From 6-0 to OH NO!

By- Kevin M. Neibauer
Last year, it started with Opening Night and a loss to the "mighty"? Edmonton Rush...followed by the guaranteed win loss to Minnesota.
This year, the debacle that was the Titans game. As a fan, nearly a lifelong fan at that....I am pissed.

Not at the losses, them I can handle, it's the way the team lost and the reaction that really angers me.

Case in point, Saturday night, for all intents and purposes, a playoff game. Biggest game of the year, largest crowd in five years, should be a Wings blow-out....

Granted, New York is a very good team, but c'mon. Eight friggin goals?
Athan Iannucci had four by himself. How do you let Pat Maddelena pick up 10 points?

At least we learned that Merrick Thomson is a sharp-shooter (10 shots-0 goals). Thomson can shoot the insignia off the goalies chest from anywhere on the field.

Like everyone else, I bought into this team when it was 6-0. Apparently the only one who didn't drink the cool-aid was Lindsay Sanderson. Sanderson was ripped on the boards for "messing with chemistry" by making mid-season moves. A legit back-up/starting goalie clearly was needed.

Rob Blasdell was lights out in the Wack Shack, but played like the lights were out on the road.

Dan Marohl, despite being injured was being asked to shoot lefty. Not exactly the best idea. So, AJ Shannon was recruited.

Say what you like, but Lindsay Sanderson knows the game. At least maybe he was trying to tip us off.

I am not sure if Saturday was a full moon but it seemed like at the Center. A lackluster effort dominated by a complete lack of desperation took charge of the night.

The night would end on a even stranger note. During the post-game media conference (which comprises exactly three people, one of which is the coach) Dave Huntley made a statement that boggled me.

"I guess our playoffs begin a week early when we play Toronto"...excuse me Dave, what was tonight? If we treated tonight like a playoff game, we wouldn't be worried about Sunday.

So, the bottom line is...a team that has won exactly two games on the road, now has to beat Toronto, then play two playoff games then, if they get that far a championship game....on the road. (Championship could still be a home game, but I could still be 6-5 and rich)

MORE PROOF SOMETHING WAS AMISS SATURDAY:
-Who had the bright idea? Why, after every single Saturday night homegame was at eight o clock do we decide, with a Phillies game at 3:55 to schedule the game for 7:30?

-Census reports-This is from the US Census Office. In light of the fact that at halftime, the Wachovia Center had 134,567 kids playing lacrosse. For that brief moment the floor of the Wachovia Center became the 6th largest city in the state.

BAD/WORSE-Bad idea to give out the MVP cardboard placards at half-time. Worse idea to realize that the first idea was bad idea and attempt to collect all the placards because of the influx of paper airplanes.

GEE THANKS I THINK- The half-time "tribute" to Athan Iannucci was well done except for three minor things. 1-Russ Cline pointing out that the attendance was 17,340 "The biggest crowd in five years years" that happens when you put on a winner on the floor (The Wachovia people kinda recommend that). 2-What knucklehead allowed the Titans on the floor during the tribute? 3-What knucklehead decided that the time was right for them go on the floor?

THE WTF IS THAT AWARD GOES TO- The seven foot tall Jerry Robbins mascot/voodoo doll. Holy Bad Self-Promtions Batman! Hey Jerry, Howard Eskin called, he's embarrassed for you. I may be emotionally scarred for life after watching that.....shooting tee-shirts to the crowd? Some some style, shoot out diamonds. That'll wow em.


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