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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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Hehe thanks for the props Habsinsideout!
Hey there is a new rumor launched by hockey30.com!
Oilers would be interested in HAMRLIK.. Gainey in SMID and PENNER.
Thats the link to the RUMOR.
http://www.hockey30.com/magazine/echange-hamrlik-pour-smid-et-penner/
I love this tune. The lyrics make me crack up.
For those with cell phones and the like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kIZeVoRBuU
SUNDAYS QUESTION OF THE DAY....geeze that was loud.........What should be the line changes or line ups, as the new Canadiens team stands ????On a personal note if you don't make room for Dag and Pax you have fallen of the boat,lol
training camp will decide this question
Booney!
Since you're putting up any and every video to pass the time why not post this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABazl9l-aJE
It's a Hockey themed video from the musician who gave us the 25 Feels Like 93 Habs song last year.
Remember the one that played on L'Anti Chambre every time the Canadiens won? Like 7 times!
Slayd should edit his "Feels like 93" video - in the english one he should change the words from
"Bust my Komisarek out" to "Burn my Komisarek" or somethin'
Good gravy, what's not to like about PK?
I actually think church is the only place you can get away with a public fart. Who's gonna finger wag?
Father forgive me for I have sinned, I farted during you're sermon?
I'm sayin'! The next time I visit my brother in Laval? I'm off to Catholic mass where I'm gonna float a sour-biscuit just to see what happens!
I hope subban gets to play for montreal at one point and not get traded seriously if people want a d man give them fischer theres a rumor he'll never play anyway give away his rights to another team maybe sather can take him :P
Can't wait to see PK in a Habs uni.....
Phew! Glad that's over.
Heck, you didn't even get to work up a sweat.
I know. What a let down. I was just getting into it!
Back to peace and quite is OK for me. Line combos anyone? ;-)
Ahhh! ,you got it but I don't think the others did.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......lol, not the line combos.
It wouldn't be the same without Carbo behind the bench anyway. The defencemen up front, Kostopoulos on the first line, Kovalev on the fourth, Higgins at centre...nah, it just wouldn't be the same.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
You forgot Gorges on wing! Who in their right mind dresses EIGHT defensemen!!!! I was waiting for Halak to be on D last season.
JT , are you going to follow the Bulldogs over to Scotland to report on their training camp this year? You did such a good job reporting last year and in the interest of good journalism,etc.
Sure, I'm game to go to Scotland! I've got a cousin there I can stay with, if you all want to chip in for the airfare. :)
On a serious note though, the 'Dogs owner was in St.John's about a month ago, getting wined and dined by the city officials who'd love to see the AHL back in Newfoundland. It seems he's looking for a possible new home for the franchise, in the event Balsillie gets the 'Yotes to move to Hamilton.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
Id love to see the Bulldogs back in Newfoundland.. but not sure about Basilies methods. But you know what? He plays dirty. So if Hamilton gets a franchise, then I say up the Dogs and move em East. (I always wanted to visit the east coast anyway)
Forgot the wink on my post and had thought of adding "I'm sure the Gazette would need a reporter there" but Mike seems to be a little sensitive about remarks like that lately...ops!
Sometimes I swear to God Carbo was getting his line combos from here.
No, if he was, then Andrei Kostitsyn might have actually played his real position for a change.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
LOl when i would go to habs games and carbo would freak out and change everything crazy carbs line changes everyone must play toghether atleast once !
Figured I'd put a bit together on the death of John Kordic, who died at 27 (and he's not the only one) on this day in 1992.
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
Who was the guy in Boston that he had the epic battles with? They would just stand there and slug it out. The only blocking done was with their faces. Tough kid, too many demons.
Jay Miller???
That's him to both of you. They were classic's.
Lynden Byers was one...There's a vid of the two of them at the end...Also a short one of him slugging Wendel Clark :)
Jay Millar is the one you are thinking about, here's a compilation of those:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzVFg7QI2qo
Kordic was a machine in his day...Just unloaded left hooks one after another and could take a whack of punishment.
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
<p>Remember that great video was posted awhile back? What did it say? It said it loud and clear, didn't it?:
<p>Never. Ever. Feed the trolls.
<p>Never.
<p>Let them get the last word, it's fine. Yes, I know, you don't want to lose face to an idiot. Trust me, you're not. You have many tricks; they only have one.
<p>Never feed them.
<p>Peace Out
<p>_____________________________________________________
<p>Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Vicount of Vernersvurgh, Duke of Dickleberger and Follower Extraordinaire of The St.Flannel.
Bugsy, you left your rich text disabled but message understood. This is not actually a troll but some other name as my son informs me. Damned if I can remember, but he will be gone by morning.
Already done :)
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
Question of the day....Gary Bettman and the board of Governors have stated they want the courts in charge of the bankruptcy sale of the Phoenix franchise to not let Jim Basalie purchase said team and move it to Hamilton based on the grounds he's not competent,lol....Do you think Jim Basalie ( the Owner of one of the biggest Canadian products on the phone and electronics market today) should be allowed to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes ???
man..... is that your face in the urinal ? lol!
The bankruptcy court's job is to sell the assets of the bankrupted company for the highest price possible, in order to satisfy as many creditors as possible. In light of that responsibility, and considering the other less-than-stellar offers on the table, it's the judge's duty to allow an open bid on the team. If Balsillie is offering more money to cover more of the debt owed the team's creditors than the other bidders, it would be completely out of line for the judge to disallow his bid. The NHL's internal politics should mean nothing to him. He automatically is required to award the team to the highest bidder and let the league sort out its own problems outside his court.
On the other hand, the bankruptcy court is responsible for selling the *assets* of the team, not necessarily the franchise itself. If there's more money to be had by breaking up the team and selling assets individually, it's his job to consider that option as well. Wouldn't it be sweet to see the Coyotes' players auctioned off as assets? "On the block now we have a lovely speciman. He's 6'2" and 216 lbs. A right-handed shot, he's averaged thirty goals in his last four seasons. Bids for Shane Doan open at five million dollars. Do I hear five?"
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
It would create quite a dilemma for the NHL if BerryBoy won though, wouldn't it.
I must say, I'm not a fan of Balsillie's backdoor tactics, but I dislike Bettman so much I'll really enjoy watching him and Daly try to manipulate the rules to get rid of their nemesis.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
Very nice guy, big smile, very competent, nice suits, lotsa money. LOTSA money. Guy seems ok. So you let'm look at the cars in the garage while you're going over his application.
You come back, you find out he took the Jag out for a spin cuz he figured he was part of the club. Doesn't take you long to realize this guy is disingenuous, Extra. Behind your back, he CASUALLY dismisses your procedures and protocols and acts like he owns the place. Your place, Extra.
Now, any club, EVERY club has rules. (those attended by men anyway.ouch to the ladies!) If there were no rules, you wouldn't have bothered to have the application typed out in the first place. C'mon.
If it was just about the MONEY, Extra, don't you think there'd be a bit more, oh, I don't know, RUSSIAN investors with teams in hand, maybe? Heck, Bill Gates could buy every team and turn around and go back to bed, wouldn't promote the game in any way.
I'd suggest you write a letter to the NHL backing Ballsy and all things Ontarian fulla reasons why he's perfecter than anybody else cuz he gots a ready wad, which, by way of subtraction, makes him the ideal candidate. Please.
Dogs stay in Phoenix and prove everybody wrong or they go back to Winnipeg where they belong. I'll back THAT. But goosing me up for a THIRD Ontarian team?
feh.
Peace Out
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Vicount of Vernersvurgh, Duke of Dickleberger and Follower Extraordinaire of The St.Flannel.
No he should not! Balsillie did not even file a formal bid when this whole mess started.
Basically, he and Moyes tried to cut a deal behind the League's back, and somehow thought he'd get away with it...So you got one guy filing Chapter 11 and another who's trying to by-pass NHL protocol....Good mix!
Rather surprised that the judge even allowed Blackberry Boy in the September bidding when he knew the NHL govenors already turned him down.
I'm no fan of Bettman, but I support the NHL on this one.
Jim Balsillie always tries to bully/buy his way into getting a franchise. First it was Pittsburgh, then Nashville and now Phoenix.
I honestly think Hamilton could support another team, and keep Buffalo and the Leafs happy. I just don't want him running it.
Sidenote: Anyone notice that the Hamilton Bulldogs have only announced a half dozen "guaranteed" home games so far?....Is the Coyotes potential move screwing up the AHL sked???
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
I respectfully disagree. People are in it for the money. There aint no money to be made in Phoenix with hockey so Moyes tried to make a buck by selling to someone who was willing to pay good $$$$$ instead of being forced to go the Bettman way and lose cash by finding some sucker who wants to keep them in Phoenix. Who wouldn't swing a backdoor deal? And why not Balsillie? I don't buy this POV that he's a bully either. He's one guy against 31. The only bully I see is Mr. Phoenix is his Waterloo, supported by a gang of servile owners who for the life of me are stubborn as my head is hard. Also, Gretzky sucks as a coach IMNSHO. He aint selling tickets, is not any kind of a draw.
Pittsburgh shouldn't have ever moved and it's great to see Mario revive that franchise, albeit with the Nordiques finish low draft high maneuver.
Nashville, meh! Another franchise in a place that never sees snow in the heart of NASCAR country.
Phoenix!!!!!! Unless iPhone wants to move them to Cali, I don't mind seeing them go to RIM and all the way to Southern Ontario!
Thoughts?
I agree and on another note those 31 bureaucratic geniuses took the team from Canada(Winterpegmanasnowba)and put the team in Arizona???They are not the ones to judge the decisions of others......
Fan support is not (and never was) the issue in Winnipeg nor any of the other potential Canadian markets. Corporate support very much is an issue.
Who is going to buy up all the luxury suites in Winnipeg, Hamilton or Kitchener-Waterloo? Are fans REALLY going to switch allegiance from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Hamilton Blackberries? It did not happen quickly in Ottawa, for example.
You really think there will be difficulty selling luxury suites in Hamilton? Get real! They'll be snapped up in a second. Fans don't need to switch allegiances, it's called over-flow. How can people think that Hamilton wouldn't sell out? I mean weren't there were rumblings about Toronto getting a 2nd NHL franchise? There are more than enough hockey fans in Southern Ontario to support another NHL club. So maybe Buffalo will lose a few ticket sales at first, but the ones who can't see the Hamilton Crackberries will eventually cross the border to watch the Sabres.
Anyways, do we really need to support another US franchise if it can't fill seats with their own citizens? The Phoenix situation is an embarrasment and the owners and Bettman are being douches! I hope Balsillie wins just because I like *** disturbers and people who swim against the current. The NHL is looking more and more like an old boys club, and they're scared shitless because theres a new young kid on the block that wants to kick a couple of top dogs' asses.
It was primarily the corporate support that was lacking in both Winnipeg and Hamilton, making new arenas unfeasible. Fan support was not the issue. I don't see many companies in T.O. taking guests an hour down the road to Hamilton to catch a hockey game, so I do see luxury suites as an issue.
That being said, Balsillie has deep pockets and a love of hockey, so he will be capable of and seemingly willing to suck up financial losses in exchange for owning an NHL team.
There's enough economic activity in the Hamilton area to not need to bank on Toronto. It might take a while but eventually the corporate support would trickle in leading to an eventual deluge. Fan support would be through the roof though!
Seems to me your "questions of the day" go over like a fart in church. Just an observation.
Tommy, that reminds me of the joke about the old couple in church. The wife turns to the husband and urgently whispers, "Dear, I just slipped a silent fart. What should I do?" He replies, "Get a new battery for your hearing aid."
Looks like your favourite Mountie got banned!
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
You know, I don't usually get into that kind of stuff. But with this guy I just couldn't resist. Being a product of the 60's and 70's, I kinda hope he really is an RCMP officer. Been awhile since I got to take a poke at "the man".
No fears of him being a real Mountie. They might let some of the mentally ill join the ranks, but they draw the line at 12-year-olds.
http://habsloyalist.blogspot.com
I'm goinna have too have another scotch mint and ponder what you just wrote.....
mask it with a cough (peter griffin)
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
Happy Brithday Harani!!!
Yous share a birthday with HHOFers Bill Gadsby (82) and the man who is the reason I am a Habs fan...Ken Dryden who turned 62 today!
On a sad note, it was on this day 1n 1992 that former Hab John Kordic died of heart failure and a collapsed lung, due to a cocaine overdose, after a confrontation with police.
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
I have an an idea. Make the summit for the "outdoor" game, meaning the one slated for the Olympic Stadium. Shouldn't be any issue getting tickets for that one.
Good idea!
Buying a group lot of tickets (if it's against the Caps) would be out as it falls under the second purchase clause.
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Ya! The Habs Rule! now on Twitter!
but probably a lot of trouble seeing the ice :P
- thanks for everything, saku koivu.
I like PK alot! But the boy parties like crazy (he' a facebook friend). I hope he keeps that in check when he's up in the big city.
Brian Burke = Overrated Loud Mouth POS
that was the short one. I think the full version goes on for 3 and a half minutes. Check out the full on youtube.
Talent and character, maybe our next super star in PK?
--I will die a delirious fan and never apologize for it!--
Too bad they will never, ever be teammates in the NHL.
We now know for certain that PK at least RECOGNIZES Tavares. Knows who he is.
He will have NO excuse when time comes to murder him along the boards.
...
Accidentally, of course...
Peace Out
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Lord Bugs Potter, esq. Vicount of Vernersvurgh, Duke of Dickleberger and Follower Extraordinaire of The St.Flannel.
Terrific! How soon until we can re-unite them in red and white and a little blue?
Thanks for the wishes everyone! Really appreciate it!
"All you need in hockey is good character, luck and skills" - Ovie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARANI!!!!!!
haha that was an awesome video