My Newspaper
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Coping With The Off-Season
Posted by:
Ben Wright on
April 9, 2008 at
9:42AM EST
As always, I headed downtown to catch the respective game-day skates, then it
was off to the locker room to chat with the players and wait for the scrums with
the head coaches. The date was Saturday April 5th and the Thrashers opponent was
Tampa. It was the same routine, but at the same time so different. This was the
final game of the 2007-08, a season that had begun with such promise and had so
many twists in turns. But in the end, it was a year that fell short of
everybody’s expectations. There would be no playoffs this season for the Atlanta
Thrashers, and that is appropriately the benchmark by which any NHL team is
judged.
So now the off-season is here, and for me that always means adjustments
and changes. This is the time of the year, for example, when my consumption of
chicken wings drops about 65 percent. Don’t ask me why wings are a broadcaster’s
staple on NHL road trips; they just are, and I’m not one to complain or
question. I just go along for the culinary ride and eat more than my share, on
the hot side thank you.
I will wake up most days in the off-season actually knowing what day it is
and where I am. During the season that’s not often the case. We don’t have a
tough travel schedule in Atlanta, at least not in terms of the distance of most
flights. What does get to be a bit dicey, though, is the frequency of our trips.
Because Atlanta is a quick flight to most NHL destinations, we tend to take more
short trips, so it’s not unusual to be in four different cities in five or six
days. Some weeks every day feels like Sunday in Newark, not that there’s
anything wrong with that.
Inevitably during the off-season I will have a dream that there is a
hockey game I am supposed to work, and I’m not there (hold your applause,
please). When I shake the cobwebs and realize it’s the middle of July, I’ll be
relieved it was just a dream, then disappointed that I’m not headed to a game
soon. Don’t get me wrong; it’s great to wind down after a long season, but
early-April to September is too long without hockey, at least for me.
As a public service, I should also mention I will get my share of time on
the golf courses of Atlanta during the off-season. I apologize in advance if
you’re the foursome of ringers I’m holding up while I take my obligatory hikes
in the woods. I’m a guy who likes my hockey up and down and my golf courses wide
open, but as the great philosopher Mick Jagger once suggested, you can’t always
get what you want.
Most of all, though, during the off-season, I will keep track of the
moves, the signings, and all the rest of the news coming out of the hockey
world, even in July. And I will look forward with great anticipation to the
opportunity to watch the promise of September’s NHL training camps unfold to
another chase for Lord Stanley’s Cup.
For the Thrashers, may the chase be long and fruitful.
(11) Comments
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Posted by: Kevin on April 9, 2008 10:37AM EST
Mr. Kamal:
My concerns with the Thrashers' off-season activities are probably ones shared by others: who will Don Waddell pick as full-time coach, what free-agent moves will be made which will GREATLY help the team back to the playoffs, and does the team's defense need LOTS of help? (or, do the defense and goaltending simply need tweaking and appropriate revisions).
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Posted by: Erin on April 9, 2008 10:58AM EST
Thanks Dan, for expertly calling another season for us! I, too, will be desperately awaiting news and September's training camp...I am currently trying to break through my withdrawal symptoms, but against my better judgment (or is it really against my loyalties?) I will be cheering for the Pens and Caps while we all wait for next season!
I hope your summer is relaxing!
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Posted by: ranjan on April 9, 2008 11:46AM EST
Hi Dan...like you. I'll have tough time coping-up with summer without Thrashers hockey! Irrespective of how we concluded the past season, I sincerely believe if we can put together the missing pieces in the four lines - we can go all the way to the cup - and I say this for one reason : Kovy can passionately motivate his teammates to win every game...he likes to win; who wouldn;t when you are beside the gratest player on ICE! I can;t wait for September...Good luck!
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Posted by: George on April 9, 2008 2:26PM EST
I will follow our young prospects in their play-offs with the Wolves and will also be cheering on the Pens and Caps. Looking forward to next yr. in Blueland!
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Posted by: sean on April 9, 2008 4:23PM EST
I think the thrashers will have a wonderful sewason next year if they just release some free agents and get a powerful defense and another powerful forward but i believe we will be ok next year go caps and devils
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Posted by: Steve on April 10, 2008 8:49AM EST
Mr. Kamal,
I feel the same way you do. I really hate watching these other teams, and not having the Thrashers in the playoffs. Even though the Thrashers are not in the playoffs, I am still following what is going on. I am also anxious to see who comes up from the Wolves and who we get in free agency, and in the draft.
I don't eat as many chicken wings as you do, but I tend to eat out a lot though. I will be cheering for the Pens and for the Sharks. I do believe that the Caps are going to do well though. Gary Green from the NHL Network likes the Caps to win it all. I don't know if that will happen, but I would not be surprised if they beat Philly and even go to the Stanley Cup Finals. I hate golf, but I am sure I will find something to occupy my time.
I really appreciate you calling the games! Your enthusiasm is awesome, and adds a lot to the games when I don't get to watch them live. I find myself wanting to listen to you, but watching them with no sound.
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Posted by: aaron on April 14, 2008 6:02PM EST
Dan, you and Jeff are the best in the business. I've listen to (almost) every other broadcaster on my XM, and I can say that only Rick Jeanneret comes close (and really, you can only take so much Rick). Many thanks for another great season, and we'll catch you again next year.
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Posted by: sally cersosimo on April 14, 2008 6:02PM EST
I'm going to miss the post game show!! maybe i'll see you around the rinks this summer. i'm playing on 3 teams LOL
oh my last name starts with C not G ;) but that's ok. you and odgie are awesome!! i love listening to your broadcasts.
when are they going to bring back those little in house radio thingies so we can listen to you at philips?? i didn't get one when the sold those a few years ago and regret it to this day!!
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Posted by: Mountainboy on April 28, 2008 2:39PM EST
Mr. Kamal, I have a question for you. Well, anyone in particular actually, but it relates to the single episode of Mr. Odgers' Neighborhood. I thought it was a good bit, and was looking forward to further episodes, but only know of the one. Are there any more, or was the "show" canned, for lack of interest or something like that?
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Posted by: Justin on April 29, 2008 2:12AM EST
We like to console ourselves by claiming that we just need the "missing pieces" to the Thrashers' roster. However, I think it's their game play, pure and simple. (disclaimer: the criticism ahead comes from the heart, a True Blue, Georgia-born one at that) They play the boards way too predictably, especially in their own zone. For some reason, they're all allergic to passing and creativity in doing so, thus their forechecking suffers. Pinching and traps don't come easy, thus backchecking suffers. They're just plain slow at times. The team relies too much on a sharpshooter (who has a rocket of a shot) who always has a WAY negative +/- rating throughout the season. I love the Thrashers. They will win the cup in my life-time, of this I'm sure. I'm just not sure how old I'll be when I shed those tears of joy.
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Posted by: mike d on May 7, 2008 7:17PM EST
Dan, i hope the cholesterol medicine is still working on and off the season since i know you have bad genes just like your cousin does. how is your son doing?
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