Wednesday October, 8th may have been the most boring day for sports news since baseball season began. Absolutely no professional games the Tuesday night prior, and very little to stir the pot with. Hmm... You know? I wonder how the SportsCenter creative team prepared for this lackluster news program. I'm sure it went something like this...

SC Executive Producer: So has Tony Romo picked out his ring for Jessica Simpson yet?

Producer #1: No he hasn't, she refuses to wear it until Jerry Jones gives him a signing bonus of 2 Mil.

SC Executive Producer: Brilliant! Let's open with it! What else can we use?

Producer #2: Well theres Stuart Scott's "Top 10 Boo Ya's" highlight reel, a doberman pincher wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey, and with some spare time left we can have Hannah Storm decorate the studio with Boston Red Sox Fatheads!

SC Executive Producer: Terrific!

Producer #3: Ummm guys... I know this seems weird, but it feels like we're missing a sport.

Producer #1: Is it Badmitten season already?

Producer #3: No, but if memory serves me correctly it does involve a net.

SC Executive Producer: Oh, right. The NHL. Didn't they move to some foreign country or something?

Producer #2: No, they played four games in Europe last weekend. This week begins their season we should probably do a preview or something?

SC Executive Producer: Didn't we already do that last year?

Producer #1: Hey! I got an idea! Why don't we show that piece cut on Sean Avery becoming a fashion intern? That would totally get the audience ready for hockey season!

SC Executive Producer: Perfect! Throw it on after the dog!


Naaa hockey would never take a backseat on their programming! Before we continue to digress, ESPN decided to show this fashion piece on Sean Avery instead of doing the obvious preparation for hockey season. And yeah, we all knew some interesting things about Sean during his tenure here. The women he dates, the clothes he wears, etc. But the truth has finally come out, and it's all good reason to either no longer be fearful of him, or even more so.

He admitted that he never thought he was gonna be an athlete growing up. He was more into dressing up his babysitters dolls then rolling around in the mud with Tonka Trucks. His young boy hobbies were not collecting baseball cards or playing with Batman action figures. He enjoyed the fine, vibrant, silky smooth looks of women's clothing. "It's probably my desire for dress up that brings me back to women's clothing." said Avery in the interview.

Handbags, sun bonnets, and evening gowns. Just a few of Sean's many passions off the ice. It was even on his mind during last years playoffs when he decided to write a letter to the editor of fashion magazine Vogue asking if he could intern with them. He spent the entire summer critiquing high heels and coach bags, and when New York Fashion Week came along, he was sitting alongside Wynonna Rider and Martha Stewart watching the clothes go by on the runway.

Well we all know if he was commissioner of the NHL, he'd be able to beat out Bettman for Best Dressed. He also thinks he would do a much better job at marketing the sport. (Though even a mule could do a better job) Avery stated "They haven't figured it out that villains and heroes are what sells... Nobody cares about Jerome Iginla and guys like that. They're just not exciting enough." Wow. Good point. The only time I ever really cared about Jerome Iginla was when I had the 7th pick in my fantasy draft and he was the best available.

So when the Stars come to town October 20th, the Rangers have nothing to worry about. If Avery gets in someone's face, it probably because their skate laces didn't match their jersey stripes, or their helmet is the wrong tint of blue. It's sad to see, but the current style trends are much more complex then a Scandanavian mullet and a gapped tooth grin. You can check out the piece in it's entirety here. sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3632996

Oh by the way, no. 1 on Stuart Scott's Top 10 list of BOO YA's, a Joe McEwing two run Homer.

        

Fredrik Sjostrom had some time on the 4th line today with Blair Betts and Color Orr indicating that he might very well dress for tomorrow's game.

More on this as it comes along.

        

Why not both?

People are wondering why they never saw either of these two players in the first two games over in Prague. Hopefully that will change on Friday and one of the two, if not both, will play.

Problem is, 99% of the players are playing great at the moment.

Colton Orr, Aaron Voros and Blair Betts played perfect with each other. Petr Prucha had a great two games in my eyes.

The only player I saw that gives me the heebie jeebies is Nigel Dawes. Is holding a roster spot away from a player like Sjostrom the best thing to do for a player who really only does amazing against Martin Brodeur and shootouts?

I still rather see Sjostrom play Friday. What do you guys (and ladies) think?

pollcode.com free polls

Who should play this Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks?

Dan Fritsche Fredrik Sjsotrom Petr Prucha Nigel Dawes

        

Definitely a question everyone is asking lately as Brendan Shanahan continues to sit at home waiting for a phone call from the New York Rangers.

That phone call will never come according to Sam Weinman.

There are many teams interested in having Shanny come play for them. St. Louis, New Jersey, and the Islanders I am sure are three of them.

As much as I would hate to see it, I say he goes back to where it all began in New Jersey or even signs with the Carolina Hurricanes and re-live some of his old Whaler days.

But, who knows if he will even return to the game he loves. But I would love to know what is going on.


(Photo: Icon SMI)

        

Well, the Rangers are undefeated in Europe!

Knocked the Lightning out yet again. For a full recap you can visit "Ranger Nation".

See ya Mr. Mullet!

        

On my debut blog post for Ranger Nation, I would just like to re-post a forum article I wrote before today's game. This was a situation that happened last night and I would like to share it with you all so we as a Ranger Nation can stay true to what we love and believe in, our Broadway Blueshirts.


Last night I'm at a bar seeing my friends band play. (Remember this is on Long Island) The last couple days I've been getting myself pumped up for these weekend games loving the fact that the next 6 months of my life will be dedicated to hockey. So traditionally I celebrated this opening day eve going to the bar wearing my Brendan Shanahan Blue Sweater.

I had Ranger fans walking up to me the whole night getting into every kind of conversation there is. From "We shoulda re-signed Shanny." to "They don't need Avery and Jagr" to "Have you seen this Korpi kid" and my favorite "Henrik will win 40, shut out 12 and notch his first Vezina Trophy." It was a nice feeling, all these strangers immediately became family members. The Ranger fans really do have that way about them that they support each other no matter what, we're one crazy family.

On the other side of the fence, I'm on Long Island, a raunchy, sleazy place where if you don't know someone you count as their enemy. Really I can't wait to move to Brooklyn. So my friend introduced me to this girl and her sister, and we went outside in the lounge and just started talking a bit you know how it goes. Then outta no where, this big dude gets between the two girls right in my space and says "Yo you ladies don't need to be talking to this piece of trash Ranger fan, why don't you come over here and talk to a real hockey fan." Whoa. Dude, A.) Back off you're stealing my thunder. B.) Real hockey fan? You're trying to convince this girl who most likely knows nothing about hockey that a fan of the Islanders is a real hockey fan? The conversation was never about hockey. He just wanted to rub his nose in because he thought that he could steal away my ladies for being an Islander fan. I can't begin to think how that thought process of that making sense actually works, but they have IQ's of of about 12 so I forgive.

Second incident of the night. I go up with my buddies band to sing some Pearl Jam like we do every show. Afterwards a girl comes up to me telling me she enjoyed that and she used to be in a band and on and  on and on. She's playing beer pong so I take a minute to cheer her on, it's down to one cup I'm giving the old words of encouragement, and everything is cool. Until this bull dyke girl from the other team just starts stomping over to me screaming about something. I can't even tell what she is really saying I kinda hear "Season ticket holder since whenever for the Islanders." She then shows me her wedding ring and says stay the hell away from my wife. First of all the fact they are lesbians really makes no difference, but she had the nerve to scream at me just for wearing this well knit blue sweater of pride? I never even mentioned hockey, she just went ballistic. That led to other problems where somebody wanted to break my neck, but I'll spare you detail on that.

Now after these incidents happened last night I got myself to thinking. Why are all Islanders fans screwed in the head? They had an amazing 4 year championship run, yeah they only thing they can really write home about, besides that what the hell is their beef? If I'm at a bar and I see some guy with an Islanders jersey, I laugh to myself or friends I'm with, move about 50 feet away from the guy and that's the end of it. No fights, no talking nothing. I want nothing to do with them. But I don't think I've ever seen an Islander fan wear their jersey to a bar. I don't know many Islander fans who actually own their jerseys. Every Ranger fan has at least one and always wear it with pride. Islander fans don't do that. They would much rather waste their time being angry at the Ranger fans then supporting their own. Don't get me wrong who the hell would their terrible. But I remember Rangers fans standing by their team from 98 until the lockout. We were out of it in November every year but we stuck by them no matter what.

So use this story not only to be angry at the Island enemies, but to remember who you are and take pride in that. We root for a team from the greatest city in the world, always remember that. Always know where your fellow blueshirt fans are and make sure you have their back. Love them like family. Because we are Ranger Nation. An Irresistable Force mixed with an Unmovable Object. A team with great history, a suffering one, but an amazing story 14 years ago changed that all and that's something to be proud of. So whenever the games about to begin, get out of your chairs and start screaming as if you were at the Garden... LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!

        

2:33pm EST - The Rangers win by a final score of 2-1. Ranger goals by Dubie and Naslund. Tampa Bay's lone goal came from St. Louis.

2:24pm EST - Power play goal by Brandon Dubinsky! Great shot past Smith.

2:16pm EST - What a beautiful glove save by Henrik Lundqvist! Geez. If there is any questions about his health they all just went out the window with that play.

2:09pm EST - Markus almost cashed in on his 2nd goal of the game. Tried to stuff it in on a fallen Mike Smith.

2:04pm EST - Game tied 1-1 on a goal by Martin St. Louis.

2:00pm EST  - That had to hurt! A Wade Redden shot found its way to a part on Mike Smith's arm that had no padding...

1:51pm EST - I am watching a feed of the game from CBC (Hockey Night in Canada). Boy do I miss Sam and JM, these announcers SUCK. I know that's harsh to say but they really suck. And I am sick of Mike Milbury's "insight".

1:36pm EST - GOAL! Welcome to New York Markus Naslund. Great set up by Gomez....

1:15pm EST - Lots of skating, not to many good chances at the net. A couple of posts have been hit and boy does Colton Orr look good flying around on big ice. Maybe they should make bigger rinks at MSG.

        

Even though I am a die hard Ranger fan I could always appreciate other teams and athletes.

When I first noticed Chris Drury playing for the Colorado Avalanche I saw a hard nosed player who fit the Blueshirts model perfectly.

Friends and colleagues close to me can tell you that every season, when the off-season would roll around, I would complain and whine like a little girl that I wish the Rangers would go out and trade for or sign Chris Drury, that he would make the perfect captain for the Rangers.

Well, today I got my wish.

Congratulations Chris, it's been years in the making.

        

It has been made official.

Chris Drury is now the 25th captain in New York Rangers history. Scott Gomez and Markus Naslund will be sporting the "A"'s.

Drury said he is very excited about this honor.

A snippet from Sam Weinman's blog "Rangers Report" that I liked:

"When asked what it will be like not having a co-captain as he did in Buffalo with Daniel Briere, Drury said, “I think I’ve got two of them.”"

        

Corey Potter and Brian Fahey were sent down to the minors. The Rangers will now carry 15 forwards and only 6 defensemen.

Both Potter and Fahey will not have to clear waivers so its definitely an easy decision for the Rangers.

Also, Petr Prucha angrily blew off a reporter and said he is not in Saturday's lineup against Tampa Bay. Does this mean Prucha will be the odd man out?

More on this as it comes in.........