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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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Observations :
1: Gorges is too small to be an effective defensive d-man over a full season never mind playoffs. He gets knocked down and off the puck as much as anyone I've ever seen,
2: Da'gs is twice the player that Maxwell is. And D'ags is awful
3: I wish I saw the Pitt game yesterday and the efforts of the "kids" line.they were a total invisible non-factor,besides the B's 1st goal where White lost the puck,screened the goalie and tipped the puck in all within 5 seconds
4:Having Price on the bench for 20-25 out of the last 30 games is a waste IF you can, get a valuable player for him,Big top 6 forward,or packaged to edmonton for their pick.
5: They played good for 20 minutes,not a great game like many are saying.
6: 3 of our top 6 were injured,legit excuse for losing,but not getting shutout as b's were missing 2 of their top 5 d-man,and #2 ctr
When is the big AK46 coming back???Man we need that mofo!!!!NOwWW!!
SK needs to play with a goal scorer. Darche is not the man. Plekanec also misses a few chances.
I really want to see the K brothers and Plekanec play together for a few games.
Allow me to quote what JD wrote in her blog:
"Sergei Kostitsyn is playing well, but he's a playmaker. You can tell him to shoot more all you want, but his passing ability is world-class and his instincts tell him to look for a linemate. It's hard to adjust instinct in a top-speed game, so he needs someone on his line who can shoot the puck. Plekanec tried to do that today, but that's not his game either. Andrei Kostitsyn is the guy with the size, nose for the net and wicked shot for whom his brother is looking out there. Unfortunately, Mathieu Darche...who has a lot of other strengths, don't get me wrong...was there instead."
She watched the same game as I do!
Don't give me that ***. Darche played a fine game
he played fine for a third liner... but deffinatly not a player that should be on the top two lines
What's with this infatuation with SK?
SK sucks, pal.
Who passed the puck to Plekanec for the break away? Watch the game again.
Whoop de doo. He passed the puck to #14.
WOW!!!
Watching the CBC game this afternoon and I couldn't understand the reason for the Toronto skyline photo in the panel's background during intermissions.
Of course, da leaves weren't even playin!!!
I don't know why you're all so upset. We outscored the Bruins 2-1. Unfortunately somebody needs to tell White and Gorges that next time it should be the other net.
I like Plekanec but, the Habs must do one of two things:
The team has two centres that basically play the same game. They both become less effective against more physical or tight checking defensive systems. I would also like to point out that this notion of keeping both goaltenders would be a huge error. I would be willing to part with either one but, I believe that moving Halak would be the right move. His value is as high as it will ever be. However, if Price brings back the big physical centre/forward that this team lacks you make that move. In the end, moves have to be made to move this franchise forward. Gainey took step one this summer by bringing in some more tradeable assets. Time for step two.
first off we have to play halak right up to the break, plus , many might not like this but we should package up price pleks and mara, and maybe even dags for carter parent and a prospect or bolland and barker
I would rather bring in a package from St.Louis that includes Backes and Perron.
Personally i find plekanec handles physical teams pretty well this season.
He doesn't get pushed around and fights in the slot. It's not his fault his line mates keep going down with injuries.
How much would you get for a UFA rental?
Who would take an $8M albatross?
Other than that, it sounds like a plan.
I am sure you could find takers for either one. If the Flames could unload Phaneuf (7 million) why wouldn't a team that has cap space take on a player with a couple of championship rings? What has Phaneuf ever done? If Plekanec gets 5.5 million next year is he worth it? Is Elias worth 6 million/year? Gomez is not a bad player and by all accounts is a great player in the room. Let me ask you, when Marleau goes on the market this summer will he be worth what he gets? Was Souray worth what he got? Was Horcoff? Jason Blake? Heatley? Thornton? Lecavalier? Handzus? Gomez is getting market value!!! Teams are looking to win championships. If a team feels a player can help them win they WILL overpay! It has been proven over and over again!
Hey, bring on the Caps. We seem to be good at ending streaks.
teams that have the boston type forwards give gorges fits...in fact our entire d cannot handle them
OB is the only one that sort of can.
Take out Plekanec, Gionta and Gomez and there is ONE player playing today with more than 10 goals, Metropolit, I'm not going to be too hard on them today.
Oh and Gomez only has 8, were missing 61 goals today due to injury, and no one understands why we couldn't score
On the issue of Price playing wednesday:
Not only is it not fair for Carey to start against the insanely hot Caps, I think Halak has earned more than "lose and your out". When a goalie plays as well as he has, it should only be after two games that he's switched out. Then again, he might be tired. Regardless, as much as I like Carey, Halak has earned the right to deserve to play after a loss.
no, he's played like crap for 2 games in a row. He has to be benched for a while
No, he needs to play Wednesday.
you mean traded
understood
could the habs have drafted Lucic..who did we draft instead..just asking.
2006 NHL Entry Draft
2 49 Mtl. Canadiens Ben Maxwell C Kootenay Ice [WHL] 7 0 0 0 2
2 50 Boston Milan Lucic L Vancouver Giants [WHL] 149 25 44 69 225
wow...lmao..what a joke.
And you were all over that at the time right?
It's a MAB MAB world.
Up and down like "hookers panties"
Price in on Wed to break Caps streak. Back with Halak for the Flyers back to back.
------
Komisarek: 0 - 4 - 4 (-9) http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8469460
Mr. Boone can you do us fans a favor? Please ask JM the reasoning for NOT playing SK74 on the PP? Does it make sense for a team lacking in scoring punch to not put one of our few naturally skilled forwards on the PP?
Naturally skilled??
How many goals does he have? Maybe 2.
If you cannot see he has natural god given skills it might be time to follow curling.
What is your point? Gomer has 8 goals and earns 7.3 million. You mean Bobo was mistaken and Gomer has NO skills?
2 goals does not make me think SK 74 is a natural. He certainly likes to hustle to the bench when it's time for a change, though.
As for Gomez, I agree with u. Glen Sather is extremely pleased to have a great friend such as Bob Gainey.
And the curling was great today. A hell of a lot better than the hockey game.
dream on... that might cost a few perks.
Where's the rant, Timo? Habs lost. Fire everybody!
no kidding eh
For everyone who thinks Price should get next start (including, maybe, me): Is it fair to throw him out there against the Caps after sitting for 2 weeks? If it's a blowout and they make Price look bad (a possibility with Ovie and the team on fire), he won't get another start for 2 more weeks! And Halak hasn't played bad enough to "deserve" to sit... What do you think?
Edit: Olympic break changes things. Ok not all I said applies anymore.
"love cannot drown truth, Nefertiti"
I agree it is unfair to Price and makes little sense. That is why JM WILL do it. JM rarely uses logic when making his decisions but rather voodoo mixed with stubbornness. Halak LOST and the next game is on the ROAD so Price will start.
JM bases his decisions on showing everyone he's in charge. He enjoys being a prick.
________________________________________________________
"Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!"
next game is not on the road. we play wednesday at home against OV. I say rest halak. play price and then come back with Halak friday and saturday nights.
My mistake you are correct. JM might play Halak even he won't be dumb enough to sacrifice Price like that.
Mr. Canada, u would be wise to stop commenting because ur statements don't carry a lot of weight.
these games happen and will happen ...after gion,plecks and gomez there were very few or any forwards in the line up that can score 5-5 regularly..moen,white,maxwell, lapps are not scorers ...metro can only score on the pp...sk74 is not a goal scorer...strange as it sounds this team has a better chance vs pitts than a boston or philly
Everyone says we sucked today but we didn't. We sucked against Vancouver and won because of Halak, SUUUUUCKED on thrusday but won cause of Halak, played well yesterday and won, outshot Boston but couldn't beat Raask today, anyone who thinks they played worse today than on thursday is nuts
All I'm saying is that they didn't come close to matching yesterdays intensity. No where near. They did pick up there game but after they let Boston get a lead.
I agree with that, but they played well enough to score a goal, unlike many games this year when they don't score and are outplayed all game long
I agree with that, but they played well enough to score a goal, unlike many games this year when they don't score and are outplayed all game long
Guaranteed that JM poisoned the kids in their sleep. Count Chocula was thirsty for some fresh victims.
JM is strangling this team, he doesn't seem to identify what's allowed the team to have their strong wins when they commit to attack, he keeps trying to make them play trap.
- I shall always remember Captain Koivu. http://habsandhockey.blogspot.com/
Yesterday they left me wanting more, today, no so much.
I feel the same. We always seem to flirt with being real. Then we stink to high heaven. ________________________________________________________
"Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!"
Exactly!!!
No further comments needed.
Can't lose one game in this town, even when it's a solid effort
Solid efforts don't usually result in shutouts for the other team. I'm not going to say they were terrible, because Rask was on fire, but it wasn't a solid effort. Zero net presence, so no second-chance opportunities. Not going to get many wins without that, regardless of who they are playing.
It was a solid effort considering they have two of their top scorers injured, one player in his 2nd nhl game, one in his 3rd, on in his 20 somthing, one journeyman on the second line OH and another in his 5th or something, they are doing the best they can with what they have, you can't score many goals when you have two guys on your top two lines who don't have 100 nhl game played combined.
So how do you account for yesterdays game. Did they forget how to play and do the things they did 24 hours prior
Adrenaline. The 4th line yesterday was all about adrenaline. One night in Montreal and poof!
Well maybe just maybe, as well as the Habs played, the Penguins probably played their worst games of the year. That doesn't make sense, how do you account for the fact that Toronto is in 14th place yet they beat Washington this year, sometimes teams play better than they are and sometimes teams play worse than they are but on average, this is what your gonna get with 5 AHLers in the lineup
Good point, but i will only buy half of that, But your point is valid
I think Rask´s shutout wasn´t really deserved... We sucked. At least we know Habs can play, we saw it yesterday. I belive they will not be as crappy as they were today against Washington...
http://media.turku.fi/kamera1.html
We sucked? Bruins had THREE shots in the second, Rask made several key saves including a break away on Plekanec.
Okay.. He did good, you´re right about that... But still i´d like to say that we didn´t lose because of him...
http://media.turku.fi/kamera1.html
We were terrible. Boston was terrible also. In the battle of suck, they came out on top. Simple as that.
No, thursday we were terrible, today we were better but not good enough to beat Raask.
Only three players stood out today: Plekanec, Sergei and OB.
The rest were sub-par if not ridiculously bad. I'd say that's grounds for us being terrible. I think Halak was solid and 2 goals were scored by our own players.
Lame
3 stars:
1. Rask
2. White
3. Gorges
There are two jobs in this world where you can make mistakes over and over and still have a job - a weatherman and coach of the habs.
If you're on a losing streak, no worries, just wait until you play the Habs, and right your ship!..ugh!! What a jekyll and hyde freaking team!...sigh.
Pathetic stuff, but Boston was due to win,especially with the help they got from the Habs today.
It just shows how badly the Habs need at least one big strong forward who can shoot at the net with some accuracy..
This Habs version is mediocre at best....sadly all we get are flashes of brilliance & glimmers of hope, but nothing lasting...
Have we become the leafs ?
what's wrong with pouliot or ak46? Pouliot is big and AK46 is big enough and very strong
Pouliot has been a welcome addition,.but the Habs need some consistency on scoring,and Ak doesn't fit that bill ,.Pouliot however has done his part so far,
the things about ak46 is that even when he is not scoring, he is in front of the net tying up 2 d-men and screening the goalie
ah well, it's not the end of the world.... the only problem is no wings today!
Hope you saved yesterday's batch.
I use the grease from your free wings to style my hair.
________________________________________________________
"Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!"
Does it really last two months? That's some good grease.
Yeah it does. And I find it easier to manage than Lucas X-tra Heavy Duty Grease from Canadian Tire or the poutine grease I get from the chip truck.
________________________________________________________
"Hey Richard, two minutes for looking so good!"
Our 3 go-to guys are out. We only have one right now and it's Gionta. How much can a 5'7 player do against a roughhouse team like Boston? Benny would have capped a few today, I'm sure.
Halak wasn't great, but he shouldn't have to be against a team like the bruins. had we been able to score a couple, that third goal would never had happened. Sucks that he had to put up with the same team that shows up when Price plays, including the own-goals.
What's with you and Price, is he a family member
My goalie plays bigger than your goalie.
Halak was as good as he had to be. This team was horse crap today. Utter garbage.
Hey Boone, Please ask JM why his team came out flat today, Boston was beatable. Zero intensity to start off the game. I guess the Novelty for the Kids wore off too,
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