"Flyers Suck"

The Flyers got destroyed tonight and sent home for the summer. This by far the worst team they have had since they started making the playoffs again in the early 90's. For the first time in my entire life I shut off a Flyers game (out of anger) after one period of play. After the 3rd goal I litterally did not watch another second untill I flipped back (and timed it perfectly) to see the final 20 seconds tick off.

Yeah, you can make the excuse off all the hurt players. But the team just didn't want to play tonight. Thats the bottom line. They were ready to go home. I can't think of anyone other than Gagne, Carter and Richards I want to see make on the team. No exageration here. All the others are expendable including Foresberg who they could get a bunch of great young players for at next year's trade deadline.

Sadly, the Clarkie will be under the illusion that his team is a cup team and do nothing to build for the future and likely not make any deal like that. Don't worry about next year, worry about 5 years from now. Build and grow a team together, don't just rent players and buy washed up talent, through them together in hopes they will win the cup. It doesnt work. They have tried it for over 10 years.

Rebuild, Rebuild,Rebuild.

If that means writing off the next 3 years at cup years, so be it. Thats the only way it will work.

Anyway, according to Jay if you add up all 4 teams its 90 straight seasons with out a championship.

Why not check out the Curse of William Penn on a day like today. Check it out. I don't know its serious or not but it looks like they made a movie about it. The music is perfect.

Flyers Suck


http://www.phrustratedphan.com/home.html

"Even"

Well, I was going to recap each game by game. I have been real busy and never got around to it. I really need to get a laptop so I can blog while watching the game or a movie like Drew used to do. I plan to swing back into that starting with game 5. What can I say what a difference a week makes? The Flyers are right back in it. Sure, the HAVE to win in Buffalo at one point, but I think the Sabres are the team doubting themselves now. I think who ever wins game 5 wins the series. We should see game time is 2pm Sunday. MOre to come...

"He's a Magnet!"

GAME 1 RECAP
ROUND 1
Flyers 2 Sabres 3 2ot
The gloomy weather in South Jersey yesterday pretty much summed up the fans and medias expectations of the Flyers actually making it out of the first round of the playoffs this year. However if the Flyers are going to be a one and done team, they should proved yesterday that it would be an enteraining round.

The first game had what 3 playoff games usually have in it. Bad calls, great saves, double OT, Umberger getting knocked back to the AHL, and lots of hard hits.

First lets give credit where credit is do. Robert Esche might have played one of the best goalie performancs I have ever seen a Flyer do. He kept them from being blown out. Some of his saves were amazing, and it is shame that his teammates did not win the game for him. I put away any doubts about who should be starting last night.

Early in the game Peter Forsberg coughed up the puck which resulted in Buffalo going up 1-0. Earlier his line missed an open net. If they had raised the puck it would have been an early lead for the Flyers and taken the fans out of the game.

R J Umberger was the unfortunate vicitm of a legal but hard hit in OT. However, the postgame people say he is going to be alright. Despite the fact he didn't seem to know where he was for part of the game.

One of the biggest stories was the disgraceful officaiting. It had to be one of the refed games I ever saw.

The Good:
At least the Flyers killed off the man advantage well. Even the BS OT powerplays for Buffalo.

Point the Ponder:
When the Flyers were killing off the man advantage. Petr Nedved was offside. Not be an inch but he was clearly hanging out near the Buffalo goal. What in the hell was he doing? The puck was at the Flyers defensive ciricle when they were about to launch it down the ice only to be offside since Petr was way down on the other side of the ice for no reason.

"Flyers Fight Song"

The Flyers now have a "victory" song which will play after each win. Which if my predicit is right you will be lucky to hear once before they realize what an awful song it truely is. I wonder if the people who wrote this song realized the team plays in a city that jeered Santa Clause and launched a full beer cup at the face of the Sabres coach a couple years ago.


Check it out.

http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/pressbox/archive/2555.asp

Tuckers Cup Picks: The East

(1) Ottawa vs (8)Tampa

Tampa won the last cup. They won't win this one. The barely made it into the playoffs this year, and one of the weakest teams in the playoffs. They simply don't have the goal tending to GET HER DONE.

I am pretty sure these teams never played each other in the playoffs and they both game in the league the same time.

Tampa could steal a few with their scoring touchs. I expect a wide open run and gun match up here with tons of goals.

Ottawa in 6.

(2) Carolina vs (7) Montreal

Montreal has been tearing it up the last month or so and turning lots of heads. I have really been impress the way they have been playing.

However, they are no match for the Canes in a best of 7 series. Its funny everyone thought the Canes would be bad this year, than when they were good, they said it would last. Than they just missed the #1 seed in the East, and people still think they are a weak team.

It really bewilders me. This team is the real deal.

Canes in 5.


(3) New Jersey vs (6) New York Rangers

NEw Jersey was flying high at the end of the season and the Rangers sunk to depths of hell.

At anyrate Jagr and Nylander are a force to deal with. The Rangers actually have fans that will be behind them. The Devils have 3 fans. I think this series will be a huge battle with quite a few overtimes.

The Devils will prevail in 7 games.

(4) Buffalo vs (5) Flyers

Before people think I am being "negative" or "hater". Lets be realistic neither Flyers goalie is better than Buffalo's back up. So it doesn't matter who is in net.

If not for the road trip winning streak during the holidays, the Flyers would not be in the playoffs. They have shown a few moments of greatness in the 2nd half the season, but not enough to forgive the awful play.

Granted the Flyers have missed half their team, but sometimes the playoffs are a matter of w ho is still standing at the end of the spring. The Flyers are in no condition to be that team. The defense is terrible and the Scoring is hot and cold.

If the Forsberg gets hurt before the Flyers first win, it might be time to get the brooms out in Buffalo. The Flyers beat BUffalo just once all year, and can't win in Buffalo and can't kill pentalies at home.


I hope I am wrong on this one, but I although it will break my heart to see them go out in the first round. I am just trying to pick these match ups the best I can. I will be Flyered up, but I have almost zero confidence in this team, and you get the impression that most the players are down on themselves right now after a month and half of poor play. NOt to mention they have not won back to back games in a month, and have a bad record against playoff teams.

I think Philly could win one game, but it will likely be a one goal game.
Buffalo in 5.

Tuckers Cup Picks: The West

(1) Detroit vs (8) Edmonton

After all these years the Red Wings are still a playoff machine. With the Likes of Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Shanahan, Yeserman and Cheilos, there is just way too much fire power for the Oilers to over take them.

The younger players play years ahead of their peers, and the older players like Shanahan who had an awesome year are still a force.

Detroit in 5

(2) Dallas (7) Colorado


Colorado must have wanted to make a bid for the worst trade of the season which was won by Boston when the delt Thorton, when they traded for Theodore who played bad this year and was hurt at the time of the trade.

Somehow Dallas has gone under the radar all year despite play almost flawless hockey. People just forgot all about Mike Modano and Brenden Morrow both had great years. Oh yeah and Marty Turo had 3 shut outs which is pretty damn good in the Western Conference in the new NHL.

Even so Colorado has a lot of heart and will make a fun matchup to watch.

Dallas in 6.

(3) Calgary vs Anahiem (6)

The Flames have a ton of fire power in Inginla, Amonte, and Huselius. Oh dont forget they have the best goalie in the entire conference in Kiprusoff.

Flames in 6

(4) Nashville vs (5) San Jose

CHeecho( seen above), and THorton. Thats all I have to say. Oh wait, also no Vokum for Nashville. Sharks will wreck back up CHris Mason who has barely ever played in the NHL.

Sharks in 5

"Heartbreak in Stratford"

My father who was on the school board for over a decade lost tonight by 3 stinking votes. It really sucks because it ment alot to my father is who a retired teacher. I think this would have been his fifth term. I am not sure if Sucks is a strong of enough word to lose by 3 votes. My family has had so many personal issues going on lately, this is the last thing we needed. Hopefully I got all the crappy stuff that will happen to me out of the way for the calendar year now. Seriously, would you have rather lost in a blow out? Or lost knowing that there is a good chance people that were supposed to vote for you had a wave of laziness or apathy come over them at the last minute?

"Worst President Ever!"

Don't know how much water Rolling Stone holds in the world, but they seem to have declared Bush the worst President in the history of our country. This by far could be the most memorable cover since the time they showed Jennifer Aniston's ass in the mid-90s.

Come on Drew, Jay give points to support this claim.

"Smoke Night Recap"

So, this past Friday night marked the end of smoking in public places in New Jersey. I had planned to get some people to go out for the historic night in south jersey. However, my plans didn't go as I hoped at first. I had planned to get a large amount of people to the bar and have the smokers smoke more than usual, and the non-smokers smoke cigars.

I called Duke who told me everyone was coming over to watch Dr. Who on the Sci-fi channel and had no desire to go out at all. This apparently a new version of the long running show. Think of how some of your friends are about Desperate Housewives or Lost and multiply that by two and you have the level of obsession of the show they have. They even had downloaded the very same episodes that are all seen the episodes that are airing now months ago when they were airing in England. Its become a weekly event for them.

So, that left me with my friend Rick who like myself does not smoke(well Rick does when he is majorly intoxicated). The two of us were to lazy to actually get cigars.

We first went up there at 9:30 since I had to be up early for half day of work. The night started with tons of people lighting up. I wondered if they even cared about anyone smoking that night up till last call. However, the bartender told me that the cops told them that all ash trays must be behind the bar at 12:01 or she would get a $250 fine.

There was a bit of a buzz going on in the bar that night, and the smoking pan in NJ was being talked about quite a bit. Some how myself and the dude next to me got into a discussion about it. He was from Millville in Cumberland county, which is a different world.

He kept calling himself "ghetto" and blame "punks like me" for the smoking ban. I told him, I didn't really vote for anything towards a ban so I doubt it had anything to do with me.

Before midnight approached Rick and I agree to stay till the ban went into effect. Around that time some people I knew from highschool came up. One was getting married in Jamaica in a few weeks. So, we shared a beer together. Next thing I knew a bunch of people Rick knew came up and it turned into basically a party.

Later, some dude who I found to know common people with told me he lived next to my house for years (I have no idea who he is). He even invited me to some party the next night. It was pretty random, and all the groups of people just kind of mingled for once, and almost no one was sitting at the bar, just hanging out and shooting pool.

When midnight came the last cigarettes went out and the new social scene known as outside the bar started. Now, this is a new thing for me. I mean I was playing pool with Rick, the random guy and his lesbian friend (who told me she was not of the legal drinking age) and since they both smoked it turned into a very long couple of games, stopping for their smoke breaks. Now, what is the edict here? Can a non-smoker go outside and join the smokers ?

During the game Rick wondered off a few time (I'm pretty sure he was kicking game to one girl) so a few times I went outside, since I already knew everyone there it wasn't strange. But its clear that most bars there will be socializing inside and out. Sometimes the outside was better than the inside.

The bouncer told me he was worried about having more problems thanks to the ban. He explained that many local bar owners were worried about drug dealers having a much easier job of making sales. They don't even have to enter the bar.

The cops never came to check if anyone was smoking indoors (if they need they may have seen the one guy smoking a joint outside the bar) but for the first time that I can remember I could actually see across the bar without a smoky haze.

For the last time, I threw my clothes that were worn for a mere few hours in the wash due to the reek of smoke smell.

Will the ban kill bars? Maybe. Or at least make people stay there for shorter periods of time. I know since my friends are pretty well split with smokers and non-smokers I maybe sitting there awkwardly waiting for them to return or take their next shot.

I didn't smoke cigars that night, but Rick did get drunk enough to smoke a cigarette and some drunk girl told me I should start smoking weed, so that counts as something right? Despite the fact the no one was down (or I neglicted to call them) the strange mix of characters that meshed together that night made smoke night rock.

"Sad Day"

For ever since I can remember I have gone to a little produce stand called Bucks on Laurel Road near where I grew up. As a kid I was taken there often by my parents, and years later my parents would become friends with Buck and his wife through a common interest.

The the couple now in their 80's has ran the stand for decades with the help of their kids and the friends of the family. The season would kick off around now this time of year, with flowers followed later by delicious tomatoes, corn and other summer treats.

I was looking forward to this season since my new apartment is not far from my house where I grew up and Bucks was not going to be out of my day after a day at work.

However, I found out this weekend that the Easter weekends that just ended was the finale for Buck Produce. Their daughter is moving to Florida leaving the eldery couple with no one at all to help them with their business.

So, despite the fact they still have a farm, some land, horses the stand will still as empty during 4th of July as it does during the dead of winter.

Truely a sad day.

"Next Stop: Hartford?"

Is Sid the Kid waving good-bye to the Pittsburgh faithful? Perhaps. There is a rumor that the would be buyer of the team will move them to Hartford! The hockey hotbed! They won't play in the mall where the Whalers played, but the great city of Hartford would have a new hockey team.

Super Mario has to sell the team, and attempts to keep the team in Pittsburgh seem to be failing. The city could careless if they team stays or goes, and their plan to have slot revenue support the team, might not even be legal after all.

So, as the Carolina Hurricanes the team formerly known as the Hartford Whalers prepares a likely return to the Cup finals, hockey fans in Hartford have two reasons to be pumped up. Meanwhile although this humble blogger predicited greatness, the penguins hockey club was been on of the worst teams in NHL history. Rookie Sidney Crosby is the only bright spot on the team who could reach100 points before the season ends.

Since nothing is offical yet, its unclear when the team would actually move. However, I imagine it would be after all efforts are played out to keep the team in Pittsburugh. If they do all fail and the sale is bad in the off season, could that mean a the team might even play in the MALL awaiting the new arena to be build? Or would they have one last tour of duty in Pittsburgh?



I would really like some sort of feedback on here considering the comments have been light lately. Pretty soon I am going to have to resort to off color remarks about Drew's mom for no reason.

"Losing and Misery in Philly"

Its becoming harder and harder to stay a happy Philly fan anymore. Lets see you have the Sixers who before tonight's game despite having a playoffs spot were 4 games below .500 and doing everything in their power to be eliminated from the post season spot. The eagles are off a terrible year, with coach Andy Reid having about as much control over this team as a student teacher.

Meanwhile the Flyers came up short last night against the Rangers when they could have went into the lead in the Atlantic division with a win. Although it was a playoff like exciting game and real thrill ride, at the end of the day it was likely the Flyers last shot at the crown.

The Flyers are up and down all the time. If they went out in four games the first round I would not be shocked. Nor would I be shocked if they made it to the final four. It's just hard to believe in the team, because they will lose a bunch of bad games in a row, and the next day the players all say the same things.

"We didn't play a full 60 mins"; "We really just came out flat"; "We pretty much got one goal and were thinking about the first round of drinks after the game"; "Ah, gee we sure are sorry, it won't happen again I swear it wont!"

Monday, was the Phillies home opener. I have really been looking forward to the season this year for some reason. Ryan Howard played awesome in the pre-season breaking a grapefruit record for homeruns by the fighting phils.

Now I am pretty realistic and from what I read about the pitching a wild card spot is about as lofty as I should set my expectations. Anyway, all I asked from this ballclub was to win the home opener. They couldn't even do that. Not only that they made fools out of themselves.

Now I am not ready to bury this team yet (the papers and sports radio have been acting like the season is over), but it is just a frustrating feeling of disappointment that always goes hand and hand with cheering for any of these teams. I was counting down the days to the home opener and they were out of the game in two innings.

Yeah, Yeah I know you can't win them all. But can't we just for once win the big game?

"Snow Way!"

Old man winter must not have gotten the memo that it was time to punch out. Someone
forgot to tell him its spring time!


It snowed in south jersey today. Although there was no accumulation it came down fast and furious several times over the course of 5 hours. Some of the snow limited visiablity and caused various accidents all over the place.

Although its rare to snow in April it does happen. In fact my last interview for the job I currently have was around this time last year and it was snowing than.

Pretty crazy stuff, I have heard that Scranton got close to 6 inches today, although it melted quickly.

Im going to dollar dog on Sunday at the ball park (I have yet to come up with cool nickname for htat place) and hopefully Old Man Winter didn't buy tickets either.

"All Strange Things Real and Fake"

So this weekend a few very unsual things occurred in the NHL.

On Saturday the Toronto Maple Leafs desperate for their playoff lives slammed Buffalo who was has been struggling worst than the Flyers recently. The final score was 7-0 Leafs. At one point Biron was pulled in the really goings in favor of Ryan Miller who let up a goal on one of the first few shots he faced. By the start of the next period Biron was back in net. Meaning both goalies were pulled it was that bad.

On Sunday the Flyers effortlessly rolled over the Ilsanders who are busy deciding what golf course they will be playing on in 3 weeks. With well over 2mins left the Islanders pulled their goalie. At the time they were losing 3-1. The Flyers scored a goal on the open net almost right away, and the Islanders kept their goalie out despite being down an impossible to return from 3 goal deficit.


Meanwhile during my NHL2k6 on my playstation. The season I was playing, I finally decided it was time to turn of the computer trades. Since Brind'amour the heart and soul of the Hurricanes was delt to the Devils. But even worse yet, Mario Lemiuex was traded to the Ilsanders for basically nothing.

So, the owner traded himself. You would have thought they would program certain players not to get traded during the season. In past verisions of games I knew a way to "cheat" and return players to teams basically over ridding dumb trades the computer does.

Something is really funny about seeing Super Mario zipping up and down wearing the blue and orange. I wonder if he has to fly back and miss time with the Islanders in order to make board meetings.

"Tommy Petty & Friends"

Tom Petty and the heartbreakers are going to release yet another albumn sometime this year. In order to promote the albumn as usual Petty and the boys are taking it to the road.

HOwever, Petty said he wants to do something different this time around. Last year they brought the Black Crowes with them. So, I think they are leaning towards bringing bigger more modern acts around with them.
The three candiates this year are all people I would not mind seeing in addition to Tom PEtty.

THe acts include Pearl Jam, John Mayer and the STrokes.


So who is down for living up in the worst city in America for two straight years and enjoying some good music?

"Tucker Vs the Spider"

On the wall by my computer tonight was easily the largest spider I have ever seen outside of a zoo or on the discovery channel. It was so large that for a second I swore it was a joke my father was playing on me. Since he had been here the other night, I swore it had to be fake. This thing was at least the size of my cell phone. The frist swipe I took at it, it litterally leaped onto my computer desk. The second swipe (With a larger roll of newspaper) made him into a mile of oooze and gore. That could have been an escaped pet for all I know. That thing was frigging huge. I am going to sleep with one eye open tonight. Hoping that his brothers dont seek revenge and spin me into a web of death.

"Flyers Wives"

This is just a link to a good article on the origin and the reason for the Flyers wives fight for lives carnival an annual event and how it started.

"RIP TERMINUS"

My friend Drew has been the author of a blog for many years, it is with great sadness and shock that I inform my readers (who dont already know) that TERMINUS is dead. Drew has quit blogging. I guess the republicans have won and Drew is bowing down to the man. There is no more movie reviews, no more Dr. Who updates, and no more TERMINUS. Click on the link and go back and read his various articles.

"UGh"

I thought this weeks Sopranos was really good.

However, the minute I got to work people were bitching about it.

Saying that "Nothing Happened" and there were no "Expolsions or deaths"


It really drives me nuts. The show is about two famlies. The blood family and the crime family. This episode in particular was about the blood family. Call me a nerd, but I like character driven episodes. Which is why I liked season 4 so much, which is clearly the least popular.

I mean in that season you had Tony and Carmela break up, Ralph become a simpathic character (briefly), watch the slow corruption of Carmela's cousin Brian, and the really two faced side of Paul Walnuts.

You can't have a scar face type plot every week.

What show does?


I still think she show has remained great the entire run. Its one of very few shows that I actually "Love" on the air right now, and there about 5 I "really Like"

"Summer of Death and Doom"

The experts think that the North East (and if you check the map particuarly the Garden State) are prime for a colsion course for death, and destruction by being hit by one of the worst hurricanes in the area's history.

Supposedly the pattern is close to that in which produced deadly storms in the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.

The Northeast is staring down the barrel of a gun," said Joe Bastardi, Chief Forecaster of the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center.

They claim it will likely hit us this season, but if we get spared in 2006, than 2007 is when we will meet our doom.