A message to Sens fans

... in particular, the Heatley-hating fans:

It's cool that you're all excited about the game tonight and being able to boo and trash the much-hated Dany Heatley. It's great that you seem willing to display a little energy and emotion for once because we're certainly not known for being anything but comatose.

But what do you say to sharing some of that energy, emotion, and excitement with the home team for once? How about more than a couple of Go Sens Go! chants that don't die the second the other team touches the puck?

Seriously, how embarassing will it be to hear more Heatley boos and jeers at the game than cheers and rallies for the Ottawa Senators?

Very. And to be honest, not too surprising.

Surprise me.

The Habs are not Canada’s Team… sorry

I am an Ottawa Senators fan.

I stopped watching all hockey when my beloved Ottawa Senators were eliminated by the Pittsburgh Penguins in round one of the playoffs. That’s my choice – why can’t some people respect that?

I don’t believe that once your team has been eliminated, you should now cheer on the remaining Canadian teams fortunate enough to remain in the playoffs. That’s not my thing.

We have one Habs fan on my team at work. For the great run that the Montreal Canadiens are having in their playoff run, the Habs fan is not a problem. I’m happy for him and his team. He doesn’t seem to have any problem with me not cheering on his team or watching the games.

Which makes this somewhat amusing, and confusing.

The problem I am having is with a couple of non-Habs fans who have jumped on the Habs bandwagon and feel that, being a Canadian Citizen, I should be cheering on the Habs because they are “the last Canadian team in the playoffs!”

They feel that, because I am not also on the Habs bandwagon, I am a “jealous Sens fan”, and anything I say that they feel might bring bad mojo to their adopted team, makes me evil.

Let’s be clear here. The Montreal Canadiens, or any “Canadian team” for that matter, is not “Canada’s Team”. The NHL is not the OIympics. The NHL is not the IIHF World Championship. Team Canada is not playing in the NHL playoffs.

The players on each “Canadian” team in the NHL aren’t even all Canadian Citizens. The only thing that makes a “Canadian” NHL team Canadian is their home city.  (We’ll ignore the fact that the Montreal Canadiens play for a city in a province that has tried to separate from Canada… that’s a whole other story) :)

“The cup needs to come back to Canada!”

Sure, that would be nice. But my cheering or not cheering for a team is not going to make a difference in whether or not the Stanley Cup comes back to Canada. That’s up to the mixed bag of nationalities playing for the Montreal Canadiens. Direct your energy into positive vibes toward the team, not as negativity toward me.

My decision to not cheer for the Montreal Canadiens does not make me a bad Canadian Citizen, nor does it make me a “jealous Sens fan” anymore than it makes you a “jealous {insert your team here} fan”.

Good luck to whichever team you cheer for, but please stop telling me that I have to cheer on a team that is not my chosen team.

My cheers are reserved for the Ottawa Senators.

GO SENS GO… maybe next year. :)

Week 29 - Winter Wonderland?

Winter Wonderland?
Originally uploaded by Twister65

After many days of spring-like weather, last Thursday evening gave us this. It was gone by the weekend. Crazy weather.

Yes, I'm a day late. I watched the Canada vs. USA gold medal game on Sunday and enjoyed a few too many beers celebrating Canada's victory. :)

Week 28 - GO CANADA GO!

We love hockey
Originally uploaded by Twister65

At the start of every hockey season, I get out the Ottawa Senators flag and hang it on the wall behind the TV. We have a large Ottawa Senators blanket that is folded in half and placed on the back of the couch, with "Ottawa Senators" facing outward. A small Stanley Cup is placed somewhere in the room. This year it happens to be on the CD rack beside the TV. This is all done with my wife's blessing. She's as much of a fan as I am. In fact, she may be a bigger fan because she knows all of the players' jersey numbers. Oh yeh, we also wear team jerseys while watching the game.

For tonight’s Team Canada vs. Team U.S.A. Olympic game I got out the Canada flag and hung it on the wall in an attempt to bring some good mojo to the team. It didn't help. Maybe I was too late.

Anyway, thanks to the Olympics for my Week 28 Project 52 inspiration!

Week 26 - Brian Elliott

Brian Elliott (26/52)
Originally uploaded by Twister65

This week's photo comes from my trusty 'ol Canon S3 IS.

My family and I went to the Sens Super Skills competition this afternoon. Unfortunately, they frown heavily upon fans who use, or try to use, a DSLR camera.

This is Brian Elliott take a fun shot on a junior goalie warming up. It's so cool to see pro players playing with the kids and treating them like an equal.

Team Red beat Team Black this year, for the third year in a row.

Chris Chelios is a moron

And so is anyone who thinks that Def Leppard's Joe Elliot placed the Stanley Cup upside down on purpose.

"Someone should have drove that guy, he did that on purpose," Cheli said Wednesday.

Why would anyone intentionally try to make themselves look foolish?

He made a mistake. Good grief.

If you were to make a list of the top 5 worst things to happen to the cup, I don't think this one would even make the list, yet people are making such a big deal out of it.

Think it's bad? Try these...

MONTREAL(?), 1906 or 1907. A Montreal club (possibly the Wanderers) wanted its picture taken with the Cup in the studio of photographer Jimmy Rice. After taking the photo, the team left, and the team left behind the Cup. It stayed in the studio for some months until Rice's mother (some sources say it was his wife or his housekeeper or his cleaning lady) used it as a vase, as it held red geraniums in the Studio window.

OTTAWA, 1927. The Ottawa Senators won it, and it spent much of the year's summer in King Clancy's living room, where it served as a receptacle for everthing including letters, bills, chewing gum, and cigar butts.

NEW YORK CITY (?), 1940. After the New York Rangers won the cup, Hall of Famer Lynn Patrick and teammates celebrated by urinating in it.

NEW YORK CITY(?), 1980. Clark Gillies of the 1980 New York Islanders allowed his dog to eat from it. Gillies said, "He's a nice dog.

And there's more... source.

Get over it, morons.

Posted by email from scottpaterson's posterous

Hockey Scores?

With 1200 entries received for CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada Theme" contest, this entry -- "Hockey Scores!" -- is the most viewed and most voted entry:



Clearly, HNIC fans are still upset about CBC dropping the ball on the old theme, losing it to TSN.

According to this article, having the most votes does not guarantee a win for the entry.

The "ratings," "recommendations" and "most viewed" portions of the contest website are just some of the factors judges will consider when selecting the contest semi-finalists, who will be presented to the country and judged by a celebrity panel on a CBC network television special on Oct. 4.

It sure would have been funny though. :)

CBC - You Snooze, You Lose

CTV purchases The Hockey Theme

CTV Inc. has acquired the rights to The Hockey Theme in perpetuity, the network announced Monday.

The agreement was reached with Copyright Music & Visuals, which was unable to renew a deal with CBC Sports.

CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said he was disappointed but not surprised the song was shopped elsewhere.

"The two sides were so far apart and there was so much bad blood that we knew a deal would be difficult," he said. "The reality is it takes two sides to do a deal and we tried everything we could to do a deal.

"We offered arbitration, mediation — we offered to meet their price. On Friday, when it came right down to it, we never got a response from them on our latest offer and find out, in the meantime, they appeared to be negotiating with CTV."

Moore said CBC had negotiated for 14 months but to no avail, and that the agency was asking for $2.5 million to $3 million for use in perpetuity.

"If they got that from CTV, we would never have been able to get there," Moore told CBC Newsworld. "It is not a responsible price for us.

"If that is the price CTV wants to pay, it won't be the first time nor will it be the last time, probably, that they outbid us for something. They have a lot more profits than we do."

The song had been used on Hockey Night in Canada since 1968.

"Hockey is a game, it's not a song," Moore said. "We have the No. 1 sports property in Canada.

"I don't expect one less viewer to tune in on Saturday to watch Hockey Night in Canada. They will continue to watch their favourite team."

According to a release, CTV said it agreed to a deal with Copyright Music & Visuals after Friday's deadline with CBC passed.

The agency represents the song's composer, Dolores Claman, who was born in Vancouver.

"The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports, and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it," said Rick Brace of CTV Inc.

Moore said he was surprised a rival network would purchase something so inextricably linked to the Hockey Night brand.

"It's a constant commercial for our network," he said.

Lawsuit complicated negotiations

Earlier on Monday, CBC Sports had said it planned to bring in noted sports and entertainment lawyer Gord Kirke in a last-ditch effort to bring about a mediated resolution.

Complicating the bid for a settlement was an outstanding lawsuit filed against the CBC in late 2004 surrounding its use for ringtones and downloads.

Moore said CBC wanted to resolve that issue along with the song's future use, but that representatives for Claman wanted to keep them separate.

Claman, 80, has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, including the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband, Richard Morris.

"I am very moved by how so many Canadians have taken the hockey theme to heart. We are so pleased the song has found a new home," said Claman, who now resides in Britain.

Before Kirke's involvement was announced, CBC Sports announced plans to launch a new national contest in conjunction with Nettwerk Music Group to find a new theme song.

Canadians will be invited to write and record an original song for Hockey Night in Canada, with fans and a jury of experts to choose the best new composition.

"I think it'll help us get a new demographic," Moore said. "The theme that we had was a great theme. [But] it was 39 years old. Maybe it's time for something else."

The son of Stompin' Tom Connors said Monday his father is open to licensing his famed hockey song to CBC as a replacement.

"If they want to use The Hockey Song, it's a good song, whether Tom sings it or not," Tom Connors Jr. said. "There's other versions out there.

"Even if they wanted to commission some other band, like a big [name] band if they wanted to do more of a Hockey Night theme, everything is open for negotiations, of course. That's the business we're in."

The last 3 paragraphs of that article scares me. For the love of all things hockey, please... NOT Stompin' Tom Connors. I don't like Stompin' Tom. And I don't like "The Hockey Song". I don't think it would matter who sang it.

Anyway, the CBC really dropped the ball on this one. They're trying to make it look like they did everything possible, but seriously, how can they expect anyone to believe them when they openly admitted that they were going ahead with the contest to find a new HNIC song, while trying to negotiate a deal? Would a few more days of waiting really make that big of a difference to their contest?

CBC requests mediator for song dispute

From the Sportsnet web site:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/06/09/kirke_hockey_song/

TORONTO -- CBC appears to be making a last-ditch effort to rescue the popular Hockey Night in Canada theme song.

The public broadcaster has asked Toronto sports lawyer Gord Kirke to mediate negotiations between CBC and Copyright Music and Visuals, the company that controls the song.

CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore says CBC feels it's worth one last effort to save a theme song that evokes such passion among Canadians.

CBC's licence for the song, written by composer Delores Claman and a staple of Hockey Night in Canada since 1968, expired last week following the Stanley Cup finals.

The parties were in negotiations late last week before CBC announced Friday it would begin the search for a new theme song.

The broadcaster has asked Canadian musicians to vy for a $100,000 prize by submitting their own original compositions to replace the theme.

I can't see this making any difference... but hey, it's worth a shot... I guess.

Deal to keep Hockey Night theme song falls through

What a load of crap.

Negotiations to keep the Hockey Night in Canada theme song have collapsed, meaning the CBC program is now in search of another anthem.

Copyright Music & Visuals, the Toronto agency representing the song's composer, Dolores Claman, said on Friday that the deal had fallen through.

That news came as a surprise to the CBC, said Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports.

"We're disappointed, as many Canadians are," Moore said, adding he found out about the deal falling through from CBC News.

"We have no real idea why the deal fell apart," he said. "We're not sure why because the other side hasn't communicated with us.

"You have to ask the other side what happened."

Copyright Music & Visuals said it had offered the public broadcaster a chance to renew its licence to use Claman's song — a staple on HNIC since 1968 — on terms that were "virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade."

Previously, each use of the song cost the CBC about $500, the agency said.

After the first two years of a new agreement, the rates would rise about 15 per cent, an increase Copyright Music & Visuals president John Ciccone called an industry standard.

"We offered to continue paying the richest licence fee in Canadian television, which was the price they asked for," said Moore. "We also offered to buy it outright for a high six-figure sum."

A call made to Ciccone by CBCSports.ca was not returned Friday.

Claman, who has written about 2,000 jingles over her career, is also credited with the Ontario theme A Place to Stand, which she co-wrote with her husband, Richard Morris, in 1967.

Contest for new theme in works

Moore said Friday the two sides had agreed upon a price, but added an "unfortunate set of circumstances," including an outstanding lawsuit, hovered over negotiations.

A lawsuit filed against the CBC in late 2004 by the composer alleges that the broadcaster was overusing the Hockey Night in Canada theme and has not been settled. Copyright Music & Visuals said the litigation hasn't interfered with the CBC's use of music, nor was settlement of the suit a condition for the proposed new licensing agreement.

"We really can't do business with a lawsuit hanging over our heads," Moore said. "We feel that we've done everything we possibly can."

CBC Sports will now move on and launch a new national contest in conjunction with Nettwerk Music Group to find a new theme song, he said. Canadians will be invited to write and record an original song for Hockey Night in Canada, with fans and a jury of experts choosing the best new composition.

The winner will receive $100,000 and proceeds from any royalties will go to minor hockey across the country. More details on the contest will be revealed in the next week.

"We expect a lot of terrific music, and we expect that the new theme for Hockey Night in Canada will be as iconic as the last two themes have been," Moore said.

Earlier on Friday, Liberal heritage critic Denis Coderre told reporters in Ottawa that Conservative Heritage Minister Josée Verner must defend one of Canada's most famous musical traditions and do everything possible to ensure the CBC continues to broadcast the theme.

"The Hockey Night in Canada theme is a part of Canada's culture that goes beyond sport," Coderre said. "If the minister wants to show that she cares about Canadian heritage, this is her chance."

This is disappointing, but I'm not too surprised. I don't believe that the CBC went back into negotiations in good faith. The only reason they did it was an attempt to make the public think that they cared. They keep bring up the outstanding litigation "hovering over our heads", when the other side said it has no affect on the terms on the proposed contract.

This sucks.

And now they'll no doubt spend a bundle on promoting the contest to find a new theme.

I feel sorry for the person who wins because I can't see the public accepting it.

More Hockey Night song stuff

Here's a summary of what I've heard about the CBC / Hockey Night song fiasco:

• CBC claims they're still in negotations with Copyright Music & Visuals (the company who manages the copyright on behalf of the song's composer, Dolores Claman)
• Copyright Music & Visuals claims that they received an email from CBC stating that they would not renew the contract.
• CBC said that if they don't renew, they have plans this summer to hold a public contest to write a new theme.
• CBC is currently being sued by Dolores Claman alleging that CBC repeatedly used the theme song in broadcasts not covered under her licence agreement and refused requests to negotiate additional fees.
• Copyright Music & Visuals claims that resolution of the ongoing litigation is not a precondition of the new proposed licence agreement..
• CBC says "You don't do business with someone who is suing you." While that may be true, we're not talking about a multi-million dollar contract here. This smells like CBC trying to take a little heat off their poorly thought out decision.
  

While change can be a good thing, I'm convinced that this change is not. The song celebrates its 40th anniversary next year. To axe the song now would be like firing someone after 40 years of dedicated service in a company.

I think CBC is missing out on a good marketing opportunity/partnership here. Maybe they're trying to use this to their advantage? "Play by OUR rules, or your song doesn't see its 40th birthday."

Related articles

• Hockey Night In Canada theme song in limbo [via Zemanta]

The day the music died?

I came across this story about half an hour ago. I'll quote the entire thing, in case the link changes or goes missing:

CBC ending use of 'Hockey Night' song

Sportsnet.ca - The CBC will not be using the legendary 'Hockey Night in Canada' theme song next season after it decided not to sign a new license agreement according to the song's publisher.

The composition was written by Dolores Claman in 1968 and has become one of the longest running theme songs in broadcasting history.

According to the publisher, the CBC was offered a new license on 'virtually identical terms to those that have existed for the past decade (approximately $500 per use)' but the network has chosen to move in a new direction.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Claman said "I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada Theme after our lengthy history together. I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction."

Have the decision makers at CBC lost their fuckin' minds? What kind of a "new direction" is this? Down the toilet?

If they're looking to improve anything, get rid of Bob Cole before next season. Harry Neile can go with him. I'm sure they'll save a hell of a lot more than $500 per show.

Many of the comments on the Sportsnet article say to send CBC a complaint at http://www.cbc.ca/contact. Whether it will make a difference, remains to be seen. I sent one anyway.

Edit: CBC actually found the balls to post the story on their own site... an hour after the story broke: Red Wings victory last outing for Hockey Night theme? There's also an online petition here, if you wish to sign it.

Related articles

• Fresh faces bring HNIC forward at warp speed [via Zemanta]

The fat lady has sung

A topsy turvy season, and another exit from the playoffs for the Ottawa Senators. I'm still convinced that the puck touched a stick after Vermette's "kicking motion" goal was disallowed, but that's a moot point now.

I expect some big changes. Despite the talent on the team, it's not running on all cylinders at all times. As much as I like to see most of the team remain the same... a shakeup is needed and I think some fresh rookie faces need a chance, even if it means taking a season or two to get there.

I think Gerber has earned himself another chance. With a rookie as a backup, I think Gerber will play very well next season. I've always said he doesn't play well with competition breathing down his neck (i.e. Emery), and since he was made the #1, that's been pretty evident. I've always liked Emery as well, but it's time for him to move on.

In some ways, I'm glad it's over. Playoffs for me are stressful as hell. Now I can relax and enjoy the games that I do manage to watch without popping a blood vessel when things don't go the way I'd like them to.

We've got a few Habs fans at work, so I'll be following the Habs from here on. Not as close as I did with the Sens, of course, but if there's any team other than the Sens that I'd like to see bring the cup back to Canada, it would be the Habs. Hell, I spent about 16 years of my life there, and the first hockey game I went to was the Habs vs the Blackhawks (Habs lost).

Sooo.... GO HABS GO... until next season. :)

(p.s. I certainly hope the officiating improves next year, for ALL teams. This season has been the most inconsistent I've ever seen)

Inside the head of a fairweather fan

I think I finally figured out what makes a fairweather fan tick.

They are what they are because:

1. They can't stand being wrong.
2. They can't stand people taking jabs at them for supporting their team, despite their losses.
   

So, what do they do?

They abandon the team before it's over so they can take comfort in saying "Yeh, I knew that was gonna happen."

That's their gratification.

Good god people... grow a spine!

Who the cares if you were wrong? Who cares if you supported your team and they lost?

Take some pride in sticking with the team every year, despite the outcomes, because when our time finally comes -- and it will -- it's going to be fuckin' amazing. A hell of a lot better than what you get from cowering every year to a little ribbing from rival fans and naysayers.

On a different note... Lindy Ruff tried to motivate his Buffalo Sabres last year:

"Approximately every 33 years something great happens in this league, and we're at about that 33-year range where something great is bound to happen. So we've told (Buffalo players) we're on the verge of greatness."

He's referring to the Leafs in 1942 and the Islanders in 1975. Unfortunately for Lindy and the Sabres, last year was year 32. This is year 33.

The last time a team came back from 3-0 to win a series was in 1975 when the Pittsburgh Penguins were up 3-0 over the Islanders. Only to lose the series 4-3.

Is it a long shot for the Sens? Sure is. I'll bet the Islanders were thinking the same thing back in 1975.

All it takes is a little hope and a little faith.

(Yeh... this is a double post... I mixed up the "bandwagon" and "fairweather" terms -- too much beering. So I killed the old, and posted the new.)

Senators 6 - Penguins 3

What an incredible game! I've been to quite a few games over the years, including some playoff games, and the crowd at tonight's game had to be the loudest I've ever heard. It was amazing.

One thing that did bother me is the number of people who left before the game was over. During the last 10 minutes or so of the game, at every whistle, more people would leave. Yeh, the game was pretty much a done deal, but WTF? People are so worried that they're going to be stuck in traffic.

STAY UNTIL THE END!

My throat is sore now from yelling and cheering so much. I've nearly lost my voice.

Senators 7 - Lightning 2

With tonight's 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Ottawa Senators have officially clinched a playoff spot. I'm going to have to dig out all of my Senators signs and start posting them on the windows, like I do every year for the playoffs. :)

My brother inlaw got us a pair of tickets for the first home playoff game too. Since the standings aren't yet finished, we still don't know exactly when that will be, or who we'll be playing. So far, it looks like it'll be the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Sentors 3 - Penguins 4 (OT)

If the officiating in the playoffs is anything like it was for last night's Sens vs. Penguins game, the Senators are doomed.

Talk about inconsistency. Yes, there were a few things that should have been called against the Senatorss, but there were more than should have been called against the Penguins. (i.e. Crosby's dive, Roberts' cross-checking Corvo from behind into the glass during the overtime period) Then there were things that shouldn't have been called (i.e. Volchenkov's push into Flury, resulting in an interference penalty, and a goal for the Pens)

It's frustrating as hell to watch.

I understand that the game looks different down on the ice, but you would think that it would balance itself out. It didn't.

I hate the Leafs and I love nothing more than to watch them lose, but I've seen similar officiating go against them in games as well.

I know the Senators can beat the Penguins, but the playing ground has to be balanced for that to happen. None of these BS calls and non-calls.

Day off for me

Being the last day of "March break" for the kids, I decided to book today off. We haven't decided what we're going to do... yet.

My headache from yesterday hung around the entire night. A lingering, nagging kind of pain. I felt much better this morning, but I can still feel the effects from yesterday.

The Sens beat the Islanders last night. It was a fun game to watch, but not as much fun as other wins because I couldn't cheer from the couch. Yelling and screaming would make my head hurt. (Yes, my wife and I yell and scream at the TV when we're watching hockey) :)

Senators 5 - Leafs 1

The Ottawa Senators played a great game tonight, breaking their 3-game losing streak and NOT losing a lead in the third period for the fourth time in a row. *phew*

Ray Emery played a great game, making more than a few really nice saves.

Of course, the victory is that much more sweeter by the fact that it was the Leafs that we beat. :)

GO SENS GO!

Senators 6 - Sabres 5

Great game last night with a couple of good fights. :)

Admittedly, the Senators were lucky to win that one. Despite the Sabres missing a handful of key players, they played a strong game to keep coming back.