Child’s Play
Nov 30, 2007 Console Games, Life, PC Games
Gamers unite! It’s time to donate to Child’s Play, the charity started by the creators of the popular webcomic Penny Arcade. What exactly IS Child’s Play? Here are Gabe and Tycho in their own words:
Child’s Play works the same as last year. With the help of hospital staff, we’ve set up gift wish lists full of video games, toys, and movies. You can go to each hospital’s list and buy a toy, and that toy will be sent to the hospital. Some of these kids are in pretty bad shape. Imagine being stuck alone in a hospital over the holidays, getting something from a fellow gamer would really raise their spirits. Some of the stuff the hospital will give away for kids to keep, while other gifts (like consoles) will be kept by the hospital for patients to use throughout the year.
They have numerous letters from parents and children whose encounters with the various children’s hospitals was made a bit more tolerable by having some games to play, new books to read or new movies to watch. I’ve seen studies and reports that show kids have better surgical outcomes when they play Gameboy before surgery. There are fundraising events across the US and Canada and hospitals that need help as far away as Egypt and Australia.
If anyone wants to combine forces for a larger donation, let me know either in the comments or via the forum PM system.
Tags: charity, child, child's play, children, gabe, hospital, penny arcade, tycho
They Said It - Romo Edition
Nov 30, 2007 NFL, They Said It
“Exchanging recipes and stuff,” Romo said. “Guy talk. I don’t know. We just talked about hunting or something. I told him NFL Network was going to have a heart attack if I didn’t come over and say hi. They were running out of film waiting for it.”
Tony Romo on talking to Brett Favre before last night’s game.
Tags: cowboys, dallas, favre, football, green bay, NFL, nfl network, packers, romo
Catching Up With The NHL
Nov 30, 2007 NHL
I missed posting after the Sabres loss to the Blues the other day, and there have been several big developments since then that need to be mentioned. The Sabres just were ready to play the Blues for a full game, and it showed. Miller tried to keep them in, but it was not to be. Sekera got the first goal of his NHL career to tie it up at 3-3, but a scramble in front of Miller with less than a minute to go got the Blues the game-winner. Next up tomorrow night is the hated (as per Paul Gaustad) Hurricanes.
The bigger news is that the NHL Board of Governors approved schedule changes to ensure teams play every other NHL club at least once per year. Under the new agreement, the division games drop to 6 per team (from 8), in conference games stay at 4 per opponent, but out of conference games go to 18. There will be 15 games either home OR away at each team, and then 3 more at-large games against the opposite conference to make up 3 home and home series.
That last bit is good news for the Canadian teams, as the league will be sure to pit them against each other in the home and home series. For the rest of the league, any existing rivalries will be honored (perhaps the “Original Six” will all play twice) and team requests will be taken as well. An interesting note is that the players are willing to play more regular season games (84) at the expense of a few preseason games if it meant they could figure out a way to play an entire out of conference division at least twice. That would be, in a word, awesome, GET ON IT.
At the same time, the sale of the Nashville Predators to venture capitalist David Freeman (Gordon Freeman no relation) was also approved by the Board of Governors. Pending still, however, is approval of a change to the arena lease deal in Nashville by the Metro Sports Authority and Metro Council.
Finally, Commish Gary Bettman noted that revenues are going up, which means that the salary cap should increase for next year as well. No way to know just how much it will increase at this point.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, blues, board of governors, david freeman, gaustad, Hockey, Miller, nashville, NHL, predators, sabres, salary cap, sekera, st. louis
Gameday - Sabres/Blues
Nov 28, 2007 NHL
The St. Louis Blues are in town tonight in a rare WNY appearance. The Sabres have struggled against them ‘recently’ but should have a better showing. Stafford is back in as Peters is out sick (maybe that’s why Brashear didn’t want to fight!). Jay McKee makes his first appearance back at HSBC Arena after signing a free agent deal with the Blues. West Seneca native Lee Stempniak is also making his first pro appearance in Western New York. Should be fun, let’s go six in a row!
Tags: B-Lo Sports, blues, brashear, Hockey, mckee, NHL, peters, sabres, st. louis, stafford, stempniak
TASED and Confused
According to the Danger Room, TASER (everyone’s favorite make of less-than-lethal weaponry) is developing a “mini-flying saucer like drone which could also fire Taser stun rounds on criminal suspects or rioting crowds”. Insert whatever ‘welcoming robot overlords’ comment you deem appropriate. All I know is I want one to zoom out over the plaza here for the next Maple Leafs or Sens game. Anyone wearing Tucker or Neil sweater gets DFA.
Tags: don't tase me bro, flying saucer, gizmodo, non-lethal, robot overlords, saucer, taser, weapon
The Hecht and Paille Show
Nov 27, 2007 NHL
Jochen Hecht led the Sabres to victory on the road last night with 2 goals and an assist against the Washington Capitals. Dan Paille’s hard work helped set up the game-winner and Jason Pominville scored late to keep the game out of reach. Ovechkin had the Caps’ only goal, cleaning up his own rebound. Ryan Miller was amazing yet again, stopping 30 of 31 shots on goal. There was even an Andrew Peters sighting, fighting John Erskine to a spirited draw. Peters also provided comic relief as he constantly pestered Brashear to fight any other time they were on the ice together.
It was a good road win for the Sabres, a lunchpail type effort that didn’t have a lot of beautiful plays but had the right result. Buffalo is home for the Blues tomorrow night, who are playing much better now than last year this time.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, brashear, capitals, erskine, hecht, Hockey, Miller, NHL, paille, peters, pominville, sabres, washington
Four In A Row!
Nov 26, 2007 NHL, They Said It
Jocelyn Thibault stopped all 24 shots he faced, including some spectacular saves, in beating his old team 3-0. Jaroslav Spacek gave T-Bo all the support he needed with a power play goal in the second period, followed up by some hard work in front of Huet by Michael Ryan and Thomas Vanek for a second goal shortly thereafter. Vanek is red hot right now, with 6 points in his past 3 games. Hecht scored an empty-netter from his own end, which is how you know things are going the Sabres’ way right now.
Jean Béliveau, the former Canadiens great, had this to say about the Sabres:
You know … this Buffalo team was having a lot of trouble this season - and what else could you expect after losing players such as Daniel Brière and Chris Drury? It takes more than five games to put together a team … to get them working the way they did tonight.
There’s still a lot of talent on that team, and maybe the other teams in the league don’t realize it. It’s always a sign of a good team when it’s working harder as the game goes on.
It sounds so sensible when laid out like that. No reason to panic, guys, it takes more than a couple of games to find yourselves after losing your captains. If this continues to pan out, the league will be fearing the Sabres yet again.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Canadiens, hecht, Hockey, Montreal, NHL, ryan, sabres, Spacek, thibault, vanek
Gameday - Sabres/Canadiens (didn’t we just leave this party?)
Nov 24, 2007 NHL
Getting a little bit tired of the Habs to be honest, and trying to figure out what else to write about. Not sure if Miller gets the night off tonight, we’ll have to see. Huet should be back in for Montreal. I can’t wait until next year when they are most likely reducing the ridiculous amount of division games and make sure each time plays everybody.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Canadiens, Hockey, huet, Miller, Montreal, NHL, sabres
Sabres Beat Habs Again, Can You Say Winning Streak?
Nov 24, 2007 NHL
The Buffalo Sabres won yet again over the Montreal Canadiens last night 4-2 for their third straight. Ryan Miller was strong in net yet again, it’s clear he shook off whatever was bothering him earlier in the year and is back in top form. Buffalo got the lead first again when Derek Roy redirected Max’s point shot past Carey Price. Goals were traded in the second with Tim Connolly scoring even strength and Christopher Higgins notching a power play goal. It was the Habs’ only PP marker of the night in six tries, which I’ll take against the best PP in the league. Plekanaec tied it for the Canadiens five minutes in to the third period. Thomas Vanek busted out of his goal scoring slump with the eventual game-winner, slapping home a rebound just outside the blue ice. Max stuck the dagger in with Price on the bench, beating Montreal to the puck behind the net to stave off icing and dishing to Paille for the empty-netter.
Special recognition to the special teams units tonight, 2 for 3 on the power play and I already mentioned the strong PK, though I didn’t mention that one of the penalties killed was a 4 minute minor. Max was a beast tonight, busting in to the Montreal end numerous times and generally causing havoc. Don’t look now, but Vanek and Roy are heating up as well and this may well be looked upon at the end of the season as the turning point.
I guess it was a mite early to press the panic button, eh? The Sabres tripped up to Montreal last night to do it all again at the Bell Centre, though we may get another Thibault sighting since it’s two games in less than 24.
Tags: afinogenov, B-Lo Sports, Canadiens, connolly, higgins, Hockey, Miller, Montreal, NHL, paille, price, roy, sabres, thibault, vanek
Gameday - Sabres/Canadiens
Nov 23, 2007 NHL
Just a quick note for tonight’s game - Stafford is day to day (and out tonight) with a shoulder injury. I’m hoping I’m home in time to watch (family stuff) but it may not happen. GO SABRES!
edit: Miller and Price in goal.
Tags: B-Lo Sports, Canadiens, drew stafford, Hockey, Montreal, NHL, sabres, stafford
