The View From Wisconsin

As a typical Predators fan, I'm always concerned with the fortunes of the team on a day to day basis. You can't be a fan of any sports team and not have this happen, I would think. There's a distinct difference, though, in the attitude when it comes to following this team.

In the past, it was a happy circumstance when they won – but you didn't expect them to go out and win games, night after night. Now, with the likes of Arnott, Kariya, Dumont, Suter, Weber and company on this team, you do expect them to win. It's only an odd situation when they don't. That is a major shift from those days of yore, when you just hoped that their hard work and tenacity would result in a lucky win. Now, it's only because something happened that took the game away from them.

That attitude change says something about this team. That and the fact they're 12-5-1 with their backup goaltender in net really tells you something.

On to other matters:

• The Milwaukee Admirals managed only their second loss in regulation for the month of December in Iowa on Saturday night. I'm not sure if it bothers me that they're taking so many games to OT, without finishing their opponents off in regulation. Still, to be where they are in the standings without their primary goaltender and without most of their firepower from the last few seasons is nearly outstanding. I honestly think that it's not a matter of if, but just when Claude Noel moves up to an NHL job – especially if he gets this team to the playoffs again.
• The execution of Saddam Hussein is not the be-all and end-all that some would hope it to be, to paraphrase the Bard. Hussein was an evil man who needed to be dealt with, yes – but his hanging is only a footnote to history, in my opinion. I also don't believe that confirmation of the death of Osama Bin Laden is going to do anything to end wars or make the world safer. One man can affect the destiny of many, but the death of one man doesn't necessarily affect the world as a whole.
• If anyone can explain to me, in plain language, what the Packers' playoff chances are, they're probably wrong. The easiest description I've heard was the quote from Steve Mariucci on NFL Network: "Every team has to win and then let the nuclear engineers figure it out." Actually, he's right – your chances drop if you don't win this week. The Packers probably aren't going to make the playoffs, of course – the Giants made sure of that Saturday night – but it's just amazing that we're still talking about their chances, even now.
• Speaking of the NFL Network, I'm not sure who's more to blame over the access issues. The NFL seems to think that their network is as good as ESPN, and should be carried like ESPN – on basic cable. What the NFL doesn't seem to realize is, ESPN got to where it was because it was in the right place, at the right time, with the right amount of content. To get to that point, the NFL is going to have to "pay their dues" by being another sports channel option, like CSTV and ESPNU. And no amount of letter writing and whining will change that. Oh, and a note to the NFL Network people: a better game broadcast would probably help your case.
• The NHL and Reebok are set to introduce their new "slimmed-down" uniforms at the All-Star Game in Dallas next month. It would behoove them to realize something about their planned product: uniforms, no matter what the sport, no matter what the occupation, are more meaningful to those who don't wear them than they are to those that do. No matter the opinions of those who own the team or who play the game – the most important opinion about what a team's players wear is those who are paying the freight: the fans. I honestly do not believe that it is a good idea to simply foist a new uniform of similar design on the fans of 30 team all at once. That isn't how it's done in other sports; uniforms have evolved over time and location, and all-at-once changes have rarely been taken with much approval.

Labels: Nashville Predators Admirals Hussein Packers playoffs NFL Network Reebok new NHL uniforms

I've found a minor bug in Mozilla Firefox 2.0: It appears that whenever the "automatic update" feature is used when you start Firefox, it will automatically revert the Tab option to load your homepage when creating a new tabbed window.

The affected item in about:config is browser. tabs. loadOnNewTab.

My only problem is, I haven't got a clue as to who to ask about this.

I WON THE TITLE!

It all came down to the Cowboys/Eagles game, and his backup RB (Julius Jones) and my backup RB (Bryant Westbrook).

The Eagles D held Jones to only 38 yards rushing and 10 yards receiving, which was good for only four points. Meanwhile, though the Cowboys kept Westbrook from scoring, they couldn't keep the Eagles from scoring - which meant that Jeff Garcia was turning around and handing the ball off to Westbrook constantly.

When Westbrook ran for four yards at the end of the game to make the first down - and go over 120 yards on the night - he got me the last point I needed to win.

And I did it after pointing out to my opponent that he had a player ruled ineligible due to a drug suspension.

That is what I call Christmas cheer.

There are times when it's tough to be courteous.

I've managed to get to the championship game of my NFL Fantasy Football League, known as the Packer Green And Gold League, and I was checking the results from the Saturday night game.

That was when I noticed that his starting wide receiver, Antonio Bryant, had been suspended on Friday by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. I pondered whether or not I should do anything, since his placement in the lineup gave me a distinct lead in projected points.

I decided that I didn't want to lose the championship because of a mistake by the other owner, and dropped him a message via the league message board about the suspension. He promptly started Isaac Bruce.

We each have one player going on Monday night (he has Julius Jones of the Cowboys, I have Bryant Westbrook of the Eagles). He has a seven-point lead, which isn't insurmountable - one touchdown more and a few yards. Bruce gave him 20 points - which wiped out a bad game by Anaquan Boldin of the Cardinals for me (6 points).

If I don't pull it out, I'll chalk it up to good sportsmanship. But I definitely won't forget how it happened.

It's championship week in Fantasy Football. I have managed to work myself into the title game of the Green And Gold Football League on NFL.com, and only have to worry if Michael Vick's sore groin can make it for at least one more week.

It should be a close game, but it'll all rest on whether or not Vick plays.

Well, unfortunately, it's official: The Pennsylvania Gaming Board awarded the slots license to a Detroit-based gaming company (the one that runs the Windsor Casino) - and not to Isle of Capri.

The winner of the license has said he would contribute $7.5 million per year towards a new arena - but the Penguins would have to foot the bill for the rest of the cost of the place.

Which means they won't be building a new arena.

Which also means that the Penguins are likely headed elsewhere - like Kansas City, for example.

Which means... the Detroit Red Wings would be headed to the Eastern Conference, to be replaced by Sid the Kid, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins.

I'm not sure if this is a good thing just yet, but it's a terrible day for Pittsburgh and hockey in general right now.

I hate Mount Union College.

Coach Brez, you deserved a better departure.

Can't win 'em all... but back-to-back title games and you lose them both?

Sigh.