Chronicles of DiPietro: The Knees, the Hips, and The Bad Fans

Being a fan outside of New York, often times I feel I get a polarized view of what goes on with it's teams. Everyone loves Jeter. Everyone hates Rodriguez. Nobody knows half of the guys on the Rangers or Islanders. Everyone bleeds Jets and Giants. Everyone looks the other way with the Knicks. Wasn't Patrick Ewing on that team once?

One topic that seems to pop up almost on a daily basis through the various feeds and internet sources that I follow is Rick Dipietro , his health and his contract. I myself am a HUGE New York Islanders fan located on the far east of Canada, in Newfoundland. This year has been a year of wonders for hockey fans here, as we got an AHL team back in the St. John's Ice Caps, the farm team for The Winnipeg Jets. With that we get the Isles farm team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers visiting for a second time. We had Kraft Hockeyville here with the Jets and Senators facing off in Preseason action. Sadly, our only true real connection to American teams is the Internet, as most TV media we get is Canadian based, and heavily favors Canadian Team's interests.

On the internet feeds I get, I see opinions vary greatly from how fantastic a team is doing to how poorly a team is doing and every step in between. Sadly, I also see a lot of fan's passion get the best of them and they tend to pick on players who aren't performing or capable of performing to their lofty standards. Rick Dipietro's name comes up constantly. Wonky knees. Glass hips. Concussion Master.

Didn't Rick, as recently as 06-07, carry the team that tried to name Alexei Zhitnik and Brendan Witt as it's all star defense to the playoffs with a 32-19 record? 5 Shutouts? The Isles always had a mediocre at best team through the 2000's. They had that fun year waaay back that ended with a playoff loss to the Leafs, but that great series was really a bandaid coverup for what was a thrown together and poorly managed team. Rick has been a pillar for the team for years. When he needs his fans to stick up for him, what does he get? Let's quote right out of today's facebook feed.

Brian Compton from NHL.com states:
Rick DiPietro has been cleared by doctors and skated this morning. Has not been ruled out for this week's road trip.


You would think after 3 years of injury plagued seasons, with knees, hips, and head injuries, none save for the Brent Johnson knockout his fault, that people would be excited to get back the guy who carried their team through some rough patches and still made them competitive.


Check out the first comment:

(name withheld)

Damn....is there any way we can contact the doctor and have him/her reverse the diagnosis? Al/Nabby are more than adequate for me!

Is it me or is that just plain rude and ignorant? Just last year, even though Dipietro had a tough year, the stands were ablaze with cheers when he ended the 14 game losing streak with a "standing on his head" performance against the New Jersey Devils.  Who was in net for the gigantic shootout with against the Red Wings? Even in a season of doubt, he showed that he still had what it took, he just needed to keep working to get his timing and agility back. 

There were no holdouts for money when he signed his 15 year contract.  This was offered to him. What fool wouldn't take financial freedom and security for the rest of his life? But this contract is slapped on his back like a badge of hate from people who claim to be real fans. It was a result of poor poor management and an owner who wanted to protect his investment from a changing economic climate in the league. Why is it his fault that the team management wanted to give him this money and this security?


Now that Rick is back and healthy, given what he has done for this team, don't you think he deserves a real chance to prove himself? The latest injury could possibly have killed a person. Brian "I shoot hard and have no idea where it's going" Rolston beaned him in the head with a 100 mile and hour slapshot with a 1x3 piece of vulcanized rubber. 




Cut the guy a frigging break. 




Let's turn the corner. Rick hasn't betrayed us. We owe it to him to show he can do it again.

Turning the page.

You know, when a day comes in your life when you feel you are turning the page, moving onto the next chapter of your life, you always take a moment to reflect back upon what has brought you here.

Throughout so many times in my life, I have felt completely betrayed, completely useless, and utterly overwhelmed. In many more instances of my life, the joys of sheer pleasure, love, excitement and exuberance far outweigh anything that may have dragged me down.

I look at some of the downs, and I know I will forever be ashamed of them. At the lowest of the low, I have tarnished my name far beyond repair, so I will always have something to make up for. I'd go into details but I wouldn't want to bother the people involved with this silly rant. Needless to say, I am sorry to each of you, you know who you are (if you are reading this). I'm doing better now, and will do my best to be better for you for the rest of my life.

I reflect upon the good in life, and truthfully have to thank the many wonderful people in my life who have cared for me through the years. Mom, dad, Andrew and Paul. You are my family and I will always be there for you as best I can. Chris, Steve, you are like brothers to me, and I thank you for that. Steph, I love you dearly. You are my friend for life and the reason I wake up every morning knowing it's going to be a great day. To anyone who I may have missed, I do think of you all and thank you all for being great friends and family.

This sounds like a bunch of drivelly soppy sap crap, I know. Feel free to roll eyes and facepalm anytime you wish. I don't care. :) It's not often you get to turn the page and begin the next stage of your life like this. The next time for me is likely decades away.

This is one of the reasons why I finally decided to shut down this blog. It's a part of the life I am leaving behind. I rant about games, movies, and Newfoundlanders. Now, I just want to enjoy things and not needlessly share an opinion that most either dislike or don't care about. I fell into that internet trap... because I suddenly had a voice for all to hear doesn't necessarily mean everybody wants to hear it. :P

There is a real and wonderful reason why all this is happening to me now, 35 years young. I look up from my messy desk, and wonder: How could this get any better? I'll tell you how. If you'll press play on the video below, and follow what dear Ms. Pink has to say and raise your glass for me because...














I'm going to be a dad.


:)



Thank you all for reading, and check out my photo blog when I get around to updating it. It's been a blast.


C

Shutting down the blog

I do not have time to run this any longer. Anyone who wants those coleco decals get em quick, as I will shut this down at the end of July.

Thanks to everyone who was a reader. I've always appreciated all your comments, good or bad.

C

Colin Baker Who? The Under Appreciated Doctor.

Over the past week, I've found myself aching for more Doctor Who. The shortened season for this year's run (well, broken season anyway) has left me with a loning for more, better produced British television. Given that Torchwood (now American made but with British roots) isn't starting til the second week of July, I have this gap of time to fill. I haven't been able to re-watch seasons 5 and 6.1 again, as I've done so2 times already. I sat down, and said to myself:

"Self, there's 26 or so years of old Doctor Who to watch, giver a go."

David Tennant

Christopher Eccleston

Matt Smith

Now I've tried a dozen times to pick up the old Doctor Who materials and watch them, but truthfully, most of it is awful. The special effects and costumes are about the same as what you'd see in fan fiction. The acting is sadly overdone and unbelievable. The show, even right up to the 7th Doctor which ended in '89 is incredibly dated. Most of all, the three most recent incarnations of the Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith, all really put the older incarnations to shame in entertainment value. Each of these men brings a very believable and far more likable touch to their portrayals.

 

 

My first real "jump" at the older materials was in the Peter Davidson era, circa '83ish. The reason being his neatly played short with David Tennant, called "Time Crash", a few years back. Davidson, from what little I'd seen, had carried some of the lustre of the more modern  doctors, with a more younger appeal. It wasn't a stuffy old man making pranks, it was a late 20-early 30 something looking gent off saving the universe. I first checked out the four part series called "Castrovalva". In a word: AWFUL. Ridiculous set pieces, poorly acted, and stupid plot. I slogged through it, and went to the next set that interested me: The Five Doctors", the 20th Anniversary special that brings all 5 incarnations of the Doctor at the time and their companions into one neat series.

Original: AWFUL.

New: AWFULLY GOOD.

Even though this was a little fun to watch, nostaligia being what it is, it was also really REALLY bad. Having seen the Cybermen go from what I first saw (in season 2 of David Tennant's run) to what we see in this, it's amazing that this show managed to stay on television. The Cybermen were Doctor Who's version of the Borg for god's sake. The originals for some reason bring Strawberry Shortcake to mind. You could see the silver painted chins moving underneath thw plastic mouth guards! There is some acceptance of things because of standards back in the day. But these were ridiculously bad. The acting and special effects were bad. The filming was all BAD. I never understood why old Who episodes looked like they were filmed like Coronation Street. The inside set shots looking like they were filmed by camcorders and the outside gravel pit scenes looking like they were filmed with a pinhole camera!

Anyway, after this I took a quick glance at the regeneration scene for Davidson to leave and Colin Baker to begin. After that, the next time I looked at classic stuff was when we first got Netflix (selection as awful as old Who episodes) and I checked out the "Three Doctors" episodes from the early 70's. This was terrible as well, with the villains wearing fat people moo moos on a curtain rod draped over their heads.

So that brings us to this past weekend, almost a full year since the Netcraps experience. I must have been desperate to go back into this stuff, but given I had no real options besides these, I was checking out the regenerations of all the Doctors, and I found myself strangely compelled to the 6th Doctor, Colin Baker. His costume? Retina burning. His hair? Can be taken off his head and bounced like a basketball. Sonic Screwdriver? Nowhere to be seen. I watched a little tribute to him on youtube, and for some reason, it convinced me to check it out a little further. His first episode was very shaky. "The Twin Dilemma" was filled with terrible acting and set pieces were worse than old Star Trek sets. But his portrayal of the Doctor was wild enough to be interesting. I felt that flair from his similar to what I felt from watching Eccleston play the character. Fun filled and a joy to be around, but with menace and malevolence if you crossed him. The costume really is AWFUL, but his decent acting and complete 180 portrayal as compared to other actors impressions makes it a worthwhile viewing.

If you watch this, pleeeease mute out the horribly out of place music.

So far I've gotten through The Twin Dilemma and a second series, "The Two Doctors", where Patrick Troughton, the Second Doctor, run amuck on galactic villains with style and flair. Troughton looked remarkably well given it was nearly 20 years since he was last seen on the show, only showing grey hair as the only difference. Baker was in fine form, with randomness like fishing, then berating Peri his companion, then off to save the universe, then passing out, then looking stupid himself. All very entertaining.

If you are longing for more Who, check out Colin Baker. Of what I've seen so far, aside from the sadly dated feel that is still prevalent in his run, he is the most "modern" of the bunch. Even with Sylvester McCoy taking the role after him, his acting chops just did not hold up well. He was a comedian in a dramatic role and just didn't look right. Baker made people believe in his Doctor, even though studio execs may not have.

Carrot juice anyone?

C

Wanna see the Vancouver Riots?

Link

Impressive tech demo, disgusting display.

C

It's the GREAT DALEK Charlie Brown!

Thanks to bossman Drodge for this fun fun link:

If Charles Schulz had written about a time-hopping Gallifreyian instead of a chronically depressed little boy, chances are his artwork would look like Larry Wentzel's. There's no Snoopy as K-9, but who wouldn't want to see A Weeping Angel Christmas?
I always figured that something vaguely sinister was occurring in the Peanuts universe. You could never tell what the adults were saying — was it some sort of backwater Silurian dialect? Also, I'm guessing the Great Pumpkin was some sort of shaved Yeti. In any case, the theme song would sound like this.

----------------------------


Isn't that awesome! :D

C

Review: Sucker Punch

Basic synopsis from Warner Bros.:

"Sucker Punch" is an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality. Unrestrained by the boundaries of time and place, she is free to go where her mind takes her, and her incredible adventures blur the lines between what's real and what is imaginary. She has been locked away against her will, but Babydoll (Emily Browning) has not lost her will to survive. Determined to fight for her freedom, she urges four other young girls-the reluctant Sweet Pea (Abbie Cornish), the outspoken Rocket (Jena Malone), the street-smart Blondie (Vanessa Hudgens) and the fiercely loyal Amber (Jamie Chung)-to band together and try to escape a terrible fate at the hands of their captors, Blue (Oscar Isaac) and Madam Gorski (Carla Gugino), before the mysterious High Roller (Jon Hamm) comes for Babydoll. Led by Babydoll, the girls engage in fantastical warfare against everything from samurais to serpents, with a virtual arsenal at their disposal. Together, they must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive. But with the help of a Wise Man (Scott Glenn), their unbelievable journey-if they succeed-will set them free.. -- (C) Warner Bros

-------------------------------


Before you sit down to see this film (coming out on Blu Ray, DVD and Digital Download June 28th) you really need to let go of any sense of what the film is, was, or what was said about it. This is a movie that one needs to see to believe. Is it that bad? Is it art? Is it a gigantic mess thrown at film upon an epic scale, hoping to lure the people who like to watch trains wreck? 

Ladies, if you had any interest in seeing this film, the best you can hope for is being owed one after you've sat through it with your significant other. Be prepared to be owed... oh... 2 chick flicks and a back rub, with breakfast in bed thrown on top. This is a movie solely made for the boys. If you want to get out of it, pretend to be the man sitting on the bench in the mall waiting for you to get out of the girlie clothing store. This is a movie about young women in skimpy clothing swinging ninja swords and shooting bullets at monsters, zombie nazis, and robots, all in a level by level progression similar to a video game. They do this through the imagination of a girl who's sultry dancing is so amazing that everybody in the room forgets that anything in the world is happening, especially the scantily clad girlies picking their pockets for the things they need to escape the asylum.

Sound ridiculous yet? 

I don't think I've seen fatter lips on any one woman in my life compared to Babydoll (portrayed by Emily Browning), the lead girlie of the bunch. They are so thick and round and focused on in the movie, it's almost like lip-porn and you think she'll actuallu need a wonderbra for them for fear that she'll fall on her face. Throughout the movie, she does land heavily a number of times, crushing cement and concrete blocks, no doubt from the weight she bears upon her porceline face. 

The other girls featured in this romp are all equally portrayed, with Vanessa Hudgens (ironically named Blondie) bearing the hair that is similar to the mane of a raven haired lion, Abbie Cornish the wildly savage "Sweet Pea" and her saucy mouthed little sister "Rocket" (played by Jena Malone) both acting like they need whips, chains, rubber, and a Rihanna song to get them through the day, and Jenna Chung, the prototypical polite, cute Asian girl Amber. This movie is a who's who of teenage boys wet dreams.


Take away the dirty girlie aspect of the film and you do get a very well filmed style piece. Giant Samurai's, Clockwork Zombie Nazi's, killer robots, dragons, you name it, all were wonderfully brought to life by Watchmen director Zack Snyder. You are thrown into a gritty and grim world of post war America, where the men are boss and the women hate them for it. This whole film screams hate at the way women were treated and portrayed in the 50's and 60's. The film is eye openingly awesome to look at, with gigantic set pieces and surprisingly credible choreographed fight scenes. The leads all did their jobs and did them amazingly well, in particular Browning, who does not look out of place at all in her school girl outfit slaying demons and zombies with style and grace.


This movie is very loud, with a rocking soundtrack playing through most every scene. It truly helps the viewer get into the scenes and bring them along for the ride. Think of that feeling you get when you are on a roller coaster. There's no real particular "sound" but there is unbelievably loud noise all around you. The wind in your ears, the white noise of screaming people all around you, the carts on the tracks. After a while it all blends into the experience that is a roller coaster. It is all very similar in this film. After one or two scenes, you don't actually hear the music, you are just immersed into each scene as if you are almost there.


This is a movie not for the feint of heart. As mentioned earlier, girls, wait outside. Let the men go in and enjoy the film. Some ladies, carry tissues. This is a loud, male fantasy induced slogfest, with nothing for you, beyond teaching you what your man might like in the bedroom. Guys, get ready to owe the women a favor or two for this one, but be more than willing and ready to do it too. This is one for you.


Score: 7 out of 10...

...9 out of 10 if you are a pervert. 

C