....a few years too late.

FORSBERG-MANIA



One of the 4 teams in Philly now has the best player in the sport wearing their jersey. Check out Yahoo! sports. Also, tune into comcast tomorrow or go to their webpage to get your first peak at Peter in a FLyers jersey.

If JR's future is still in the air. Be sure that they will be hammered with questions about him.

"Forsberg's Pain"

So, much has said about JR's injuries. Now im not going to bash Forsberg again since I am happy he is now a Flyer.


However, he has had his share of injuries. I doubt he will play 82 games. In fact when he played over seas last season. He had a knee injury and a nasty concussion. This came on the heels of him telling fans he would never return to the NHL, and wants to raise his kids in his native Sweden.

So does he really want to even play in the NHL? Is his body too torn up to return to form? Is it at all possible to keep him and JR? If so how so?

Flyers will have a press conferance 10 am Thursday morning.

So many casual fans will be turned off by this move. Most casual fans honestly have very little idea who Forsberg is. Liza actually vowed never to go to a Flyers game again. I love Forsberg, but I don't know if he wil reach casual fans that the Flyers might be looking for after pissing off their fans during the lockout.

....the trade

FLYERS INK FOR


For the more than a decade Flyers fans have wondered all along what it would have been like if the Flyers had kept Peter Forsberg instead of shipping him off for Eric "The Big E" Lindros. Who turned out to be nothing but a crybaby and never panned out to be what the superstar he said he would be when he got drafted and refused to play for Quebec.


I was really surprised when I saw (through a text message from a friend) that the Flyers had inked who you could consider to be the best player in the NHL or perhaps even in the world. My joy was soon deflated after I realized Roenick was going to be shipped off to a soon to be determined team in order to make room under the cap.

The signing of Peter puts the Flyers $3 million over the cap. At first the rumor was that it was a done deal and the deloved chatty centerman Roenick was shipped to the LA Kings for a bag of pucks. This robbed my of any job that Forsberg signing with the Flyers could have given me.

Don't get me wrong Forsberg is a much better player than Roenick. But, I am just really sad to have to see JR go. He signed here to win us a cup, and he won't get that chance now. On top of that if it is true and he does go to LA that is easily the worst hockey city in the NHL. The fans are apathetic and don't know anything about the game.

Perhaps, Roenick's mouth and rocky relationship with Coach Ken Hitchcock didn't help matters. An hour after I heard he was a King. I heard it wasn't a done deal, but they Flyers were still over 3 millon as far as their cap goes.

So, I got the new roster out and tried to figure out where they could trim some fat. So they could keep JR. The best I could come up with is to ship Sami Kappanen. I just don't see how they can do this body wise, and money wise.

Close to 7pm JR called 610 and said this: ``The Flyers have a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup with Peter Forsberg than with Jeremy Roenick,''


20 minutes later Flyer big-wig Ron Ryan said they may not trade him. Although he didnt really give a reason. I don't see howt his could happen, and JR was clearly blind-sided by the news that would likely result in him going some place else.

The story keeps changing, and sadly enough I am going on a business trip for two days and will be unable to blog or comment. Its going to drive me nuts. I would love for the hockey fan readers to comment on here and get some back and forth debates.

Actually, its really hard for me since JR is one of my all time fav. players to play the game. I know deep down in my hockey knowledge that they are a better team with PEter. I love Forsberg, and always wanted him on my team. Hell, even before Peter I thought the Flyers would be a front runner for the cup.

Picturing Forsberg with Gagne, Richards, Sharp or Carter could be a dream come true. Just stings to love the heart and soul of team to get it.

"Flyers Beef Up Defense"

The Flyers are simply not fulling around when it comes for making a push for the cup in 2006. The team lost a few d-man too retirement. Today, the Flyers signed Derian Hatcher,33 who played for coach Hitchcock in Dallas. Who also once broke JRs jaw. I have been a fan of Derain since the days that he lived in his brother Kevin's shadow. Now, no one remembers Kevin, and Derain is one of the best D-man in the league.


In addition the Flyers added equally as big (litterally Hatcher and him are 6-5) MikeRathje, 31, has spent his entire career with the Sharks since being drafted third overall by San Jose in 1992. How odd will it be to see him out his blue jersey?

In addittion to all this. THe Flyers brought back longtime staple Chris "Bundy" THerein.
Anyone like or dislike these moves?

"Flyers Beef Up Defense"

The Flyers are simply not fulling around when it comes for making a push for the cup in 2006. The team lost a few d-man too retirement. Today, the Flyers signed Derian Hatcher,33 who played for coach Hitchcock in Dallas. Who also once broke JRs jaw. I have been a fan of Derain since the days that he lived in his brother Kevin's shadow. Now, no one remembers Kevin, and Derain is one of the best D-man in the league.


In addition the Flyers added equally as big (litterally Hatcher and him are 6-5) MikeRathje, 31, has spent his entire career with the Sharks since being drafted third overall by San Jose in 1992. How odd will it be to see him out his blue jersey?

In addittion to all this. THe Flyers brought back longtime staple Chris "Bundy" THerein.
Anyone like or dislike these moves?

"Good-Bye

Bob Goodenow the head of the NHLPA and one of the main reasons the 2004-05 season never came quit his job Friday. Easily, one of the best days in NHL history. Good-bye you nut case.

ESPN article.

"100?!?!"

Most people have us nailed down for 96 or 97 degrees tomorrow. I think we have a real shot of hitting 100 at least in some areas. Down south they are already pegged for it. The heat index is 100-110 for tomorrow.


I will give anyone 20 bucks if they litterally try to fry and egg on the street, succed and send me pictures. Of course you have a deadline till tuesday at midnight. It doesnt count if the egg doesnt fry. Try it on the street or a parking lot. Might get her cooking up good.

Read here from your air conditioned office at home about the un-godly heat.

Summer Movie Files 205: Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Okay, I really don't like it when movies are remade of films, that I think still stand up today. It really annoys me.


However, since TIm Burton is a great director. I was willing to see this. Burton went off the deep end in the late 90's and adpated The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Sadly, though and oddly, he went against every Burton instict and Hollywoodized the story. Adding an annoying kid for no reason, made the hero a dectieve not a teacher who accidentally stumbles across the legend, and making just an awful movie. On top of that he remade The Planet of the Apes, resulting in an unwachable mess that put me to sleep all 3 times. I attempted to watch it.

Thankfully, Burton returned to form with Big Fish. So, I was ready to forgive him.


Anyway, Im told Burton didn't want to remake the movie, but wanted to adapt the book better. Burton's style certainly gels good with the borderline creepy story of a grown man being sadistic to a bunch of brats.

Although Johnny Depp, looks a bit too much like Micheal Jackson playing the role. He is pretty good as Willie Wonka. The difference between him and Gene Wilder is Depp's verision has a little less heart. He is more of a social outcast and bitter than Wilder's Wonka who was more or less a goofball who had his heart in the right place, but was missing a few buttons.

The additions to the story are what you would expect from Burton. Fleshing out his childhood, and showing that Wonka was missunderstood.

Visually the film is breath taking and times looks like a moving painting. Burton has the ablitiy to make his films almost hyponotic combined with the genius music of Danny Elfman. I saw this movie on an IMAX theater which made it that much better.

The music is updated, and the lessons to the kids are made to be more meaningful in todays society. The ommpa-Lommpas are played by the same guy. The music is enteraining, but instead of looking like freaky clowns he looks like a drug pusher at times.

I could debate which film is better, I might still have to go with the first one.

"There's Something About Sidney"

Sidney Crosby's playing the lottery just as much as the teams are. THe bigger the market the bigger the bucks.

But since normally the worst teams in the NHL (rightfully so) get first dips a lot of the new young talent is on small market team. Imagine if some of the young marketable talent were on teams that got more attention. Columbus's Rick Nash, Calgary's Jarome Iginla, or even Atlanta's Dany Heatley and Ilya Kovalchuk. Not to mention no one can pronounce Iglinla's name, and Heatley's carrer was darkened by an auto crash with him behind the wheel ending in the death of a teamate.

Still have the gut feeling he will be a Ranger. Because well I never thought I would say it, but the Rangers have got a lot of balls.


Related Article from TSN.

"Comcast Hockey Net"

The NHL has no cable network home. Which means it likely the end of the beloved national hockey night theme. Which makes me really sad. There is a slim chance that ESPN might get a deal dirt cheap.


However, I think more than likely the NHL will end up on a smaller channel like SPIKE. Because, of fear of a ratings slump.

But the last week I am leaning towards Comcast stepping in. Comcast sportsnet is just regional in major cities. However, they are carrying the draft lottery when even ESPN won't. This comes on the heels of Flyers owner Ed Snider slamming ESPN, saying they sucked at promoting the game anyway. Which I thought was a lousy thing to do, since there was still as hot of ESPN and the NHL making up. Not to mention I totally disagree with that statement. If anything ESPN stood by the NHL too long from business prospective.

It's clear Comcasts goal is to have a national sports network. This would be a step in the right direction. They tried to buy Disney last year. So, I guess if you can't buy them. Build your empire and one day mop the floor with them. 5 years from now Comcast Sportsnet could easily be not only a national sports channel, but knock ESPN off its throne. Now, the whole Monday night football thing makes more sense. Almost, like a pre emptive strike.

"New Record!"

Tropical Storm Franklin has set a record fo named storms in the month of July. The peak of hurricane season is still roughly 4 weeks away, and we are already on the letter F. Although, these storms have been strong, they have mostly fizzled once they hit land. They could have been a lot worse. Even the resent Emily who hit Mexico broke apart easily.


Meanwhile, record highs are showing up all over the country. The ocean in New England the great lakes are near 10 degrees above normal.


Do you think this is Global Warming in action? Or just a hot freaky summer?

"Crosby a Ranger?"

So the NHL Exteme will hold its draft a week from Saturday. But since there was no last season they must have a lottery. Which will occur on Friday to detemine the order of the teams.

Now each team gets 3 balls for the lottery, but loses one for each playoff appearance in the last 3 seasons. However, they all must have one. Translation the Flyers will have one ball bouncing around. The Rangers will have 3. Now whoever gets number one will take Sidney Crosby, because he is said to be the best player to be drafted since Super Mario. I cant recall the last time an hockey player got this much hype before the draft.

We should know Friday afternoon, but there I really think Crosby is going to be Ranger. Simply, because its the biggest market, and I think they may rig this thing.

Summer Movie Files 204: Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four doesn't have the brand name power that Spiderman or Batman has. In fact during the peak of my comic book reading days I would guess I read a total of two issues of this title.


Never the less Comic book movies are the Hollywood trend right now. Several years ago we merely had the Superman and Batman movies. However starting in the late 90s the trend caught fire so we have almost an entire bell curve ot the comic book films.

Of course that means there are some let downs such as Spiderman. In addition some real dogs that usually merit one viewing such as Sin City, and even worse the Hulk in which the film makers forgot that comic book movies are supposed to be fun.


At any rate I knew very little of the origin story of The Fantastic Four and altough Im told it was altered a bit, it was certainly a good starting point for viewers who know know the story. In fact 80 percent of the movie is the four soon to be super heros trying to figure out their powers, and the best way to deal with them.

Apperently a space storm of some sort altered their DNA and gave them all different powers. One can turn transparent, another morphed into a huge rock type thing, another get fly short distance and turn into a ball of fire, and yet another can stretch his limbs to the extereme.

Although, it may lack the heart the say Richard Donner's Superman or the creative vision of Tim Burton's Batman it is still wildly entertaining. Playing out almost like X-men lite. Packed with more jokes than the X-men, but that is part of the fun.

There is not much of a show down between the villian and the fantastic four, but that in this case is a refreshing change since that part of the film usually drags. Sure it might be mainly a B-cast, but the acting is pretty good for this type of film.


The movie is generally a fun 2hours in the theater. Oh, yeah and Jessica Alba looks great. I already forgave her for Sin City.

"Summer Movie File 203:Be-Witched"

I spend many a summer or sicks day from school watching old sitcoms. Although I always prefered I dream of jeanie I did watch Be-witched quite a few times.

Be-witched the latest movie that Hollywood figured to convert into a major motion picture was released a few weeks ago. Instead of a straight remake, the movie was about a washed up actor being cast as the male lead in an updated verision of the sitcom. The actor played by Will Ferell has an agenda to make the husband Darren the center of attention. So, he insists that a no-name (Nicole Kidman) is cast as his wife, based on the fact the can do the nose thing.

The catch of the film is, that ironically enough the unkown actress was more or less roped into acting by Ferell and turns out to be an actor witch herself. Micheal Caine plays her father, and the over worked actor looks like he is about to kill himself as he sleep walks from scene to scene.

The film gives some insight on all the re-tooling down to tv show before it even airs. Although, the screenplay gets murky at times to how many shows were filmed.

The movie morphs into a love story involving the two leads. Which is the first time that Will is molded as a romantic lead. In order to achieve this his antics are watered down a bit, and he comes accross more as a flawed charcter than walking bag of jokes.

The film veers in an really unfunny direction when Daily Show Alumni Steve Carrel shows up as the whacky Uncle Arthur. In fact its the supporting cast that sinks this film more than anything. Although filled with some talent the cast is misused and lacks purpose. Im convinced Jason Schwartzman will never return to Rushmore form. In addition Shirely Macline borders on annyoance (I guess thats the point) as the actress who plays the mother on on the new sitcom. Fellow Daily Show Alumni Steve Colbert and In Living Color David Alan Grier ought to fire their agents for such lousy parts devoid of anything funny to do. Grier would be better off playing the lead in straight to video movies.


A good movie stays with you a long time. This was one was a mass of fuzzy memories by the time my alarm went off the next morning. Despite some funny scenes (most notably Ferrell ranting about how his female co-star got better ratings with test audicences despite havign zero lines) the film is very disposable. Yeah, it brought in a fair share of green, but in a few years it will be tucked in the bargin bin totally forgotten. Even prat boy Ferrell worshipers are likey to use the DVD as a coaster for their beer as they chose to watch the much better Elf or Old School.

"The Return of Hockey"

Its offical, but the paper work. The NHL is back for the 2005-06 season. Thoughts? Anyone actually care?

"Dennis The Menace"

The hurricane could bit a direct hit in some states. Of course they are saying it could make oil prices sky rocket. Looks like I will riding my bike to work.


It's a cat 3 now, and the first major hurricane to hit the us in 70 years.


"Hang on to your Butts"===Samuel L Jackson.


Dennis Track

...terror attacks.....

ATTACKS ROCK LONDON


Hopefully, Tucker's World isn't your source for news around the world. But this post is obviously about the terrorist subway and bus bombings in London that happened today.

Now does make people think of another attack in the US again? I mean this attack was sick,but pretty ideal way to cripple a city. Thoughts? Fears?

"Sometimes You Know Them"

Over the fourth of July weekend there was a terrible accident towards the shore on the Black Horse Pike (322) near route 50. A car full of teenaged girls speed into and flipped over a medium slamming into another car in the opposite lane.

In the other car were two woman. One of which lived right across the street from me my entire life. The car with the teenage girls burst into flames and all 5 people were killed.

It's amazing how many articles fill the local papers of such accident, but it is really different when you know them.

I have been over that strech of road several times. I cant imagine how fast the young girls must have been going to flip over the medium.

Now I wasnt really close with the woman. However, she had a comcial unspoken compeition to beat my mother with house decorations for each holiday. If one put decorations up for the next holiday on the calendar with in an hour or so the other one would have their stuff up.

"March of the Hurricanes"

By weeks end we will be past the letter D in named storms for the hurricane season. Thats pretty far through the order for early July. Could we get to Z this year? Of course people on messages boards are already pondering if it is the end of the world. I read on post on AOL that seriously blamed President Bush for the pending storms.


Anyway Cindy is heading for the Louisiana area. Meanwhile Dennis is heading towards Florida. Could be the 5th hurricane to hit the state in less than a year. At this point neither are actually hurricanes, but tropical storms.


Here is the track of Cindy. Hopefully it rains the entire weekend, beause I will be "on call" for mywork the whole weekend. In a nutshell I am that annoying guy on the cell phone that you see out at the mall. Hopefully mother nature does me a favor and makes everyone's elses weekend suck.

The Track of Dennis

"Forever Is a Long Time Coming"

If a hockey league returns from a lockout and its not on TV for fans to see it, does it have a CBA?


The NHL may have gone extreme, but unless they find a new home on cable soon it won't matter much nationally. Regionally, most fans should be fine, and theres always the hockey package.

However, ESPN is either going to play hardball and get the games for a song. Or, they have totally lost interest in the sport they stood behind longer than most people thought they should have. Who can blame them if they balk? Poker gets better ratings and is a lot cheaper to produce.

NBC takes over what ABC kind of had for years. Late season games and some playoffs. However, other than that they are wandering around with out a TV home.

Perhaps since they are going more extreme and in your face they will knock on the door of the fleding Spike Network which just landed Howard Stern. Some experts say that on bad move and they sport could fail into the pile with Lacrose and indoor soccer. Read more here.