could this like, actually happen?

It’s Toronto sports, but the Jays ain’t the Leafs, so I guess the jury’s out.

Will they finish them off Friday night (or Saturday, if things go awry)?

Or is this going to be the Leafiest shit that ever Leafed, and we blow it fucking all?

Somebody tell Auston Matthews to stay the fuck home.

Target: 1400 words
Written: 1094 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Faded Sun: Kesrith, C.J. Cherryh
Comics: Youngblood v2 2, Bloodstrike Assassin 0, Chapel v2 4, Bloodpool 4
Music: Why Does The Sun Shine?, They Might Be Giants

in the dumdums

Well, the doldrums, but I feel stupid, so doldrums it is.

My hockey guy didn’t make the NHL (on the fucking Coyotes even, stupid NHL games), and so here I am. Wondering why the fuck I’m an enforcer on the Tucson Roadrunners.

Life’s fucked.

Target: 1300 words
Written: 1447 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Deadly Streets, Harlan Ellison (man, talk about a vibe)
Comics: Tomb Raider 8-9, 0.5, Dark Crossings 2
Music: Ween Essentials, Ween

shocker

Exactly what I thought. Build us up, just to let us down.

Also, I hate the scapegoating of Marner. He’s a good player, played hard, and he hardly deserves all the credit for the loss. Nylander won’t back check. Matthews has also been non-existent in this series, worse than Marner. Holmberg has been invisible. Benoit and McCabe made terrible choices the last few games despite looking pretty good earlier in the playoffs.

The coach didn’t adjust well enough (or the player didn’t execute his adjustments). Everyone came out flat.

Why lose our hundred point per season player, one that actually plays defense, for everyone’s faults? That isn’t going to fix shit, and that’s what the team’s management needs to be saying, not just letting it all ride.

That’s why the problem; there’s no fucking accountability.

No team mentality. Everyone or no one. That should be the thought. And if you can’t buy into that, then you’re fucking gone.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1670 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: King Rat, China Mieville
Comics: Fathom: Cannon Hawke - Prelude 1, Fathom: Cannon Hawke 1-2, Aspen Seasons 2
Music: The Else, They Might Be Giants

here we go again

I called it. Bounce back game, setting up what should be a spectacular meltdown in game seven.

Fuck.

EVERY. GODDAMN. YEAR.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1122 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Primrose Path, Bram Stoker (ugh, what the fuck is this shit?)
Comics: Fathom v2: Beginnings 1, Aspen Seasons 1, Fathom v2: Prelude 1, Fathom v2 0
Music: Ella Fitzgerald Essentials, Ella Fitzgerald

the less said

About last night’s game, the better.

Sheesh. Way to no show, pricks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs: failing in every big moment since 1967.

That should be their new slogan.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1363 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
Comics: Fathom: Dawn Of War 1-3, Fathom: Dawn Of War - Cannon Hawke 1
Music: Elephant, The White Stripes

game five

Let’s. Fucking. Go.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1155 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
Comics: Michael Turner's Aspen 3, Fathom: Cannon Hawke 0, Fathom: Cannon Hawke - Beginnings 1, Fathom: Dawn Of War 0
Music: Electric Version, The New Pornographers

tied again

Doh. Not a great effort last night. Too many dumb penalties, too sloppy. You can tell they came out amped up, trying to be super aggressive and really put the hammer down on the Panthers, but were not focused enough to pull it off, and started doing stupid things.

If it wasn’t for Woll, that would have been a blowout. I know everyone was down on him the first couple of games, but gimme a break. Guy hadn’t played in almost three weeks, comes in cold, but he’s a terrific goalie. The only knock on him is that he’s injury prone. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best.

So, yeah. Can’t blame him for that one.

Take a ton of stupid penalties, make bad passes, have no net front presence, ineffective power play and no scoring chances until late in the third? Yeah, you’re lucky you got Woll.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1141 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Gilded Age: A Tale Of Today, Twain/Warner (it's over!  Not that it was bad, just very long and with a lot of loose ends.)
Comics: Fathom: Killian's Tide 3-4, Fathom 13-14
Music: Electric Ladyland, The Jimi Hendrix Experience

well, that was disappointing

The ending, not the effort. I thought as a team, they played pretty well.

Some bad bounce goals, and Woll looking a little shaky. If Stolarz were in, this would be a three-oh series.

Hopefully, he’s back soon.

Also, what the fuck is Paul Maurice’s game plan? All I see Florida doing is trying to intentionally injure guys. I’m all for a hard-fought, gritty series, but come on. There was honour in guys standing up taking and giving hits, fighting, scrapping after whistles and shit.

There’s no fucking honour in cheap shots and intent to injure.

Back in the day, this team would have had the shit kicked out of it so hard for that crap, half those players wouldn’t even be in the league.

I used to respect Maurice, but this is disgusting. They’re losing, so try and injure the other team’s key players? He should be thrown out of the league.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1180 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Gilded Age: A Tale Of Today, Twain/Warner (more like a tale of forever, am I right?)
Comics: Fathom 9-11, 0
Music: Elastica, Elastica

game three

I am all a-tingle. Actually, I think that’s the chest pain from my giving up on No-Mow-May because thigh high grass is really, really, fucking hard to get through.

It’s time for a break, and then, high blood pressure brought on by the stress of watching hockey playoffs.

And a beer. A nice, cold Kolsch.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1116 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Gilded Age: A Tale Of Today, Twain/Warner (who knew the Gilded Age lasted so goddamned long?)
Comics: Fathom 5-8
Music: Either/Or, Elliott Smith

i can’t believe it

Two up on the Stanley Cup Champs.

Even with Marchand causing a ruckus and Ekblad’s return.

Goddamn. Maybe this is the year.

Nah. Touch fuckin’ wood, you psychopath.

Target: 1200 words
Written: 1203 words, novel: Bad Neighbours

Read: The Gilded Age: A Tale Of Today, Samuel Twain Warner Clemens Von Mark
Comics: Fathom 1-4
Music: Eight Arms To Hold You, Veruca Salt (who doesn't love Volcano Girls?  I still have a thing for Louise Post.)