.... I can't confirm it though. That will be really exciting though. Seeing Sid wearing the A in the last game was special and great to see. He deserves it. From what I've seen, he's worked hard in these games so far, but that's not a stretch from his usual gameplay. We all know even when he gets three, he just goes for four. :)

Everyone is freaking out over Jagr's comments about being a free agent soon and how he's always talked about coming back to Pittsburgh and playing for Mario because he owes his entire hockey career to him and that he would play for the minimum salary. Makes me wonder about who the Pens would trade to get Jagr. People are hinting that maybe Feds won't make it through the deadline. We will see...

You can do it! Bela Karolyi style

The 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies begin tomorrow in Vancouver. We are lucky enough to have five of our Pens representing their homeland: Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin for Team Russia, Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury for Canada, and our fav boy from Buffalo, Free Candy, Brooks Orpik, sporting the red, white, and blue for USA.

I've got to say, Sarge dominated all of the boys in the Olympic photoshoot. He looks fierce. Sid had the most out of everyone with five, but all three of Gonch's were awesome. Sid's fierst photo is precious though. Brooks looks adorable as usual and poor Geno is just trying to get a good shot in... he got one... sort of... Fleury got one good one. I expected better photos from him with his big smile.

I can't just pick one photo of Brooks because he is just so adorable in all of his shots.

I could have easily posted the third, alright?

What a BAMF.

Congratulations to all of our Olmpians.. this should be fun to watch.

Oh wait, except we aren't going to get to watch CAN v USA on regular programming because NBC fails at life.

According to this article, NBC is choosing to air "ice dancing" (wtf is that, figure skating?) instead of hockey on the 21st. Why, you may ask?

"More women than men watch the Olympics. So chicks before sticks."

That is disgusting. I find that really insulting as a woman who loves hockey. I would rather gag myself than watch figure skating. NBC will never get it that no one who watches hockey likes figure skating... they keep trying to shove it down our throats by airing it after Sunday games, but no one cares.

Hopefully everyone here in the states gets MSNBC because that is where the game is getting pushed to. There are several game being aired on CNBC as well and I am not familiar with that station. All I know is I better get it, and in HD too.

If you'd like to see the tv schedule for all the hockey games, you can visit this link. Be sure to put in your own zip code and choose your correct cable provider.

Billy G = Leadership

Billy G = fucking Leadership One of the best things we got at the trade deadline last season was Bill Guerin from the Islanders. People said he was old and questioned what he could bring to the team. I hope all those people have shut up by now. I have a friend, a Pens fan, who still thinks Guerin sucks and swears he'll be traded. You are so wrong, man. Billy G has proven that he is a huge asset to the Penguins organization by being a leader on and off the ice. We've seen it time and time again, whether it's picking out clothes for children in need at Dick's Sporting Goods or yelling at Sidney to let others have a turn during practice, Bill Guerin is a leader.


Ray Shero gets it. Here's a quote from our trusty GM explaining how acquiring Billy has enhanced this team:

"We took a chance and all the credit goes to Billy because he proved that he still had the passion to play and he's been absolutely fantastic for our group on and off the ice."

The NHL has a nice article up on their website about veteran leaders. Billy G never gets enough credit so it's nice when people start to recognize it and see what I see. A BAMF. But he's more than that.

You can read the full article here. There also a video on that page!!! It's called "Hockey's Finest Veterans" and it's got epic music. I suggest you watch it. Besides, most of the clips are of Billy G.

Billy G, you kill me.

Billy G doesn't always score the prettiest goals, maybe some of them are garbage goals, but I'll take them... every single one.

I leave you with this, a quote written on one of the walls in the ladies' room at the Igloo.

"Through Bill Guerin, all things are possible."

And this:

I'm really glad someone else feels the same way I do.

Sod, links, n'at

I have been telling you how special Jordan Staal is for a while now, so what's better than reading about him some more? =) My friend Hooks Orpik over at Pensburgh wrote a nice piece about Staalsy in honor of his 300th game played. Please check it out. I hope Ray Shero loves JStaal as much as I do and will do whatever it takes to keep him in Pittsburgh for a long time to come. I know we don't have much salary cap room what with the likes of Malkin and Crosby, but Jordan is more than just a center and is worth keeping. I would hate for any of the Staal trade rumors to come true.

It appears there was some talk of Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle wanting to buy the Pirates. This, of course, is a brilliant idea, even though I really could care less about baseball. The boys over at thePensblog have the story. You can read up on it here.

ESPN is also reporting on the subject, telling us that Pirates owner, Bob Nutting, says the team is not for sale. You can read that story here. It's more the legal money issues side of things...

"Lemieux, the Hall of Fame player, bought the Penguins in federal bankruptcy court in 1999 -- a year later, he came out of retirement became pro sports' first owner-player -- and has since seen them become one of the NHL's most successful franchises."

Dude, just sayin'...

How awesome would it be if Super Mario owned two-thirds of the professional sports teams in Pittsburgh?!

Read the articles and tell me what you think.

Lazy Sunday

One thing that was great this weekend was the chance to watch the Penguins on regular broadcasting, even if it was NBC and Pierre McGuire. I got to watch the Pens beat the Flyers, which is always a good time, and see the entire game which is something I don't often have the opportunity to do. This game was on at 9:30 in the morning , but it was worth waking up early to watch. Letang had a great game. He wasn't afraid to check guys and it's noticable that he's been fighting to get to the puck more in his last couple of games. It's great to see that extra effort is paying off for him. He was fierce on the ice Sunday. You've got to watch the highlights and check out his fight, even if it was short-lived. Awesome! It starts at about 1:56 into the video.

Billy G's moustache that night... epic!

Also, there is a great new Verzion commercial featuring the Penguins that first aired on Sunday.

Penguins fans truly are the best in the world!

Playing catch-up

Hey guys, sorry I know it's been awhile again. I'm not doing too well in January at posting everything. Here are a few videos that I wanted to share with you all from the past week or so.

First one is Kris Letang's adorableness on Inside Penguins Hockey. I realize this is only part 2 of the segment, but it's the funny part. If you want to see part 1 you can watch it here.

Watch at 2:30 into the video and also at 5:22. Listen to his answers.

The Sex hair is back!!!! haha

Kris Letang 1057393027, Dan 0

Steve Mears: "Best advice anyone ever gave you?"

Kris: "Never give up even if you're small and skinny."

Love it!

Second one is a secret hidden part 2 to the amazzzing Sid and Max dryer commercial which aired earlier this season. Those two are just hilarious together and so entertaining to watch.

The third one is Sidney's Tim Hortons commercial which just sends chills down my spine every time I watch it. It warms my heart. I die. Sid's voice-over is enough to make any girl's heart melt. It's precious.

The final video is the Pens and Pins event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Geno is > all bowling. Watch how it appears he doesn't even put his fingers in the ball's holes, he just palms it and lets it go. He is adorable and his English is getting sooo good! :)