I dream of being a writer.
This is only literally true in the newest, stupidest sense of the word. I don't remember my dreams, so I might dream of being a writer. But, apparently 'literally' can be used to mildly emphasize anything.
I hate people. (And yes, I know I'm a people). I stand by what I've written.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Friday, May 1, 2015
Late Thoughts on Round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs
So the best, er....I mean first, round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are done. Like everything in my life, my commitment to watching, and writing about, them was sporadic. But that won't stop me from having strong and uniformed opinions on them. (It's one of my charms).
1) I am developing a serious man-crush on Carey Price. I don't mean to say 'man-crush' because I want to maintain some heteronormative bullshit. It just isn't sexual. At least not yet. He's just so fucking cool. He is calm and centered and a magnificent goalie. In interviews, he has that 'I've seen some shit, but I'm okay' vibe that too many of our First Nations people have. I hate, or at least dislike, the Habs. But I'd be okay if this was the year of Carey.
2) I had a short twitter exchange with James Mirtle. Not surprisingly, he was getting shit about analytics. I get it. There is a certain segment of the analytics community who are smug know-it-alls. Of course, there are a fuck of a lot of old-time hockey folks like that too. The twitter exchange, and his mentions, reminded me of something that bothers me in academic discussions. Too many, far too many, people prefer to attack with discussion rather than create a dialogue that connects different points. And as Mannheim, and a bunch of other big brained folks, pointed out most arguments are about different things. It must be frustrating for someone like Mirtle to discuss possession numbers and have responses like "well, that doesn't tell the whole story", or "sometimes it is all about the goaltending". No shit. A discussion of possession numbers is a discussion of a particular way to view the game over an aggregate of games / seasons. It reveals trends, and shows probabilities. No one has ever argued it is the only way to look at a game, or that is is 100 percent predictive of the outcomes. When you find yourself disagreeing with someone, try and figure out what they are actually saying. You will save everyone a lot of time and energy.
3) I'm beginning to think losing your top defenceman is bad. Letang, Giordano, Weber. All gone, and all gone. Of course, none of those series was only about that--see above blurb. But, not being able to get the puck out of your own end consistently makes it hard to score. (I figured that out all by myself). As a former target I understand the importance of a top defenceman. It makes everything so much easier. I also understand defencemen, as a group, are the dumbest fucking people in sports. But, that is another story.
4) Unless Chicago wins, this has the feel of one of those, "Really, Washington won a Stanley Cup" playoffs. See also: Tampa Bay and Carolina.
5) The Canucks sucked hard and will probably suck harder next season. As Edmonton is showing us, you need depth in your system and good scouting to be successful. The Canucks drafting was a wasteland for many years.
1) I am developing a serious man-crush on Carey Price. I don't mean to say 'man-crush' because I want to maintain some heteronormative bullshit. It just isn't sexual. At least not yet. He's just so fucking cool. He is calm and centered and a magnificent goalie. In interviews, he has that 'I've seen some shit, but I'm okay' vibe that too many of our First Nations people have. I hate, or at least dislike, the Habs. But I'd be okay if this was the year of Carey.
2) I had a short twitter exchange with James Mirtle. Not surprisingly, he was getting shit about analytics. I get it. There is a certain segment of the analytics community who are smug know-it-alls. Of course, there are a fuck of a lot of old-time hockey folks like that too. The twitter exchange, and his mentions, reminded me of something that bothers me in academic discussions. Too many, far too many, people prefer to attack with discussion rather than create a dialogue that connects different points. And as Mannheim, and a bunch of other big brained folks, pointed out most arguments are about different things. It must be frustrating for someone like Mirtle to discuss possession numbers and have responses like "well, that doesn't tell the whole story", or "sometimes it is all about the goaltending". No shit. A discussion of possession numbers is a discussion of a particular way to view the game over an aggregate of games / seasons. It reveals trends, and shows probabilities. No one has ever argued it is the only way to look at a game, or that is is 100 percent predictive of the outcomes. When you find yourself disagreeing with someone, try and figure out what they are actually saying. You will save everyone a lot of time and energy.
3) I'm beginning to think losing your top defenceman is bad. Letang, Giordano, Weber. All gone, and all gone. Of course, none of those series was only about that--see above blurb. But, not being able to get the puck out of your own end consistently makes it hard to score. (I figured that out all by myself). As a former target I understand the importance of a top defenceman. It makes everything so much easier. I also understand defencemen, as a group, are the dumbest fucking people in sports. But, that is another story.
4) Unless Chicago wins, this has the feel of one of those, "Really, Washington won a Stanley Cup" playoffs. See also: Tampa Bay and Carolina.
5) The Canucks sucked hard and will probably suck harder next season. As Edmonton is showing us, you need depth in your system and good scouting to be successful. The Canucks drafting was a wasteland for many years.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Thoughts on the Stanley Cup Playoffs: Days 6 - 8
1) Poor Winnipeg. Great fans. Fun team. The city has a real problem with racism, but so does most of the world. I guess I shouldn't hold it against the Jets. Big Buff looked ordinary for most of the series. Pavelec oscillated between unbelievably good and dishearteningly bad. They should be good for some time, and most teams do not go deep their first time into the playoffs.
2) Anaheim is not a likable team. For a Canucks fan, this gives me great satisfaction to say.
3) No player is more beloved by the media than Ryan Kesler. I don't understand. He is good. But, the media treats him like he's a more skilled version of Steve Yzerman. He had a great series once versus Nashville. Fine. Can we calm down that he helped beat fucking Nashville.
4) I know my dislike of Kesler is irrational. He just seems like such a douche.
5) Fine, 3 OTs, I'll care a bit about Nashville and Chicago.
6) Ottawa wins a game and shows why lifelong NHL goalies tend to be better than lifelong AHL goalies. Hammond has been a great story, and, just like they can't take away the Vezina Jim Carey stole from Hasek, they can't take away this run.
7) The state of hockey analysis is atrocious. (Says guy with a series of pointless comments on the games). The in-studio product is benign but boring (Grapes notwithstanding). It is also absurd at times. Kypreos explained to the audience that defenceman should simply play more like Lidstrom and be better positionally. Oh, is that all Nick? Just be as good as the best defenceman of his generation. Great advice. The colour commentary isn't much better. Stop explaining the obvious to us. I can see the game. Point out those things that are hard to pick up. Don't explain an obvious penalty, explain how someone got away with something and saved a goal with a subtle hook. So bad, so often.
8) The Canucks are sliding towards obscurity.
9) The Pens might be too. What a waste of talent.
10) With the Jets out, the Canucks about to go, I do not know who to cheer for. Calgary is a nice story, but I don't love the team. I know too many Habs fans to cheer for Montreal with any real effort. Maybe I cheer for Washington. It'll be exciting, and it'll break my heart. I'll find that comforting.
2) Anaheim is not a likable team. For a Canucks fan, this gives me great satisfaction to say.
3) No player is more beloved by the media than Ryan Kesler. I don't understand. He is good. But, the media treats him like he's a more skilled version of Steve Yzerman. He had a great series once versus Nashville. Fine. Can we calm down that he helped beat fucking Nashville.
4) I know my dislike of Kesler is irrational. He just seems like such a douche.
5) Fine, 3 OTs, I'll care a bit about Nashville and Chicago.
6) Ottawa wins a game and shows why lifelong NHL goalies tend to be better than lifelong AHL goalies. Hammond has been a great story, and, just like they can't take away the Vezina Jim Carey stole from Hasek, they can't take away this run.
7) The state of hockey analysis is atrocious. (Says guy with a series of pointless comments on the games). The in-studio product is benign but boring (Grapes notwithstanding). It is also absurd at times. Kypreos explained to the audience that defenceman should simply play more like Lidstrom and be better positionally. Oh, is that all Nick? Just be as good as the best defenceman of his generation. Great advice. The colour commentary isn't much better. Stop explaining the obvious to us. I can see the game. Point out those things that are hard to pick up. Don't explain an obvious penalty, explain how someone got away with something and saved a goal with a subtle hook. So bad, so often.
8) The Canucks are sliding towards obscurity.
9) The Pens might be too. What a waste of talent.
10) With the Jets out, the Canucks about to go, I do not know who to cheer for. Calgary is a nice story, but I don't love the team. I know too many Habs fans to cheer for Montreal with any real effort. Maybe I cheer for Washington. It'll be exciting, and it'll break my heart. I'll find that comforting.
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