I got an email yesterday announcing that some of the Baby Leafs would be at the Eaton Centre to meet fans and to sign autographs (see, sometimes it's good to sign up for newsletters, etc.) from 5-6pm! Luckily that fit perfectly with my schedule!
Shortly after "teaching" at Woodlands, I caught a Go bus down to Union station, and ended up at the Eaton Centre around 4:30pm. The line-up was actually pretty short at that point. ^_^ They started pretty promptly, which was nice. Anyway, onto the photos!
The guys, from right to left, are: Kyle Wellwood, Mikael Tellqvist, Harold Druken, Matt Hubbauer, and Nathan Perrot.
This is me basically moving down the line, getting autographs. (Actually I took the photos without me in them after I got my stuff signed, but it looks better arranged this way! =P)
The great thing is that they actually had these pads of photos which they signed and then tore off to give you--so even if you didn't bring anything to get signed, you could still walk away with something. ^_^ Very nice!!
I also brought my (Stajan-signed) Leafs jersey to get signed. Yes, I realize that Hubbauer hasn't actually played for the big team yet, but I'm confident that he will--I even told him so! See, when I went up to him, Druken was like: "Have you played for the big team yet, Hubby?" and of course, Hubbauer said no. Then I handed him (Hubbauer) my jersey and said: "I'm confidant you'll be playing for them." I also said something about how I watched every episode (of "Making the Cut"), and he smiled . Now, normally I don't pay attention to these things, but my goodness, Hubbauer is pretty good looking in person!! =P
Another thing I realized, after hearing Druken's comment, is that Hubbauer's nickname is pretty amusing too: "Hubby." I don't know if people are as familiar with the word nowadays, but it's a kind of short form/term of endearment for "husband." LOL. Just think of all his teammates and coaches and stuff, all calling him "hubby." ^_~
Anyway, all in all, it was a very good experience. The only thing I regret is that I was silly and forgot all about my Team Sweden Nike cap!! I could've brought it for Tellqvist to sign!! See, the silly part is that I had the cap hanging above the jersey, so when I took down the jersey to pack, I should've seen the hat and thought about bringing it! Ah well. The jersey is more than enough!!
Actually, I lied, another thing I regret is that I didn't get to see Jello there as well! =(
I understand that I cannot possibly understand the feelings of Steve Moore and his family--the suffering they have and will continue to have to endure--but nonetheless I am extremely disappointed with the lawsuit against Todd Bertuzzi.
It's not so much that I disagree with the lawsuit in priniple, but rather with the specifics of the lawsuit. I think the conspiracy charge, for one thing, is retarded. His use of some of Bertuzzi and May's statements to the press, in my opinion, represents a willful misinterpretation of the meaning and intent of their words. As for the allegations that Crawford and Burke openly encouraged the players to assault Moore, I think they're completely ludicrous.
Another thing the bugs me is the fact that the suit was filed in the US instead of Canada, considering that the parties involved are Canadian, and the incident occurred in Canada. I admit this isn't something I wouldn't have thought about if not for the TSN article, but it's still a very valid point, in my mind:
Some observers may wonder why Moore brought the suit in Denver and not in Canada, since he and all the defendants except Burke are Canadian.
There is a better chance of a bigger financial award in the U.S.
''In the U.S. one is not constrained as much as plaintiffs who are injured in Canada are by caps on damages paid for pain and suffering,'' said Holmes.
Does he deserve restitution for his physical, mental, and emotional suffering, and that of his family? Certainly. But I think these two things together (the charge of conspiracy and the filing of the suit in the US) indicate that Moore is going beyond seeking fair restitution and mvoing towards immoderate vengeance. He seems to be caught up in the American litigation culture--sue for and over everything.
Now I absolutely accept and believe that Moore was the victim in the "Bertuzzi Incident," but I don't think that gives him the right to ask for more than restitution ("a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury" - Merriam-Webster Online) from the law. And to me, that's what he's doing by trying to make a conspiracy out of Bertuzzi's wrongdoing.
As for filing in the States versus Canada, to me--right or wrong--that just smacks of plain greed. I know I shouldn't judge his desire to get as much money from the suit as possible--after all, I can't imagine the degree of his suffering--but nonetheless, something in me recoils from the hint or idea of simply going for all you can get, rather than what is fair and equal to the wrong. But again, maybe the Canadian maximum really wouldn't have been fair compensation for his pains. Or maybe he didn't think he'd get such a fair hearing in Canada, considering that Bertuzzi plays for a Canadian team.
The difficult thing in evaluating the lawsuit, I suppose, is that there's the Heatley situation against which to compare it. I mean, the situation is totally different--the lack of the rivalry/enmity/competition aspect here is key--but I can't help but think about the forgiveness and grace and mercy that the Snyders showed to Dany Heatley in comparison to Moore's refusal to even acknowledge Bertuzzi's apology (supposedly a calculated act to prevent weakening his position for the lawsuit).
I don't know. All I can say is that, right or wrong, Moore's lawsuit leaves a bad taste in my mouth and definitely severely undermines my respect for him. It's an awful thing to acknowledge, but I have to work really hard to think of Moore as the victim of a devastating hit that could potentially have ended his career rather than as the villain of the lawsuit against Bertuzzi.
So yes, the cancellation of the NHL season is finally official. Whoop-de-doo-da (sarcastic) I just got three emails--one from each of the Colorado Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Vancouver Canucks--about it in my inbox, and you know what, I really don't care.
Sure the league/teams are all sending out mass emails telling all the fans "how sorry we are," (Gary Bettman) and how "with deep disappointment...I am writing to you" (Dave Nonis) but that's really a load of bull. If they really cared about the fans, they would've started seriously negotiating a heck of a lot earlier--long before the All-Star weekend, before the start of the season, or even before the old CBA expired. Waiting until the absolute last minute and then giving some half-baked attempt to come up with a deal for a 20-game season is so pathetic, they might as well have not bothered.
I'm not blaming just the NHL here. The players didn't exactly make an effort to get things done in a timely manner either, and in the face of that, even their astonishing 24% pay rollback and salary cap doesn't seem like much more than a ploy in a hopeless publicity battle. I say hopeless because any intelligent fan recognizes that both the NHL and NHLPA are to blame for the lack of a 2004-2005 hockey season.
And you know what I've learned from this whole fiasco? Hockey is NOT the NHL. Sure I don't watch nearly as much hockey as I used to without the NHL, but Sportsnet and the NHL Network (ironically) do broadcast games from other leagues, like the Swedish Elite League, the AHL, ECHL, and etc. Plus there's all that international hockey (World Championship, World Cup--well, maybe not this one anymore--and the World Juniors) and that serves just as well.
So congratulations to the NHL and NHLPA, you've just succeeded in showing your fans that not only do you not give a hoot about them, but that they don't really need you either.
Woohoo!! My Kaberle HC Rabat Kladno jerseys FINALLY arrived on Wednesday!! (I can't believe I forgot to post about it until now!) It's very exciting!! They're so lovely!!
I'll try to put up some pictures soon (feeling lazy right now). *sigh* I do so love my international jerseys! ^_^ Now all I'll need to do is get my All-Star jersey (World jersey from the one in L.A.) customized--with Kaberle, of course--and I'll have all of my Kaberle jerseys! ^_^ So great!!
