everyotherdaycounts.com

A random blog on random things. Think lightly, you have enough on your plate.

Video: Penguins announcer finds comedy in aviation fatalities

Greg Wyshynski | December 22, 2009

The Hobey Baker Award is given annually to the top male NCAA hockey player. Its namesake, Hobey Baker, was a star athlete between 1911-1914 before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a pilot during World War I. Tragically, he died in a postwar plane crash in Toul, France in 1918, at age 26.

Funny stuff, right? At least it was to Pittsburgh Penguins announcer Paul Steigerwald of Fox Sports Pittsburgh, who cracked one of the most awkward on-air jokes in recent memory last night during their game against the New Jersey Devils.

For the video-less, a quick transcript:

Bob Errey: "The Hobey Baker winner went down, real hard. Our Subway sandwich of the game."

Paul Steigerwald: "Not as hard as Hobey Baker went down, though. He went down in a plane crash."

Then there’s some muttering and giggling; with Steigerwald apparently realizing that he wasn’t at the Friar’s Club, saying he wasn’t trying to make light of "how he left us," while asking Errey not to "start" as the laughing begins.

As Adam Gretz points out, Baker was actually killed 91 years to the day of Steigerwald’s comment. Who says he doesn’t have comedic timing?

Now, we’re nearing a century removed from the incident, so it’s not exactly "too soon" for this punchline. We were ready to excuse it, actually … until reader John Mozena hit us on Twitter with the following: "Hobey was friends w/ my grandfather, flew in WW1 together. I’m not a PC/sensitive guy but I thought it was classless."

OK, fair enough. This is getting enough play to the point where an on-air apology during the next Pens’ broadcast is likely.

Stick-tap to the Pens Experience for the story.

Puck Headlines: Head-shot rule nears; Niedermayer trade bait?

Greg Wyshynski | November 11, 2009

Here are your Puck Headlines: A glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.

• Remember: Rumors Chat Thursday.

• Big news from the GM meetings today: There will be some sort of new NHL rule regarding hits to the head. A committee will be formed, a report will be given in March and the consensus is that there will be some sort of penalty for things like blindside hits to the head. Again, the vibe isn’t that there will be the kind of outright "ban" that we’ve seen at other levels, although that’s on the table. But there’s going to be something added to the rulebooks. [Globe & Mail]

• Rich Chere of the Star Ledger talks with Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer(notes) who tells him that a trade from Anaheim this season is "a possibility" and that he doesn’t have a no-movement clause. Wonder where Nieds would be headed if the Ducks are still struggling in 2010. Say, where is his brother playing these days? [Newark Star Ledger]

• Elliotte Friedman has the latest on agent Allan Walsh’s Twitter-promotion of client Jaroslav Halak(notes) and ruffling of Montreal feathers. Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey thought Walsh’s actions were a ‘My dad is bigger than your dad,’ kind of thing." Paging Dr. Freud. [CBC Sports]

• The city of Pittsburgh has its own cereal. Clearly, there’s only one man worthy enough to grace the cover of the box: Max Talbot(notes), superstar. [Pensburgh]

• Neate Sager probably isn’t going to make any friends with the Ottawa Senators (or in the Ottawa media) for this blistering dose of reality about the franchise’s attendance issues and fan support this season: "Ottawa is like a city composed of insecure teenage girls. The analogy fits Toronto, too, except in T.O. the creature has sharper claws. If Toronto is the character Rachel McAdams played in Mean Girls, Ottawa is the one played by Lacey Chabert. Fitting in and doing whatever is popular at that moment is everything, because they know they can be cast out and won’t be missed." It’s a must-read. [Out Of Left Field, via On The Forecheck]

• It’s Remembrance Day and Veteran’s Day today, and Chemmy had an outstanding post on Pension Plan Puppets about Don Cherry’s consistent commitment to the troops. Thank a vet today, will ya? [PPP]

Darcy Tucker(notes) is due back for the Colorado Avalanche against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight. [CBC Sports]

• Michael Farber’s annual list of underappreciated hockey people is always an interesting, random assortment. Among the folks making the cut this year: Pittsburgh Penguins broadcasters Paul Steigerwald and Bob Errey. [SI]

Peter Forsberg(notes) and Chris Chelios(notes) were hot topics of conversation at the GM meetings, with the Phoenix Coyotes interested in bringing Cheli to the desert, where he will actually bring the average age of Arizona residents down we imagine. [Sun Media]

• Did you know the dude who played Rangers mascot Bobby Granger on MSG Network was a pro wrestler? [Indy Wrestling News]

• There’s no surprising Lou Lamoriello. He knows all. [NorthJersey.com]

Fabian Brunnstrom(notes) is out for a game after injuring his shoulder in practice. [ESPN Dallas]

• Mike Danton’s father talks about what he expects from tonight’s "untold story" interview on Sportsnet. [Sun Media]

• The Colorado Avalanche’s third jersey will be officially unveiled on Thursday, and … well, we’ll reserve judgment on these until they’re official. What you see above is a screen grab from Chris Creamer’s logos site (via UniWatch) that leaks the Florida Panthers‘ third jersey logo and color. So … Wild third jersey, take three? Chris from Icethetics wonders where the whiskers went. [Icethetics]

• Ken Campbell on a meeting between Gary Bettman and the KHL’s president, and how relations between the leagues probably aren’t getting any better in the near future. [THN]

• The Washington Capitals report that TMZ has discovered Alex Ovechkin(notes). We’re about one tabloid click away from Perez Hilton drawing white dots on Ovi’s face, aren’t we? [Capitals]

• Every blog needs to do this: Stanley Cup of Chowder presents hidden gems from the Boston Bruins media guide. "Andrew Bodnarchuk’s biggest fear/phobia is the "the feel of cotton balls." [SCOC]

Mike Komisarek(notes) is still missing from Leafs practice. [Leafs]

• The Detroit Red Wings add a Spartan, claim Drew Miller(notes) off of waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. [Lightning Strikes]

• Steve McIntyre was placed on entry waivers, with the aim of sending him to Rochester for the Florida Panthers. [On Frozen Pond]

• Finally, it was a four-fight card last night between the Vancouver Canucks and the St. Louis Blues. Here’s Tanner Glass(notes) and Cam Janssen(notes) in a spirited affair. [Hockey Fights]

Saturday’s Three Stars: Malone’s trick does in ‘Canes

Sean Leahy | October 11, 2009

No. 1 star: Ryan Malone(notes), Tampa Bay Lightning

Malone’s hat-trick included the game-winner for Tampa Bay as they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2. His second goal coming with just 9:14 to play in the game would wind up being the game-winner. It was Tampa’s first win of the season and their first since March 24th. 

No. 2 star: Mathieu Garon(notes), Columbus Blue Jackets

The "Whiteout" in Phoenix didn’t affect Garon as he spoiled the big home opener for the Coyotes on Saturday night stopping 36 shots and posting a shutout in a 2-0 victory for Columbus. It was the third time in Garon’s career has blanked the Coyotes. 

No. 3 star: Sidney Crosby(notes), Pittsburgh Penguins

Toronto’s truculent style of hockey cost them against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Giving the Penguins five power-plays was costly as Pittsburgh cashed in on three of them, two of which saw goals by Crosby in a 5-2 win. The Maple Leafs tried fighting back in the game, but Pittsburgh would score two goals 31 and 67 seconds after Toronto goals to keep their lead extended. 

Honorable mention: Rod Brind’Amour(notes) notched his 1,168 point, putting him two away from Bobby Hull for 47th place … Maple Leafs defenseman Jay Rosehill(notes) scored his first career NHL goal … Teemu Selanne(notes) scored three goals on the night in a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers: two in the third period, including the game-tying goal with just 16 seconds remaining and then the game-winner in the shootout … Matt Hunwick’s(notes) goal with 2:34 to go in the third period brought the Boston Bruins back from a 3-0 deficit against the New York Islanders. Boston would later win the game in a shootout .. Other game-winners late in the third period included David Clarkson(notes) against Florida and Mike Grier(notes) against Nashville … Pekka Rinne(notes) was busy making 41 saves against Buffalo in a 1-0 loss … Patrick Marleau’s(notes) two goals and assist sparked the San Jose Sharks in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild. His goal nine seconds into the third period tied Bob Errey’s franchise record … Jon Quick’s(notes) 29 saves paced the Los Angeles Kings to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues … Reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin(notes) added three assists … Ryan Miller(notes) stopped 25 shots en route to a 1-0 shutout win over Nashville … The Sabres/Predators match-up featured the NHL’s two longest tentured coaches in Lindy Ruff and Barry Trotz … Andrew Ladd’s(notes) goal in the ninth shootout round led the Chicago Blackhawks over the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 … Hurricanes head coach Paul Maurice coached his 900th NHL game.

Did you know? The Florida Panthers have yet to score in the first period through their first four games.

Dishonorable mention: Islanders goaltender Dwayne Roloson(notes) blew a 3-0 lead and allowed three goals in the final six minutes of the third period against the Boston
Bruins  … Feeble power-plays tonight included Minnesota (1-for 8), St. Louis (0-for-5) and Phoenix (0-for-6) … The Coyotes couldn’t muster a goal despite outshooting Columbus 36-18 … Nashville won 36 of 57 faceoffs and managed only 25 shots in their 1-0 loss to Buffalo … Eric Staal(notes) scored the opening goal of the game, but finished a minus-3 against Tampa Bay.