-
Posts
19,368 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Gallery
Everything posted by Dr. Crossbar
-
I know, right ... I'm rockin' my hockey helmet and Rush T-shirt for tonight's games!!!
-
Ric Ocasek lead singer of 'The Cars' dies at 75.
Dr. Crossbar replied to nuckin_futz's topic in Off-Topic General
It's really interesting looking back now. By 1983, I had written off The Cars as a fading late 70s band that I thought peaked with "Shake It Up" in 1981 after "Just What I Needed", "Good Times Roll", and "My Best Friends Girl". Between 1978 and 1982 was a really weird time in music as far as radio friendly mainstream stuff. You had people like Melissa Manchester, Andy Gibb, Diana Ross, Kim Carnes, Donna Summer, Eddie Money, along with bands like Quarterflash, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Spinners, Kool & the Gang, Willie Nelson, plus bands like The Vapors, The Monks, Blondie, Devo, and The Cars. There was just a lot of stuff in play at once. Hell, even The Powder Blues Band and Irish Rovers were in play at that time. It was a weird time before the video age. By 1983, I thought The Cars were already defined by that transitional period. Until, of course, Heartbeat City came out and The Cars were at the forefront of the video era. That album was a huge in my own coming of age and was the soundtrack for so many significant moments in my life in a short period of time. I'm blown away how they were able to reinvent themselves. The big change was putting an awkward, gangly Ric Ocasek out front more as the frontman as compared to the prettier Ben Orr in the earlier days. It's a bold change that really gave them new life and separates their eras from late-70s, early 80s to Heartbeat City in 1984 and everything afterward. Ric Ocasek's career as a producer and composer is equally impressive. Another great one gone!! RIP Ric! -
Good points. I agree. I really do think his situation was negatively compounding over time and becoming more of a challenge with each year. He did come in at an awkward time. It was the last gasp of the Sedin era and the changeover to the youth era. When things didn't pan out those first two years, the top six changing, plus all the injuries, he was forced into other depth and defensive roles, like you mention, out of necessity. Given the dynamics, I really do think it became increasingly difficult to meet the offensive expectations of his contract. To me it's all really reflective of how much Benning went all in with Loui for a final push for the Sedins (with good intentions) while also looking ahead to maintsining a veteran presence for the new era. It just backfired. In hindsight, that contract should have been four years. And with the six years, at least the final two should have been more movable or buyout friendly. Easy for me to say now but moving on from this would have been good for both the team and player. That's an issue I have with these current 6-8 year deals ... so much can change within 3/4 to half a decade. There is a very real possibility that things simply may not work out for that many years.
-
I'm disappointed you didn't use wadr.
-
Benning trying to get to "common ground" with Boeser
Dr. Crossbar replied to BrockBoester's topic in Canucks Talk
Boeser should take the $7 mill per 6 years. If he needs extra money, Benning can get him a gig delivering Common Ground magazine to apartments in the West End. -
The way things have gone with Loui, this should have been the season to part ways for the best interests of both sides. It's kind of a cautionary tale of long term, buyout proof contracts. Each side should have an out.
-
Nice perspective!
-
Thanks for seeing my point. Hey, I'm with you. Totally get it and agree. I just think in situations like his, passion can get eroded and chipped away on a level that wears you down. I do find it interesting how the pressure of a contract like that can increasingly work against a player if he doesn't find his footing right away. I want to see him do well this season.
-
The Swedish media comments thing got way overblown. I wouldn't fault Loui for being honest or admitting how he legitimately felt about the situation. Even if it was to spark a change in his situation. Watching the interview, though, I don't think there was anything nefarious or derogatory going on. It looks as though he really didn't think his comments would get as much traction over here in the media. The way I see it all, Loui hasn't worked out for a variety of reasons. He's been given a lot of opportunities to prove himself but it's always been from a place of catch-up, state of off-balance, or state of trying to find his groove. Imo, never from a place of his groove or state of confidence or feeling like he's on his game. It's just what I see. I can understand his frustration from that place. He even revealed that when he's confident, he plays better. And I can see how his time here has led to a lack of confidence. I don't believe we've seen a confident Loui Eriksson the entire time he's been here. I've said this before but I believe it started right from the get-go of his signing in how JB and WD wanted to use him and the style of play we were playing at the time. I believe we misread his production to be more versatile than it really was. If we're signing a guy at crazy money and term to produce on a level of 25-30 goals each year, maybe, just maybe it wasn't a good idea - before he even stepped on ice for the team - to assume he'd be good to go up and down the lineup and equal his previous production. Imo, there should have been more thought into how he produces, our style of play, where he produces from, how best to utilze him, and how best to get the results we're paying for long term. That first season, as he was trying to find his footing, he gets injured as well. The second season, there's even more pressure to bounce back, find his place, and produce while still going up and down the lineup. Then another injury. And then there's a coaching change yet there's more of a stigma because he hasn't produced ... I just don't think the guy has ever felt confident here or has ever really found his footing. If anything, I think that frustration was reflected in comments to the Swedish media. I'm not making excuses for the guy, I can just see how all of that could lead to frustration, a lack of confidence, and constantly being off balance. It's one of those feelings where you're always behind, trying to catch up, trying find your groove, never getting ahead, all while the situation and expectations get heavier and heavier. With the offseason signings and a more balanced lineup, this is s really good opportunity for Loui and Green to start fresh. It's a good opportunity to leverage Loui's strengths and use him more specifically. If I was Travis Green, I'd be sitting down with Loui and really exploring what Eriksson needs to be confident and at his best. If he's going to be in the lineup, I'd focus on what hasn't happen to date with Loui that needs to happen now so he feels confident and he can be a better player.
-
Always liked Eddie Money. He brought a cool everyman vibe to being a rockstar. Saw him open for Cheap Trick back in the 80s. He was great! RIP EM!
-
Have you ever been betrayed? Tell us about it.
Dr. Crossbar replied to DarthMelvin's topic in Off-Topic General
Thanks very much. I appreciate your perspective. It was a few years ago and there were a lot of positives that came out of such a negative situation. At least it forces you to deal with how things really are rather than an illusion. And I'd rather things be genuine, upfront, and honest - good or bad - than have to pretend or fake a relationship. At the end of the day, looking back, it was inevitable and bound to happen. That's the runaway train. Although the situation was avoidable in how it was handled, some things in life are simply unavoidable. Especially when it comes to individual relationships and experiences family members have with each other. So, although it was a deep betrayal, the fact that it was inevitable made me look at it differently. Ultimately it forced me to look at my own role as a peacekeeper, my own expectations, and deal with what I couldn't control. All good stuff in the end. So, I'm grateful for that. Making someone pay, seeking revenge, etc, only enables the negstive cycle to continue. And ultimately, carrying anger, hostility, resentment does the same thing. -
-
It may be tough but you're exactly right.
-
Ok, cool. I said before ... arguing against the mob is a no win sitch. It's cool. I respect your pov on this.
-
Oh, come on now, grinder, that's a wive's tale and you know it.
-
The truth hurts. Sorry! Baaaa!
-
No, because the media's business model is centered around telling fans whst they want to hear. And then the fans regurgitate what the media says, validating perhaps faulty logic or beliefs ... so you can't trust that process.
-
Defensive much? So emotional. There are other ways to look at this. Deal with that. And I do respect your opinion. Can you reciprocate that respect or just ... whaaaa?
-
Nice conflating a number of issues into one post and excessively exaggerating for emotional effect and relatablility. My position isn't coming from the places you are claiming.
-
Rush misread that whole thing and admitted that he did. There is a toxic symbiotic relationship between the media and fans ... AND ... fans believing what the media says ... so if the mob is the media, the mob is also the fans (those desciples of the media). Of course Bo would be honored.
-
No, I'm challenging the mob ... lol ... which is a no win sitch. The thing is, there is an arguement against him being captain. Not because he isn't deserving or has all the qualities. It's just that there are others arriving that may be an equal or better fit. He was annointed C before any others arrived. That's not quite fair. I get that. I don't think it's as obvious as you say. We're seeing two sides of obvious. I could be totally wrong. I think the new future core hasn't completely arrived yet and the decision to hold off on the C reflects that. If I'm wrong and Bo is named C, I'm going to support that 150%. I'm just seeing it a bit differently, that's all. Love how you pose questions rather than label. I get where you're coming from.
-
Yeah, Rush acknowledged that he misread the situation and his language wasn't the best. People are interpreting that he doesn't want Bo to be captain because that's what fans want ... but that's not what he's saying. Not imo. People do want Bo to be captain because there's a strong case for it, sure, absolutely. You can indeed make a case that the mob made him the heir way too early before any other prospects arrived that could challenge for the C. That doesn't mean Bo isn't deserving or shouldn't be C either, fans just set the expectations before anyone else arrived to challenge for the role.
-
I dunno, Jester, that "Edler should get $7-8 million" thread a while back was questionable. No offense to the Edler should get $7-8 million guy either. My issue is that all of this just feels a bit too mob-ish. When Rush says he has an issue with the movement, I get what he's saying. I'd be 100% ok with Bo being captain. He's s great leader. I do think it should be the team decision, organization, rather than the mob ... if you know what I'm saying. No offense to the mob either.