Doktor Kosmos
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Posts posted by Doktor Kosmos
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Oh I don't think he should give back the medal.
I agree. It's not like it's his fault everybody else screwed up.Hamm is taking a lot of crap for no good reasons. The Koreans screwed up, the judges screwed up, and the IOC screwed up. Hamm is about the only person that shouldn't be taking any of the blame, but he is taking almost all of it.[Edited on 2004/8/31 by Doktor Kosmos]
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Not entirely true. There was a practice game before the World Championships last season (2002/03), Salo played in goal, and the crowd cheered for him as much as they ever have. Felt more like they wanted to show they had forgiven him for the Salt Lake blunder.I'm really pulling for Sweden, but they need to re-assess their goaltender situation. I would look for Tellqvist to start next game. To be honest, I'm not too sure why Salo was the starter today. That second goal was brutal and he just looked sluggish in general all game.Add: The TV commentators said the plan was to play Salo tonight and Tellqvist tomorrow, regardless. Since it's back-to-back games (today and tomorrow) they want to go with the goalie who is rested.
[Edited on 2004/8/31 by Doktor Kosmos]
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This is the kind of problems you get when you have a system that is overly subjective.
A sport like hockey is simple. The team who scores the most goals wins the game.
In gymnastics there are judges who determine who's made the best effort. Since opinions differ, there will always be this kind of controversy.
I'm not saying hockey refs are not making subjective calls. I'm saying it doesn't effect the outcome of a competition in the same way.
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Kim Johnsson is a liability on the offensive blue line. He lost the puck twice to give the Germans two breakaways, and they scored on one of them.
Salo, Salo, Salo... Man, that was one Salt Lake City flashback we did not need. Tommy Salo will be the death of me.
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Soccer
in The Lounge
Several Swedish sports news sources say Zlatan Ibrahimovic is leaving Ajax for Juventus. He is to sign the contract tomorrow.
Wayne Rooney is also leaving Everton for ManU.
[Edited on 2004/8/31 by Doktor Kosmos]
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(I'd like to appologize in advance for the long post.)
Aside from Souray I think we will also need one more top defenceman.
But what we need most of all is consistency, no matter who plays they need to be consistent. In my opinion the team has been way too "streaky" the last couple years. And all too often the losing streaks have been longer than the winning streaks.
In 2002 we beat the Bruins (then the #1 seed in the East!), but then we lost to Carolina (who later went on all the way to the Cup Finals), and in a 4 game sweep if memory serves me right. I think the problem that time was that we simply ran out of fuel. The team's "real playoff run" had been made during the end of the regular season while fighting to make the playoffs in the first place. Had we qualified for the playoffs earlier (and I think the key to do so is consistency), then a similar hot streak in the playoffs could have taken us to the finals instead of Carolina.
I am not sure we should blame all of the failure of the 2002/03 season on Audette and Czerkawski. Don't get me wrong, I don't like them any more than the next Habs fan (they were a gamble that didn't pay off) but there is more to it than that. How else can you explain that Koivu came back from cancer to play arguably his best full season ever? Had he ever played all 82 games before that? And he scored 70+ points. After coming back from cancer! Now if that is not enough to make you impressed, I don't know what is. But there must have been more problems besides Audette and Czerkawski underachieving. Theodore, for example, was not his usual self.
Either way, the 2003/04 season brought with it a welcome change. I do think it's interesting what the players have to say about Gainey sticking up for his players. Brisebois may not exactly be the greatest defenceman in Habs history, but hey, imagine playing in front of a home crowd that are booing every time you get the puck. Nobody needs that. That's the one thing I don't get about the Montreal fans. In my world you should always try to support and encourage your team to do better. Not discourage them (yes, Brisebois has been known to give the puck away too often, I know).
Anyway, last season was really a good one. Koivu came back after missing the first 13 games and had a strong season while overcoming other problems along the way, Ribeiro emerged as a dependable 2nd line center and Ryder ended the season as runner up for the Calder trophy. Theodore was back where he needs to be, Souray had a marvelous comeback (although it was cut short by an unfortunate injury). LIke the article said, the Canadiens looked like a team more than they have done in a long time. Add Kovy and Dowd at the trade deadline and things looked really good.
Once again in the playoffs the Bruins were taken care of. What impresses me the most is they totally kept Joe Thornton from scoring (I don't care his back was hurting, players have suffered worse and still managed to achieve). I think that was the key to the Canadiens winning the series. Thornton is the heart and soul of his team, and who can do well if their heart and soul hardly even shows up? That and ironically Kovalev's wheelings and dealings. That's what won us the series.
I think however it may have been too costly winning the Bruins series, while at the same time from what I've seen on TV the Lightning series was closer than a 4 game sweep would make it seem. Just like in 2002 I supsect we ran out of fuel. Too much energy had to be used winning the 7 game series over the Bruins.
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When thinking about this five year plan, the interesting thing is next season though (whenever it may start). I think it is essential Kovalev returns because Koivu is much more useful when he has a really good winger to play with. Theodore of course is vital, but what else is new? I think he will come through.
There have however been quite a lot of changes in the roster lately. If all the new faces will adjust and merge together we're in business, but it might also take a while.
In the end though I cannot let go of the idea that reinforcements on defence is needed. No matter how good the likes of Roy and Brodeur is/was, they didn't do it all by themselves. When Roy won the Cup with the Avs in 2001, he played behind the likes of Bourque, Blake and Foote. Brodeur can rely on Stevens, Niedermayer and Rafalski. I think we need a defender like that as well. Souray may get there one day, but he is not yet at that level.
And let me again stress the consistency of the whole team. In order to be a contender, qulifying for the 7th or 8th playoff spot is not enough IMO. We need to be able to clinch a playoff spot earlier in the season so that the team can focus on the playoffs down the stretch instead of trying to make the playoffs. Colorado, Detroit and such teams never have to worry about making the playoffs. Enough said.
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Another interesting question is also what makes a contender? How would you define the very word? One good season is not enough I think, you have to do well for a longer period of time than just one season in order to be considered a contender.
Either way the key word for me is patience. Lets give Gainey time to work his magic. If what he's shown already isn't enough... well, I feel more optimistic than I've done since the mid 1990's. But I don't expect the Canadiens to win the Cup next season.
There, those are my two cents.
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Is she a Habs fan or did everyone wear this for a reason [other then being a fan]?
Maybe the photos are from a performance in Montreal?
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Tellqvist.
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I don't like the Hives.
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Are you talking about Kovalev or Fedorov?
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I doubt the Habs would think it's worth it. Fedorov would be quite expensive, would he not?
And I'm not sure he's the player he used to be (which is one of the best two-way centers in the game during this "current era").
It's hard to say who'd be the better one for the Habs, Kovalev or Fedorov. Depends on what you want.
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Check the flag.
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[Edited on 2004/8/27 by Doktor Kosmos]
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John Frusciante - Shadows Collide With People
Best album I've heard in a long time!!!
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You think the Scotts will root for Henke or Celtic?
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Finally: Hockey!
World Cup around the corner;
Sweden hosts Finland.
Bad start for Salo;
Jokinen scores goal quickly.
Hey, wake up Tommy!
Like bear he's sleepy,
after hibernating long.
Wake-up call works though.
Throughout game improves
our goalie; stops many pucks
- earns good grades for game.
Finland plays better
during first half of the game,
Sweden then takes charge.
Best Swedish players:
Zetterberg impresses all;
his skates must have wings!
Captain Mats Sundin,
he gets others fired up.
Great leader is he.
Others play well too;
two-way centers like Påhlsson
and Jörgen Jönsson.
Promissing duo
found in Nicklas Lidström and
Flyer Kim Johnsson.
Our great hope Forsberg
shows some flashes of brilliance;
seems injured no more.
Others must improve:
Alfie's creativity
lash back at him... Chill!
Demolition Man
Tomas "Homer" Holmström - d'oh!
takes bad penelties.
Despite OT goal,
Näslund is invisible.
Expect more from him.
Sweden in the end
comes out on top, deserves win;
Finland can't stop us!
Now when fall is here
hockey season has started;
World Cup teams, take heed!
[Edited on 2004/8/26 by Doktor Kosmos]
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Soccer
in The Lounge
Majstorovic used to play for my hometown team; Västerås Sport Klubb. I don't know too much about him though. But I remember everyone thought it was terrible when he left Västerås for Malmö, he was one of our best players.
Aside from being big and strong like you said, I believe he's good inside the penelty box; he's quite tall and good at headers to clear the ball, and he often joins the attack when Malmö gets corners. From what I see on the sports news every now and then he also seems to have offensive talents as well.
[Edited on 2004/8/25 by Doktor Kosmos]
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I don't know, it's just something about his personality that strikes me as wrong, especially for a goaltender. He's seems too "cautious" (I don't know how to explain it in English).
But like you said, he's still young, so who knows.
[Edited on 2004/8/23 by Doktor Kosmos]
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Mikael Tellqvist of the Toronto Maple Leafs played last night. I don't like him much, I question his winning instincts, but he played well last night. In the World Championships last year, he outplayed Tommy Salo for the starting job.
The other two goalies are Tommy Salo (formerly of the Isles, Oilers and Avs) and Henrik Lundqvist of Västra Frölunda (Swedish Elite League). Lundqvist is drafted by the NY Rangers I think. He's one of the most talented young goalies we've had in a while now.
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The Swedish commentator said at one time that Zednik was injured. Didn't sound like it was too serious though.
It was IMO a typical first game. You could see the players' timing was a bit off.
Sweden was clearly the better team and deserved the win. Mikael Tellqvist was good in goal, the defence was solid, and the Sedin x 2 + Zetterberg line played well in front.
Slovakia on the other hand looked like they had no idea hockey is a team sport. They also looked like bad losers and were too undisciplined. There was a lot of penelties in the game, and frankly I think the refs made the mistake of sending off both a Swede and a Slovak more than once when they should have given only the Slovak a penelty.
The Slovaks have more things to attend to than Sweden does, judging by what they displayed today.
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Sweden leads 2-0 after the second period.
The Sedin twins together with Henrik Zetterberg has been the best line so far.
Daniel Sedin scored the first goal, Markus Näslund the second.
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Christ, you guys need to cool down. Why don't you take it elsewhere and let us who are interested in the Olympics discuss things in this one?
Unfortunately our Swedish table tennis player Jan Ove Waldner lost the semifinal to Ryu Seung Min (South Korea). Hopefully, he can win the bronze medal game though.
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I think I read somewhere that volleyball is the Olymnpic sport that the most countries participate in. This was some time ago though, so it may have changed.
Sweden won its first Gold Medal today when our national treasure Carolina Klüft easily won the heptathlon competition. :/)
:king:We also got a bronze in the womens 470 sailing race.
[Edited on 2004/8/21 by Doktor Kosmos]
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Soccer
in The Lounge
You're right that he takes a lot of abuse himself, but what he has to learn is to handle it right. I'm pretty sure a guy like Henke Larsson takes at least as much abuse, but you don't ever see him lashing out, taking revenge and loosing his focus on the right things. Focusing on the right things is essential, that is one thing that seperates the good players from the great players.
Zlatan is probably the most promising technically skilled soccer player Sweden has had in a long long time (even though I personally have even more faith in Kim Källström, who I think is THE brightest future star as he is a more complete player). I fear though that Zlatan will not live up to the high expectations if he cannot learn to channel his energy the right way.
[Edited on 2004/8/20 by Doktor Kosmos]
Tre Kronor - Czech Republic
in Habs & Hockey Talk
Posted
Christ I nearly had a heart attack tonight!!!