Condors Blogs

Meatloaf (Marsh Matters)

Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 | Marsh Matters | No Comments

Man, I love tournaments.  Even more than that, I love predicting the outcome.  When I was young (and apparently friendless and a bit A.D.D.) I remember creating tournaments featuring all kinds of different things. I made a tourney of colors so that I could properly decide what my favorite color was.  When I hit jr. high I made a tournament to establish the best looking girl in my grade.  I actually still remember the final four (ahhhh Malory Meyer, Jill Widman, Lizzie Bannister and Susi Johanson). 

I was also pretty good at predicting winners of tournaments that I didn’t create.  Again in jr. high I won the March Madness Tournament out of the entire school, including the teachers back-to-back (‘95 and ‘96).

So, I was pretty stoked when Bakersfield Life Magazine came out with this tournament to decided the greatest thing about Bakersfield.  Of course one of the first things I did was to fill out the rest of the bracket with my tournament predictions.  Check this link and actually see my predictions from the second round through the championship and let me walk you through a couple of key match ups and how I came to each of my decisions.

Looking ahead to the Condors sweet 16 opponent I took the Fox Theatre over Trader Joe’s.  Trader Joe’s is the only “Thing” that is not unique to Bakersfield to make it through to the second round.  I believe Joe’s tournament run ends there.

The toughest second round match up was BC Football and Dewar’s.  Remember, over 12,000 fans attended the final BC football game at Memorial Stadium, but that was eight months ago and I’m sure more than 12 thousand people have savored a Dewar’s treat since then.  I put Dewar’s through to the final four.

In what will be a classic sweet 16 match up we could see the KC Fair battle it out with Bakersfield’s favorite son, Buck Owens.  Wow.  The fair actually edged out Condors Hockey in the Best of Kern County voting a few months ago so they’re looking strong, but normally I don’t think anything could compete with Buck.  But, and pat me on the back for thinking of this, the only reason I say Buck does not beat the fair and run the tables is because the fair will actually be going on while the ballets for that match up are being cast.  Yep.  I think the fair will edge out the Hee Haw legend.

My Cinderella for the tournament is “Close to everything.”  How often have you heard someone complain saying, “there’s nothing to do here.”  Close to everything seems out of place in a tournament dominated by people, places and activities, but watch out, this Cinderella doesn’t have to be home by midnight. (Yeah that sounded really cheesy but I’m gonna keep that line in.)

You’ll notice I have the Condors winning the competition.  Why?  Because I’ve included four click heres throughout this blog and we’ll continue to promote ourselves throughout the tournament.  See our main page, our community release, this blog… Also, because we have no fear of being punished for libel.  See directly below.

For anyone thinking of voting for Merle Haggard lets just say I’m pretty sure I heard that he  hates puppies and cheered for the Chinese gymnastics team. So just think about that.

Fin

much to talk about (the many faces of Bartl)

Monday, August 18th, 2008 | The Many Faces of Bartl | No Comments

Well, it’s official.  the season is almost here. 

everybody else may count down to Opening Night (61 days if you’re scoring at home), but for me the season is officially here when i have my first dream (or nightmare) about not being prepared for a game.  it happens all the time, and it’s freaking scary.

last night the Roadrunners were in town, and their radio guy Dan Weiss even showed up asking for his game notes, only to find that my notes were not prepared.  i showed up to the arena late, tried to rush through, player bios and preview stuff was incomplete, and… well, you get the point.  it was terrifying. 

people tell me i’m weird to have work dreams.  i think i’m weird for plenty of reasons that don’t involve the dreams that i have.  but anyway, now i know the season is right around the corner.

*  *  *  *  *

Yutaka Fukufuji is back.  last season, i brought the old call of “Fukufuji…. hi-ya!” back out, busted it out on a couple choice occasions, like after a great glove save or after his classic fight with Jake Moreland.  then a couple of the guys started saying it to him on the bus after he had a big game, and he would just shake his head, almost in disgust, saying “it doesn’t make sense.”

at first i thought he wasn’t understanding why i would use it.  here, ‘hi-ya’ has always been associated with martial arts moves of some kind, like a really awesome karate chop.  maybe i got it from cartoons when i was a kid, or from poorly dubbed ninja movies from the 80’s. 

apparently, ‘hi-ya’ actually MEANS SOMETHING and has nothing to do with karate.  in fact, a recent internet search of it pulled up a rough translation as “really cold” or even “cold sake” according to one site.  obviously, if this is even close to accurate, Fukufuji is right - it DOESN’T make sense.  regardless, i’ll ask him when he gets back into town. 

maybe after big saves next season, i’ll just shout out “cold sake!”

*  *  *  *  *

Another strange circumstance cost the U.S. and Nastia a gold in the uneven bars last night.  she lost to the 14… er… i mean, 16 year-old athlete from China.  Weird.

*  *  *  *  *

the other day i was driving around town, i was headed to a used bookstore (which will remain nameless) after work.  i love the smell of used books stores, by the way.  old book smell rules.  but i digress.  the place was closed.  they closed at 5, which irritated me.  come to find out they close at 5 every day during the week, and they’re open for about four hours on Saturday mornings.

now, i’m not a business owner, but if i was, i would likely not close on a weekday before most people get out of work.  how ridiculous is that?  i’d have to sneak out of work at least an hour early just to get there and browse before it closes for the day.  that’s dumb.  if you don’t want to spend all day there, why not just be open from Noon - 7?  or close for a few hours during the middle of the day?

anyway, i guess they don’t want my business.  and i buy a lot of books.

*  *  *  *  *

I suffered a horrible meltdown on Saturday on the golf course.  by the way, in February, River Lakes was in rough shape, and they were trying to get the course back to normal after some weird dead-grass incident.  its in great condition now.  you should go.

I shot a 38 on the front, and after the 12th hole i was +2.  remarkable for me.  in fact, with two bogeys and 10 pars, i was on my way to a personal best round with a couple relatively easy holes remaining.  80 was my previous low.  regardless, i totally Tin Cup’d it the rest of the way - with two bogeys, a double, a triple and a DNF on 18 after putting two in the drink and quitting, dejected.

i’d like to blame it on some heat exhaustion and dehydration (there was NO water in the cooler on 13, coincidentally where the meltdown began), but really it was my putting and shockingly my driving, which completely failed me after puting 300 yard bombs out there for the whole day.

the game of golf is a remarkable teacher in life.  it is the best game of mental fortitude and physical restraint that exists, and simultaneously the worst freaking game ever conceived by man.  it is a game that cannot be won - there is ALWAYS room for improvement, always a putt you could have made, a shot that could have gone better, or a round that could be perfected. 

when things are going well you are on top of the world.  2-over after 12 holes???  i was king of the course.  by the 18th hole i wanted to get in my car and drive off a cliff on the way home.

it was so demoralizing that day, that i never wanted to play it again.  i hate the game.  i despise it. 

and i can’t wait to play 9 tonight after work.

Kevin Bartl is the Voice of the Condors and VP of Communications.  His blog comes out every Monday… and whenever he feels like it.

finally i can get some sleep (the many faces of Bartl)

Friday, August 15th, 2008 | The Many Faces of Bartl | 2 Comments

do you ever find yourself yelling and swearing at your television when you’re all alone on your couch?

well, truth is, i do it all the time.  if i had thinner walls my neighbors would most surely think me to be mad.  but last night watching my girls in the all-around gymnastics competition, i was a little more gratuitous with the language.

my good friend Justin Fahsbender made a wonderful comment the other day about competition and sports.  he said “the swimming i like.  you swim, you touch the board first, you win.  but the gymnastics… i don’t like the judging.”  and i’ve been thinking a lot about that.  there is an interesting element to the gymnastics that adds a little extra tension, which, in turn, leads to a lot of frustration on the part of the viewers.

it’s a good thing Nastia and Shawn took gold and silver, because, to my untrained eye, the scores were not matching up.  and my mood was starting to border on violently angry. 

but its for the reason of the judges that it will be nearly impossible for someone competing in a subjectively-scored competition to ever be considered as dominant as a guy like Michael Phelps, who is able to embarrass his competition on a regular basis. 

gymnastics is amazing to me.  i think i sprained my knee just watching it last night.  but what these people can do is nearly unfathomable.  most people cannot even do a cartwheel without getting woozy, consider what these girls do with a smile on their face.  and as for the men, have you ever watched them on the rings???  ridiculous.

the fact that i found myself openly rooting against 13-year old…. er…. i mean, 16 year old girls from China, did not fail to catch my attention, either.  and don’t kid yourself, the Olympics ARE politics.  that’s what it is.  that’s why its nation vs. nation.  and the triumph of the Americans over the Chinese in this competition is noteworthy. 

YES, i wanted the Chinese girls to lose.  FALL off the beam, even.  FAIL.  because it’s not just a girl bouncing around the floor mat or swinging on the bars.  it’s a system balancing on a 4-inch beam.  it’s a system putting up its ideal on the world stage, and matching it against ours.  the world needs to know that the system that produces their Olympians is not the right one.  and the games are not the games, its a stage show hiding the process.

that process finds a flexible girl at the age of 3 and steals her from her family, her home, hides her away and trains her to do ridiculously impressive things, and then props her up as an example of what the State can accomplish if it just takes enough away from the rest of the population and contributes it to one person. 

meanwhile a tank is rolling over a college student holding a sign out on the plaza. 

they’ve cheated, they’ve been inhumane and they’ve smiled about it.  and they LOST.  and these girls won.  and do not overlook the irony that both of these girls’ trainers are all too familiar with the polar opposites of training an Olympian - and running a government for that matter.  perhaps someone should ask their reasons for wearing Team USA gear on that fateful day, instead of Russia or China.

figure it out.

anyway, i’m glad now that my favorite competitions are over, save for a couple more for Phelps.  this staying up to 1 a.m. on a school night is lousy.  maybe now i can get a good night’s sleep.

3 Questions with the Boss - August 14

Friday, August 15th, 2008 | 3 Questions with the Boss | No Comments

Each Thursday, Condors President Matthew Riley answers three questions in his weekly video blog.  This week he talks about changes going on inside the arena and lockerroom, as well as Olympic fun!  Click here to visit the CondorsTV page and watch!

Matthew Riley has been at the helm of the Condors since the team’s inception, and has twice been named Executive of the Year (once in the WCHL, once in the ECHL), while the team has claimed 16 front office awards from the league in 10 seasons.

Something extra in the coffee? (Chuck-A-Buch)

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 | Chuck A Buch | No Comments

Being as I have momentarily (I hope) lost the ability to focus coherently on one thing for more than about 35 seconds, leading me to believe that there might just have been a little extra caffeine or something in this morning’s cup of coffee, this blog is going to contain a medley of different random topics in true stream of concsiousness fashion.  Uh, already forgot where I was going with that, so… moving on…

You had me at Scooby.  As many of you hopefully know by now, we released the 2008-09 game promotions schedule yesterday, and it looks sweet!  Scooby-Doo is coming to Condorstown.  What more need be said?  Personally, I hope he brings Scrappy along with him - you know, his little pal with the Napolean complex.  I think he just needs a hug.  Anyway, I’m skeptical Scrappy will make an appearance, but at least we’ve got Scooby! (not to mention the laker girls and raiderettes, click here to check out the full schedule)

I’m really not a huge fan of tucking in my shirt.  I completely recognize the need for such an act; I’m on board with looking professional when necessary, I just don’t like the process.  It may just be my body type (I prefer lean to scrawny, not a fan of emaciated either), but I can never seem to get my shirt tucked in in a comfortable and neat manner.  And then, if by some miracle I am able to accomplish this feat, the first time I sit down, or bend to tie my shoes, or reach to get a cup, or make just about any motion at all, the comfort and neatness of my tuck flies out the window and I’m back to square one.  The trials and tribulations man, the trials and tribulations.

While we’re on wardrobe issues, I also loathe lumps in my socks.  Always have, always will - just ask my older brother.  When we were kids I may or may not have had a bit of a daily battle with my socks and shoes, which never reached a resolution in a timely manner.  This mostly occurred when I was in about the first or second grade, and I remember it clearly.  I’d be sitting on the bottom step, trying to cram my foot into my shoe without clumping my socks.  Never worked.  So, I’d fling my shoes across the hall in frustration, flip out and try again.

All this would occur while my older brother, then in about the sixth grade, was standing next to me having a nervous breakdown over being late to school.  He’d not only fret over the present, and how it was going to result in him getting detention (yeah right, didnt happen once), but also over his future - he was doomed forever due to his obsessed-over tardiness in grade school.  While freaking out, he would always say I was the one being ridiculous and overly dramatic.

This morning routine went on for quite a while and caused some tension to the already tumultuous relationship between brothers at that age, but now, about 15 years removed, I’d like to revisit the facts.  Granted, he might’ve had to run through the halls to get to school on time, and he might have been late a couple of times, which I suppose could be blamed on me, but, against all odds (dripping with sarcasm by the way) he persevered and found a way to turn out all right, now practicing law in Manhattan.  Shocker, his life wasn’t ruined. 

On the other hand, I still despise lumps in my socks, even if I dont show it quite as much with tantrums anymore.  So, I present this question: Who was the one that was really being overly dramatic?  I think we all know.  It’s funny, the things that drove you nuts as a kid that you never believed you’d be able to look back on and smile, only to find yourself doing just that a little down the road.  Ahh nostalgia.

Hmm, not exactly sure how we ended up there, but I’m hungry.  I think I’m going to go bring my spare change down to Fahsbender’s desk and see what treats I can barter off him - he has the best snacks!  Talk to you in two weeks, hopefully with a topic.

Top 10 ways to tell if you may be kind of a loser

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 | Timmy's Top 10 List | No Comments

I have nothing to preface, so what do you say we just get after it?…

Number 10…If you’re a Fresno Fal…alright, I won’t go there.  

Number 9…If you’re on the French swim team and said you would ’smash’ the U.S.  Have the French ever ’smashed’ us in anything that mattered? thinking…thinking…nope you’re a loser.

Number 8…If you’re a Cubbie’s fan! Loveable and all…still a loser

Number 7…If you’re the dude who writes Top 10 lists that aren’t funny

Number 6…If you’re “that guy” on the golf course who takes half-an-hour to line up a putt after it takes you a dozen shots to even get to the green. COME ON!

Number 5…If you’re still talking about Brett Fav-re. Yes, this means you Stu Scott!

Number 4…If you’re the Vons checker that always butchers my last name when he tells me how much I saved… Just go with TIM its 3 letters!

Number 3…If you’re name is Andruw Jones and you play for the Dodgers. Oh wait, change ‘play’ to ‘are simply employed by’

Number 2…Did I mention the French swimmer guy?       

Number 1…If you even remotely broke a smile at any of these….yep, you got it, sorry.

Two More Quick Shots:

An epic golf battle occurred last Friday at the Links at Riverlakes golf course. Going into the second overtime hole, Bill Allison (on a team with native Iowan and golf pro Greg Lowe) makes by far his best shot of the match with a 30-foot putt from the fringe. Unfortunately for team Lowe/Allison their excitement was short lived due to a certain ‘Top Ten Lister’ matching him with a sick 18-foot putt of his own. Team Frasnelly/Urbani/Statezni carried the momentum at that point but the match was suspended due to darkness and sprinklers.  A make-up date is TBD, stay tuned.

            And finally, congrats to a couple of college buddies on the USA Men’s Volleyball team, David Lee and Scott Touzinsky. Scott was the only guy I knew who had a harder last name to say than me…wait…maybe not…do you think he despises the Vons guy too?

Tim Statezni is Marketing and Promotions Manager for the Condors.  Tim is entering his fourth season with the Condors since joining the team in the fall of 2005.  In addition to the multitude of duties and tasks Tim takes on, and of course his highly-esteemed Top 10 Lists, he’s also The Mailbag Guy!

Olympics, commercials, and true love (the many faces of Bartl)

Monday, August 11th, 2008 | The Many Faces of Bartl | 2 Comments

i missed the Opening Ceremonies.

i went camping on Friday… came back on Sunday.  honestly, i forgot that this weekend was the start of the Olympics when i made the plans.  i probably would have gone, anyway, and enjoyed a great weekend among the mighty sequoias, but…

i get home on Sunday, turn on my phone, and had a message from someone telling me that under no circumstances should i miss the Opening Ceremonies.  OOPS!! 

(incidentally, did you read this?  they spent a year properly faking the fireworks for TV so we could all realize China’s grandeur.  and people wonder why i’m cynical.  off topic, but related, this is a great story of television manipulating images for its viewers just to make a point.  turns out, they actually had a 7-year old LIP SYNCHING during the ceremonies too.  is there no shame??)

you know it’s time for the Olympics when i find myself actually VOLUNTARILY watching skeet shooting on TV.  and rowing.  and women’s bicycling.  and by the way, i know she’s engaged, but i have a crush on American swimmer Natalie Coughlin. 

Has anyone seen the Condors Olympic commercials?  we had a fun time shooting them.  by the way, that’s The Mailbag Guy, Tim Statezni, donning the gear and diving into the pool.  we had 2 lifeguards and several expert swimmers on hand expecting Timmy to sink like a stone with the 30 pounds of soaking wet hockey equipment on once he hit the water.  but to our chagrin… i mean, to our surprise… hockey equipment is totally buoyant (that means that it floats).

we got a lot of help on those spots.  we had four members of the Bakersfield Swim Club that stood in on that one.  these guys were funny.  after the spot they stuck around to do laps, and acted as if it would be foolish not to.  they’re like fish.  swimmers are amazine athletes.  by the way, did i mention that i think Natalie Coughlin is an amazing athlete?  that’s a different link, by the way.  click it.

Also Brian Dow, who works at American Kids Sports Center, was a great sport in our gymnastics spots.  he had absolutely no idea what he was getting into that morning when we showed up.  our original casting ended up having a bum foot, and we lucked out that Brian was there.  dude’s flipping and flopping all over the place, on the floor, on the vault, on the trampoline… 

and that’s the owner’s daughter, Michelle Williams, who is the very talented girl at the beginning of the floor routine spot.  she was great.  made me dizzy watching her bounce all over.  you get a real appreciation of the control these athletes have, watching them go through their stretches, their warm-ups, and seeing it first hand.  i don’t know how Brian could do all those flips and tucks wearing hockey equipment.  he had never worn any of it before.

the running spot, that was Tim also, was interrupted by news that a 5.4 just hit LA and was felt all over Bakersfield.  oh yeah??  not by me!  DOH!!  it angers me to miss earthquakes… this almost ruined my day.

The Edge by Terrio Therapy and former Blitz wideout Eric Mehanke, helped us out with this by getting us four “runners.”  among those four were the younger brother of David Carr and Rick Van Horn’s son.  small world.

it was about a half a day of shooting, lining up angles and shots, doing different takes, using three set locations, reviewing the scripts with the actors, etc.  about 3-4 hours of filming for what amounts to less than a minute of actual on-air footage.  then several hours in the editing booth (kudos to Monte at Eye St!!), throw in a voice over by Ken Marshall, and we’re off and running - literally!

so when you’re admiring the splendor of the Olympic Games, and the great talent of the athletes (such as, oh… i don’t know…. Natalie Coughlin), watch for the Condors spots.  we think they came out pretty cool.  and check out CondorsTV for a little ‘making of’ feature!

So, Whats It Like In Alaska? (Vennys Pennies)

Friday, August 8th, 2008 | Venny's Pennies: My Two Cents | 1 Comment

By Sean Venedam

With all the warm weather we have been experiencing here in Bakersfield, I can’t help but think of Alaska (Home to the Alaska Aces of the ECHL). A question that I have been asked time and time again, over the last three years….but never really have been able to, or really wanted to answer….

So, what’s it like in Alaska?

Well, let me tell you….

The bus left Bakersfield at 3AM, we had a 7AM flight out of LAX. Upon our arrival at LAX I discovered the name on my boarding pass was wrong. Apparently whoever booked the tickets thought my name was Steve Venedam. Who knows maybe there is some truth to the nickname blog and we as hockey players and staff really only know nicknames. But then again after three years of playing here I would like to think they know who Sean is.

Try explaining to airport officials and security that the “ticket lady” actually scribbled Steve out (in pen nonetheless) on the boarding pass, replaced it with my given name and validated this procedure with her initials and thought that this would work . I don’t know who was dumber………. her for doing it or myself for believing it would work. This might have worked sometime when you could smoke on planes.

Problem finally solved…. Sort of ….”Excuse me Sir you have been selected for a random search”, is barked at me with authority… Ha! Random my a**!  Just tell me the truth, and that you think I am a person of interest after the stunt that was pulled downstairs…………. Random!

LAX to Seattle. 4 hour layover…(Why am I playing this game?) I just lost most of my meal money playing cards… Have I mentioned that this is the 20 year anniversary of the league and per diem is almost the same now as it was back then. Inflation people, inflation!

On to Alaska…..

Half way through the flight. “If there’s a Doctor on board, please come to the front of the plane we are experiencing a medical emergency.” My first thought is, “I hope it isn’t the Pilot….” Then I think, “if it was the Pilot they would probably be asking if there was a Pilot on board.” Much scarier…

My second thought…. Where can we land this thing? The only lights that I can see from my window are the Northern Lights.Now I am starting to get scared.

My third and final thought(s) before I closed my eyes and fell asleep…The movie Alive, and who may be my diner for the next two months. I narrowed it down to David Kudelka and Scotty Balan because they have very little body fat and better yet, they took my money playing cards…..  (This only happens in minor league hockey. I need a new profession.)

The person in question (not the pilot) pulled through and we were able to make it all the way to Anchorage (lucky us).

So, what’s it like in Alaska? 

It’s just like Fort Myers, FLA. it has a Comfort Inn, an ocean, nowhere decent to eat within walking distance from the hotel, and an arena full of angry drunk people yelling obscenities at you while you work…….They are probably miserable because it’s dark all the time and they have no cell phone reception.

So, what’s it like in Alaska?

My Cell phone is not working….. this place is ridiculous, have we landed on another planet? Sure, they can build a pipeline for oil but can’t install a few cell phone towers.

So, what’s it like in Alaska?

It’s so cold that if I had any teeth they would be chattering…. but I don’t, they were knocked out a couple of nights prior in a game at home against Las Vegas. (Maybe It’s just not my week)

So, what’s it like in Alaska?

I just put a dollar in the vending machine that is at the other end of the hotel (from my room) ”Effen machine just took my quarters…” After I return for a second time (with two dollars) and change my first choice. I realize that my chocolate bar is soft upon further review it is actually completely melted… Are we not in Alaska?????? (Mystery)

So, what was it like in Alaska?

We took four out of six points on the road with a depleated line-up against the best team in the league on an olympic ice surface,  (which the league should look into), and drank the plane dry on our return to California with no in-flight issues and a lot of stories….. (That’s why I play this game, why would anyone want to do anything else for a living?)

So, what was Alaska like?

It was the best week ever.

Sean Venedam has been with the Condors since 2005-06, serving as Team Captain.  His blog, “Venny’s Pennies” comes out every Friday on bakersfieldcondors.com. 

3 Questions with the Boss - Aug. 7

Friday, August 8th, 2008 | 3 Questions with the Boss | No Comments

Each Thursday, Condors President Matthew Riley answers three questions in his weekly video blog.  This week he talks about the return of Fukufuji, promotional ideas and the Olympics!  Click here to visit the CondorsTV page and watch!

Matthew Riley has been at the helm of the Condors since the team’s inception, and has twice been named Executive of the Year (once in the WCHL, once in the ECHL), while the team has claimed 16 front office awards from the league in 10 seasons.

Mannymania (the many faces of Bartl)

Monday, August 4th, 2008 | The Many Faces of Bartl | 3 Comments

A big Monday morning shout-out to the Red Sox today… i just want to thank them for running another all-star out of Boston, because they made the whole season fun again.  Boston is good for doing it once every couple seasons - buckner, clemmens, nomar, pedro, damon… even Thornton, Esposito and Bobby Orr.  They’re ridiculous.

Anyway, i can’t remember ever being so excited for the Dodgers to get someone like i was last week when Manny was picked up from Boston.  this guy is awesome… he cracks me up.  for my money, putting his grill on ebay a couple years ago has to be one of the funniest things i’ve ever seen a major leaguer do.  the picture is priceless!

but in all seriousness, I’m going to go out on a limb and tell all of you reading right now that the acquisition of Manny Ramirez will go down as one of the best, or maybe even THE best trade in Dodger history.  there is an excitement about him thats palpable.  I dare say that not since Mike Piazza was in the lineup have i ever felt the absolute need to see anybody step to the plate wearing a Dodger uniform.  but if Manny is due up, i won’t move from my couch.

He has single handedly (well… perhaps along with the underrated pickup of Casey Blake) transformed this team from one of the most boring, faceless, average lineups in the league, to one of the most potent. 

By the way, as i’m typing this, Manny just went yard, giving him his third hit on the day (Sunday).  If the Dodgers aren’t working on an extension right now, they better start.  Give him whatever he wants.  seriously… if he wants $30 mil, give it to him.  He’s the most exciting player they probably have had since moving to Los Angeles, makes everybody in the lineup even better, and i predict they will blow by Arizona in the standings the rest of the way. 

Figure it out, Colletti.

* * * * *

Now, lets talk hockey. 

You might not know much about Dany Roussin, but you will.  this guy can score… i don’t care who he played with in juniors, he knows what he’s doing.  nobody put an asterisk next to Glenn Anderson in the hall of fame, just because he played on Gretzky’s line. 

I’m looking forward to seeing him in Condorstown this season, and the funny thing is, he’s going into his fourth season and he’s only 23.  this kid has a lot of hockey left to be played, and he seems hungry to put up some numbers and prove he is worthy of the American league.  i like it.

All indications are that we will be able to announce another signing this week.  maybe two.  probably an “older” guy and a rookie.  As a PR guy, its sometimes hard to portray what the signing of a rookie means to the team.  All you really ever have to go by are statistics put up at a level that is lower than the one we’re at.

But there are things to take into consideration.  One is the league/conference that the player played in.  You can take a guy from a major American university, let’s say that team played in the CCHA, or Hockey East, and find some sort of translation to the pro game.  Kevin Truelson, for example, did not have tremendous numbers at the University of New Hampshire.  But you know that while he was there he was competing with and against some of the best players, maybe in the world, in his age bracket.  the calibre of play is that good in some of those conferences.

With other players, such as Dale Reinhardt, you have to dig a little more.  Not a knock against the program that he played in at Holy Cross, but its a relatively young program, in a relatively low-profile conference.  But it would be hard to imagine the Condors season ending in the crescendo that it did without Dale coming in and providing a spark of energy, emotion and production.

I guess its with an air of hope that we announce the signings of rookie players.  We hope that they bring that kind of energy to the lineup and the kind of hunger that’s needed for rookies to excel.

Marty Raymond, i think, put it in perspective on Friday when we were talking about the roster.  He said that in the past there would usually be one rookie that would be counted on to play a key role on this team.  (Think: Jason Jackman, Mark Derlago, Connor James, Jason Ralph…)  But this year there are going to be many rookies who will be expected to contribute. 

it’s possible that some of the primary “roles” on the team won’t be filled until one of these young guys takes it and makes it HIS role - whether it’s a defensive forward role, a quarterback on the power play, a penalty killing expert, etc.  the rookie i’m expecting to announce next carries with him some good references.  and while it won’t necessarily be a flashing signing, it might still be an important one. 

As for the older guy, lets just say that he proved its possible to have an average start to a season, and by the playoffs be considered indespensible.