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About Mike Boone
Full Name
Mike Boone
Web site
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/mike_boone.html
About
I grew up in Park Extension, within walking distance of Dickie Moore's Dairy Queen on Jean Talon. Moore had a place on L'Acadie Blvd., and we used to see him driving around in his convertible with a Samoyed and a very dishy wife.
While "studying" at McGill University during the 1960s, I used to attend games at the old Montreal Forum. My fellow undergraduate reprobates and I would scramble up the stairs to get centre-ice spots in the top standing room section, where aged ushers didn't know or care what we were smoking.
I stood out in the cold for six hours to get tickets to the 1975 New Year's Eve game between the Canadiens and Central Red Army. With the exception of the birth of my daughter, the 3-3 tie was the greatest event I've ever seen in my life.
The Canada-U.S. Gold medal game comes close .... but I wasn't there.
I've been a professional journalist since 1974, when I joined the Montreal Star sports department. I've covered the 1976 Olympic Games, the 1979 Expos, pop music and MSO tours of Europe and Asia (classical musicians are WAY more fun to drink with than athletes). I wrote a TV & Radio column for 20 years and, since 2000, have written a City column for The Gazette.
The best part of being a Habs Inside/Out contributor is attending games at the Bell Centre. I think it's a great building: noisy, raucous and packed to the rafters with Montrealers and visitors who live for hockey.
And I still get goosebumps every time Michel Lacroix booms out "Accueillons nos Canadiens ..."
Having seen the Boston Red Sox win two World Series and the Pittsburgh Steelers add a couple Super Bowl titles, I suppose I can die happy ... but not before another Stanley Cup parade. And I'd really like my daughter to see a historic New Year's Eve game.
I like all the players. Covering baseball gives me a profound appreciation of pro athletes who aren't jerks.
My weltanschauung was summarized by the late great Bill Hicks when he said "all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves."
Have a nice day.
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Gomez just does not seem the same since returning from the flu a few weeks back. Before that he was flying out there. Not making excuses or anything but he also could have been playing hurt for a while who knows. Hope it is not too serious. If he is out time for sergie to be called up sure wouldn't hurt the team and may provide a little spark to the team. Great game and win on the road....
just got up. haven't read any updates on Gomez this morning. that could be it. and seeing Gionta's out, he'd stay in the lineup a while, and tonight's back-to back against Detroit would explain his absence in managing his minutes. i hope it's nothing more serious than that.
Back from the game. The boys did a GREAT job of clearing Ovie out of the crease. His back must be smarting from all the stick checks and shoves. Carey had his mojo going (I was at the glass just to the left of Price for periods 1 and 3) he was very confident. We definitely got some lucky posts tonight, but a great effort by Hammer and Spacek, they both work so hard. Pleky was directing everyone on the ice and O'B looked good. Was a great game to watch (bit stressful at the end) but I was proud of them.
Where's all "Price sucks" ,"fire Martin" and "Trade Kostitsyn”?
It's just so boring around here without all the trolls’ incoherent babel. A lot more sensible but still boring
The last time the leafs won the cup it was still just a bowl!!
...Halak's competition with Price has spurred Him to work harder ...IT, Halak's playing well, WAS and IS the Best Thing for Price
...so stop this tiresome demeaning between those that KNEW Halak DESERVED more games because of Price's then shakey-play ...and Those that unobjectively perceive Carey as incapable of having faults
...most Halak supporters KNOW Carey has the most potential ...but ALSO knew that the Montreal Canadiens needed Jaroslav Halak to help Carey and The Team
...and, as We see, ...We were/are right
Habitant means PASSIONATE HOCKEY
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=423049
Hey, you got me all wrong. I like Halak and think he's a good goalie also. Two good goalies is a good thing, anyone remember Hayward/Roy years?
I was just trying to sick it to all those Price bashers that sit there watching the game waiting for the other team to score so they can run to their laptop and post the usual " nice save price" or whatever else irrational crap they can come up with, no matter if he had a chance or not to stop the puck.
I know the kid's not perfect and he does allow the odd bad goal when his confidence is down but he's still young and still improving. Most goalies don't hit their prime until their mid to late 20s
Everyone is intitled to his or her own opinions but there is a big difference between objective criticism and bashing because you just don't like a player
The last time the leafs won the cup it was still just a bowl!!
Here, here!!!
Where's all of the "holier than thou" "told you so" "cry to mommy" people? Oh, right here.
Why would anyone complain after a hard fought win, where Price played well (as he has been for the last few games!), and AK played well (same comment as for Price)... and as for the coach, only Carbo gets fired after a win :)
They're hiding until they lose another game with Price in net. I'm sure they were running wild when Fehr scored the laser into the top corner in the first.
You, "sir", are a pissant. Now go whine to the mods!
LOL. He's right. Go read the comments around that time, and you'll see that some of the known Price haters were out in force.
To you Habs Summit- ers!
We wish you the best. You are going into the weekend riding a high. All the best and may the Habs win!
I'll second that.
I think tonights game just reassured the team who the next captain should be: Thomas Plekanec.
This guy is doing everything in his power to help the team win and with Price has taken over the leadership on the ice.
I think you are going to start seeing more Montrealer in turtlenecks this winter.
100 % agree - Pleks is making this his team. He also is getting AK going with his comments in the media and such. I am becoming a big fan of his.
Yeah, baby! Just what I wanted to see: 60 minutes of determined hockey. O'Byrne was killer out there.
With Leach beside him, it would be a humungous barrier to the opposition. Add a healthy Gill with Mara and four of the top 6 are 6' 4" or larger.
Another injury is the price of success this season, it seems. Detroit is getting bavk to their winning ways, so yet another big test against a class club. The negative nancys I'm sure will call tonight's victory a fluke and call for a massacre at the hands of the Red Wings Saturday night. The way Pleks and co are starting to go, don't underestimate grit and heart and speed.
_________________________________________________________________________
Beliveau- his legend is 600' tall and growing...
So if Gomez doesn't suit up tomorrow, what's JM's plan? Call up SK-47?
Rent Pavel Datsyuk from Detroit for an evening.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
Had to PVR the game just after Patches missed shot. Had to ignore voicemails when I got back avoid any clues to the ending. WHAT A FINISH!?! WOW! Pleks winning that last draw and clearing the zone with a cracked blade? Green's post. OMG What a great game! The boys played hard for 60 minutes and won the battles they needed to win. Price still feeling itt. They will be whipped for Detroit but who cares? They earned a good one tonight for the game of the year. Amazing effort. Hope Gomez lower body injury not too serious.
Proud to be a fan tonight and that's all that matters right now.
IT'S A TEAM GAME - Go Habs Go!
for all the anti martin peeps take a night off . this game plan was put in place by martin and executed perfectly by the undermaned habs. i eat my words in which i said the caps would come out firing and blow us away. a great road game.
ps
i did not see much of gomez and i like the reduced minutes of laps and lats. those 2 are in the dog house for sure after taken life as a canadien for granted. the pressure is on these two i hope it keeps up.
an excellent character win.
Buzz Killington!?!?!?!?!
Its a boring sloppy ugly W - but its a W
This is a boring sloppy ugly Habs team - but I love them nonetheless
Btw - Gainey thought last years team was passive? what would this team qualify as? comatose? - Every shift I'd see a Hab player take that extra beat to pass, shoot and even locate the puck.
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AK46 - Plecs - SK74
That game was end to end playoff style hockey. We won a road game against the best team in the east with one of the best players in the league in regulation. I would tear you another asshole if you said that in front of me.
Yo Mayo! Take a hike ya hater!
Get your kicks elsewhere. Nobody appreciates or respects an antagonist.
IT'S A TEAM GAME - Go Habs Go!
I watched the game on the Washington feed and it seem different. I wonder why.
--This response is directed at the comments from the 'anti-chamber'.
Sloppy? I'd say it was the most unsloppy win of the year.
Latendresse ... 8 shifts, 6 minutes
Lapierre ... 12 shifts, 9 minutes
Talk about the doghouse. JM basically went with three lines tonight, with Lapierre. Latendresse, and Laraque putting in breather minutes. L'Antichambre don't like it. But I like it. Almost makes up for him allowing MAB to play.
Full Breezer 4 Life
L'Antichambre not liking it usually means you've done something right.
Max and Gui had a chance to continue on the improvement they showed in the Carolina game, then let it all go to waste and act like being French Canadian means you get to be on the team. I wish D'Agostini was back from his concussion so Gui could be benched like he should have been already. I think Lapierre can still be salvaged though.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
Random thoughts on tonight’s game:
1. Another solid outing by Price
2.AK46 played an awesome game; hope he's just getting started
3.Spach and Hammer shut down the best player in the NHL Ovie all night long, no easy task for a bunch of old-timers pushing 40
4.Cammys one timer made me shout "Kovalev who?"
5.O'Byrne showed no signs of rust (Maybe a little on the first goal) and should get better as the year goes on
6.Pleks just keeps rolling along, best player on the ice tonight (how clutch was those last 2 faceoff’s!)
7.Moen was a "Monster" (forgive me, too much McGuire is hard on the brain)
8. I'm convinced Gorges is trying to kill Price, did he sleep with his girlfriend or something?
9.Max Pac almost made me break my TV when he missed that open net
10.Pyatt is looking like the key acquisition in the Gomer trade, scary!
11.LA-LA where invisible, but in a good way, I think? (No bad plays that caused any goals so no harm no foul I guess)
Hope we can build on this win tonight; they fought hard right to the end against a superior opponent and deserved the win. Bring on Detroit?!...
The last time the leafs won the cup it was still just a bowl!!
I shouted Cammaloveyyyy
Great game by everyone, so many players really dug deep on this one. Tomorrow will be a tough one, we'll be tired after tonight, but so will Detroit hopefully. If we can get the great D we got today and shadow Zetterberg like we did Ovy, a win is a definite possibility with another weaker goalie coming our way.
Well under 1000 posts, in a win no less. Mike we let ya down.
______________________________________________________ Gionta for Captain.
2009/10 Montreal Canadiens = not exactly the flying frenchman they once were
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AK46 - Plecs - SK74
Habs wins really bug you. Any more SK74 predictions?
Anyone wanna switch seats?
Combination of the live chat and all the summiters. Just got back from day one of the summit at Hurley's Pub, it was excellent!
__________________________________________
http://berkshireonthehabs.blogspot.com/
Glad you guys had fun and enjoyed a hell of a victory tonight! :)
----- Go Habs f*kin Go - AMEN!!! -----
Well, Summit is going on right now I believe.. and also, people have less to argue about in a win.
So here's a question...
I don't think anyone can deny that defensive coverage was far superior against the Caps tonight, better than we've seen in a while. Now, what's everyone's opinion on how much of this result is due to OB's return?
they stiil have an issue clearing our zone. MAB SUCKS!!!
A depleted team coming off two less then stellar games, on the road against the unstoppable Ovy. Gut check time if there ever was such a moment in a season. The Habs played brilliantly, and executed JM's game plan perfectly.
I was pleasantly shocked. For the first time this season the final buzzer sounded and I had a huge smile on my face.
Bravo!
Hey people.
Crow.
Many of you have to eat some :D
maybe you should take a large slice of humble pie...
why should I take some humble pie?
People spend their time here ripping this team apart, whining and over-exaggerating, even personnally attacking players/ members of the organization.They were calling this team dead even before the puck drop. But any team can win on any given night.
Are we a good team? I don't think so. But I'll always love the Habs and cheer for them. I believe they can win. If they lose, I'm not gonna go Rambo on the internet calling for everyone's head.
Well said.
Habs fans for life, win or lose, no matter who plays for us it's the CH in front of the sweater that matters
GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!
The last time the leafs won the cup it was still just a bowl!!
i think calling out people to eat crow is ballsy considering the fact that the team has played poorly and people have every right to pick apart the team and whine. they're our team and we have the right to gripe when the product on ice sucks... and outside of a few players who've played well, the Habs have not been good. point a finger at people? remember there are 3 pointing back at you. let people say what they have to - it's not always rational or logical, but they need to vent sometimes.
If people are allowed to bitch, why can't I bitch at them bitching? ;) Actually I didn't even do that, just saying that many should eat crow.
And yeah, ''we are allowed to bitch, insult and boo because we are not happy with the team!'' the same old tirade that will be repeated throughout the year and many to come because people just like to complain. Notice how those who gripe when the on-ice product sucks, suddenly disappear when the said on-ice suckfest wins?
I think this team will finish bottom 10 in the NHL. It doesn't make me whine and throw tantrums when they lose. They try, they just don't have the right players. Fans can boo their hearts out for the remaining 60 games, but I can watch the game and enjoy hockey.
Credit Jacques Martin for a great game plan and having his guys ready.
lol, they got blitzed the last two periods but Price was, simply amazing. That's the fourth time this year, Price has stole a win for this team. Toronto, Buffalo, Boston and now Washington, all on the road.
U forgot the Canes
For the malcontents (Timo), I have just the thing:
"Hullo, there, blue people! Won't you join us?"
Ice(oo) Hockey (uh)
(Just translating your Japanese for those who don't understand...:) it says 'ice hockey' its written in katakana to render a foreign word, so the pronunication is pretty garbled...)
Timo said he wouldn't be able to watch tonight...does this make 5-0 when he can't watch?
Gomez has a lower body injury.
who cares.
the ones paying his $7 mil.
Did "the system" just kick in????
______________________________________________________ Gionta for Captain.
Allowing 34 shots? I hope not.
Habs unbeaten since the 20 game "gel period" ended. Guess everyone was right that it would take 20 games.
Franklin the Beagle, 7/1/2002-7/13/2009
No wonder Timo is absent again....
Timo is out dining on some fine TripleA Alberta beef. I am sure he will be disapointed on missing the Habs best game of the season.
not to steal anything away from the Habs, but OV was not himself - good thing for us - and I wonder if he's still injured or not 100% yet.
Most fans make excuses when they lose, this is the only place where the excuses come out for winning.
Franklin the Beagle, 7/1/2002-7/13/2009
don't be a dork. i give them credit for the win - read my post below. i'm just analyzing some of the factors of the game. go sniff something...
Ovechkin also didn't have Knuble and Semin to distract, it's easier to freeze him and Backstrom then try to freeze them out, then have to kill the D all over again trying to keep those two out of the crease and out of the shooting lanes. Both teams had injuries, Montreal was fortunate enough to come out on top.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
very good point. he didn't have his usual support cast and it made him easier to cover.
consider this, too:
OV attempted 13 shots. 5 made it to the net. 4 missed the net and 4 were blocked. this for a guy we considered invisible tonight...
I think he wasn't himself because he had a hab in his back pocket the second he touched the puck. For once, we actually had good coverage, and it really hurt his game. The shot was still there, as was the speed and fire, he just had fewer opportunities because we were on him all night.
OV scored the first goal against the Rangers on Tuesday. He made some nice hits, and played well. The Habs simply stopped him and Backstrom tonight.
i concur.lets give the habs some credit for shutting down the highest scoring team in the league.
Add that we've been great on SH lately, not just tonight.
Omg ...the Post at the last minute..almost killed me
great game...the boys played great and looked like they were on RedBull or something..energetic game!!
please get rid of MAB, somehow
----- Go Habs f*kin Go - AMEN!!! -----
God, he is atrocious! And was on the ice with 2!!!! minutes left. He would be so glued to the bench at that point if I was the coach.
I thought O'Byrne had a pretty darned good game tonight as well, especially in the first period. Great way to come back to the team, he looks like he'll be a tremendous help to a team that was nursing a few too many wounds.
He was the definition of Solid. Was virtually invisible, except when he pinched down into the caps zone, and other than that, you only noticed him when he was knocking opposing players down. GREAT first game back for him. Picked up exactly where he left off.
SIGN PLEKS TONIGHT
FIRE MAB TONIGHT
Antichambre just showed the replay of the Caps first goal, and boy does Carey stare Mara down for screening him. Mara wouldn't even look at him, just skated away with his head down.
Price must have slept with Mara's wife!
that happened a couple of times...i know Mara has good intentions and like to defend his teammates but..oh boy does he need to be careful with the screening!!!
----- Go Habs f*kin Go - AMEN!!! -----
Frigging TSN just did a long piece on what the Leafs will look like NEXT SEASON. Darren Dreger is a leaf-loving HACK. That guy seriously eats clock.
Full Breezer 4 Life
Eats what-now?
aw, come on, give him credit for realizing they won't win the cup this year!!!
Does it involve Burke taking Chiarelli's family hostage so he can get his first-round picks back so they can select Taylor Hall? That might be a viable strategy.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
Carey can be very cool and calm at times, but at others he can show some real 'tude.
Hey nobody has mentioned it but Pyatt had a tremendous game.To think he was basically a throw in-in that off-season higgins/gomer-pile deal.
Love that guy!! Welcome to MTL boy!!
----- Go Habs f*kin Go - AMEN!!! -----
Great game by team everyone got to contribute pretty or not. I like how the coach keeps giving chances to players who are not quite on full beam. I liked OB"s hitting his first shift and clearing the net, hopfully watching a few games he saw what is needed. Great coaching tonight. Great battle by everyone.
Why can Max and Gui have a resurrection one game, than be empty uniforms the next? This is beyond infuriating, the team having to clean up their crap when they're back on the bench made this game way too close.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu.
It's called the 'tide factor', Build them up, watch them wash away. RDS is great at building sandcastles.
Big win, time for a celebratory beer! I'm starting to like these friday night games. Back home and the Wings tomorrow night.Hope Gomer isn't hurt too bad. It never gets easy for this team. Cheers, GO HABS GO!!!
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