GodsendJen

Last night the ticket fairy blessed me with club seats.  I've had club seats for other teams and at other arenas, but this was my first trip to watch the Thrasher's at Phillips from the club side. 

Commoner's like myself have heard many rumors about the club section.  Sure, there are the rumors about an impressive array of food and beverages, but this wasn't my mission.  The rumor I most wanted to investigate was the presence of hot water in the bathrooms.  I've never before felt compelled to wash my hands the moment I enter the arena, but last night that is exactly what I did.  I am sad to report that the water in those bathrooms is indeed hot.  My question for the members of the Spirit Group is this:  Your most passionate fans are those that are in their $10-$50 non-club seats before the puck drops for the opening face-off.  Why then is all the hot water in your building reserved for the fans that stumble down to their seat mid-second period, talk constantly about non-game stuff, and leave mid-third period?  Don't get me wrong, I'm not begrudging hot water for the corporate representatives who help stuff money into the Spirit bank account.  But why aren't the rest of us worthy? Is there some segment of the fire code that prevents the arena from installing enough large hot water heaters to service all the restrooms?  Did the architects of Phillips fail to include enough mechanical space for the number of hot water heaters needed? Is the water from non-club bathrooms perhaps melt from the rink that you otherwise could not dispose of?

One of the master pieces of Phillips Arena, from my perspective, is the ladies room found near section 320.  There is a huge glass window in this restroom that overlooks what I believe is the area known to football fans as Falcon's Landing. At night there is just the right combination of lights and colorful banners to make the view quite pleasing.  Imagine how nice that would be if you weren't shrieking from the cold water that blasts from the sink. Why shriek you ask....no matter how well aware I am that the water will not be warm, cold water always shocks the system in an uncomfortable manner.  For those concerned about the food and drink rumors the food appears to come from the Buckhead Life group of restaurants.  Translation: Yummy but pricey.  An unexpected plus of the club section is that the Spin to Win line is very small. Sadly I discovered there are still pleanty of prizes on their wheel that aren't free tickets.

More importantly the game itself was great (and the view from our seats simply incredible). You can read about our impressive victory against the less-than-remarkable LA Kings around the internet.  I was worried prior to the game simply because our track record against Western Conference teams this season is appalling bad.  This game even came with its own moments of anxiety.  We entered the third period with a 3 -1 lead.  Then, 2 minutes into the period, we give up a goal cutting that lead in half.  If you've been watching our third period play over the last month you understand why this would give a Thrasher's fan with a queasy feeling.  I needn't have worried.  Marian Hossa provided 2 more goals to complete his second hat trick of the season and Glen Metropolit scored a goal (his second point of the night) to make the final score 6-2.  I know we can't get excited about defeating a team that is currently last in the Western Conference, but we were productive in the third period, played the game committing only 2 penalties (none in the third), scored on 2 of our 3 power play opportunities, killed off both of the penalties we took, and finally beat a Western Conference foe.  I say hooray for that. In the novelty department it was also the first start for the NHL's lone Japanese player, goalie Fukufuji got his first official start. My best laugh of the game came during the second period just after Fukufuji was pulled.  Some fans sitting directly behind Fukufuji's goal in section 108 started a chant to taunt Fukufuji, calling him by name.  The problem was that Fukufuji had just been replaced by Brust.  These two amusing gentlemen sitting next to us turned to this group of fans and screamed at them for not paying attention.  The fans briefly quieted.  My personal pet peeve about other fans is coming to a game and not paying any attention to it, so I was more than happy to laugh at this exchange. 

The biggest bummer of the game--yet again I witness a hat trick and find myself without a hat to throw.  Someday I'll learn to always wear a cheap and aerodynamic hat to games.

Last weekend I was kid in a candy store excited.  I had scored my first (hopefully not my last) media credential for a NHL game.  I was excited about the access, about getting to sit in the press area, getting to see some of the behind the scenes action and having access to the incredible stack of statistics and other team information that the home team produces. More than anything I was excited about having access to the players and coaches after the game.

I like to think of myself as a smart girl capable of asking serious questions.  I wanted to ask some questions, a few admittedly girly, that were not related to the Caps game, like:

• Bob, last night we lost to yet another team from the Western Conference.  Do you have a plan for helping us win against these disciplined teams before we leave on that West-Coast road trip in February? When will you begin strategizing for those games?
• Hossa, you talk a lot in interviews about Atlantans not recognizing you in public.  This season the team is winning and you are on billboards.  Are more people spotting you in public?
  
• Kari, you had a charming interview with Bary Melrose on ESPN.  I was especially impressed by your hair, what product do you use to make it stand up like that?
• Ilya, it's been musical centers on your line.  Who do you think you have the best chemistry with and would work best centering your line?
• And of course, Glen, would you please explain to JP that I am right, you are having a career season and he should just defer to me on all hockey related matters from now on? And could you do it with the video feed on my digital camera running?
  

I also had some game related questions:

• Ex, do you think some lingering effects of the mono contributed to that delay of game period you had a minute into overtime?
• Bob, do you think an endurance issue is contributing to our late game collapses?

Did I ask any of these questions?  Nope.  I wussed out.  The one factor I had not anticipated was the mood of the locker room.  You hear so many stories from football and baseball where players appear to take a loss lightly--or at least far more lightly than you'd like them to take it as a fan.  Hanging your head in devastation is the purview of overzealous fans, right?  I can attest that after our loss to the Capitals everyone I saw in that Thrasher's locker room looked like someone had just run over their puppy.  Seeing the players so worn down and dejected, there was no way I could bother them with my trifle questions.  This was no fault of the Thrasher's press people.  To their credit they offered to go get Metro for me to talk to.  But I just couldn't do it.  I did go to Bob's press conference and ask a question about our penalties...but really the experience was not me at my best.  It was me discovering the shortcomings of fandom and learning how hard it must be to be a reporter traveling with the team for a living.    If I get the opportunity again I'll jump at it and try to do a better job, even if we don't win.

I shared my press experience last Saturday with my old college chum, Amber.  In exchange for getting her a seat next to mine in the press box I made her record her thoughts about watching hockey as a newbie.  What exactly does a person think about watching real hockey when all they know coming to the game is what they learned from the movies?  This is her account.

Saturday night was my first hockey game.  All I knew came from watching the Mighty Ducks and ¬Miracle.  Before the game starts I check the injury report.  What is an ‘upper body’ injury? Do they not want the media to know?  Is it a test to see if you were watching when it happened? Fascination aside it didn’t go far in helping me learn about the game. Curious about seat prices I go online and find they range from $10-$225.  I’d be perfectly willing to pay $10, probably even more, but $225?  The $10 seats were nice and cushioned.  The pricey seats included bleachers which are close but look uncomfortable.  And what about those seats right in front of the boards?  People spending hundreds of dollars to watch hockey will go deaf!  When players get slammed into the boards or the puck rebounds off the glass the sound is deafening.  These people have spent crazy amounts of money on a ticket and they will likely pay medical deductibles to get their hearing checked.   Really, the cheap seats aren’t bad.  You have a view of the entire arena and you don’t have to worry about post-game frostbite. 

Of course, most of my observations on the seating are speculation, as I was sitting in the press box.  For those who have never been to the press box, here’s my list of advantages and disadvantages.  First let me clarify something.  The actual boxes are reserved for “on camera” media.  Those of us who were not in live broadcast roles were sitting in what would more accurately be termed the press rows; two of them, to be precise.  Personally, I think the rows are probably better than the actual boxes.  It’s easier to feel like part of the crowd and feel the excitement all around you.  The view is amazing.  I was able to see every seat in the stadium except those immediately in front of me.  We sat as far up as the cheap seats but the view of the rink is completely unimpeded.  Up this high I feel like we could be part of the extra colorful advertisements and encouraging chants that were illuminated in red, white, and blue, with the occasional green and yellow thrown in for variety.  The production is truly enjoyable to watch. 

Without a doubt, the best part of sitting in the press box was not having people sitting immediately in front of my knees and immediately above my head.  I didn’t have to worry about some tall guy or a short woman with big hair blocking my view.  I didn’t worry about obnoxious people behind me kicking my chair, shouting in my ears, bumping the back of my head every time they stand up, or spilling beer all over me when they jump up exhilarated by the last particularly exciting play. 

There is a huge disadvantage to sitting in the press box.  I was unable to participate in any of the chanting or cheering.  As a hockey newbie I did not have a preference as to who won or lost the game (well, not at first anyway) and was perfectly willing to be happy for both teams when they made a particularly strong move, scored a point, or prevented the other team from scoring.  Sitting in the press box I had to appear completely impartial to both teams.  There’s no cheering for anybody from the press box!

Finally, hockey is loud.  While I didn’t suffer from the eardrum bursting clash of the puck against the boards I was overwhelmed by how much noise Capitals fans make.  It seemed as if the fans higher up in the stands, the ones who were closest to me, were by far the loudest in the arena.  It was as if they felt the Capitals couldn’t win if they didn’t hear their particular voices.  I imagine most diehard Capitals fans sitting in the higher seats wake up the morning after a game with no voice.  Then there’s the buzzer.  It isn’t fair that only the home team gets a loud buzzing noise when they score.  With three minutes left in the second period the Thrashers had scored twice, but you could hardly tell from the lack of excitement or loud obnoxious buzzing.  Loud and obnoxious as it was the buzzing is very energizing.  Doesn’t the visiting team deserve to be energized, too?

The loud buzzer begs another question, why is it that the goal at a hockey game is to make as much noise as possible to energize the home team, but golf and tennis require the audience to be silent?  Seriously, hockey players hit a puck racing across the ice, while on skates, with other players trying to knock them unconscious against the boards--and they play better if the crowd is loud and encouraging.  But a golfer hitting a stationary ball and two tennis players alone on a court hitting a bright yellow ball need total silence.  Maybe golf and tennis should take a page out of the proverbial hockey book. 

Today is my big official day as a member of the "media" with credentials for a game.  What should be really exciting has turned into a bit of a circus.  I felt good going into this.  JP and Eric McErlain were great with advice and telling me what to expect. I even got a few tips from a nice helpful individual on the Thrasher's staff.  Unfortunately they told me to expect to show up at MCI Verizon Center at 9:30 today to pick up my credentials.  Wouldn't you know it--turns out there is basketball there today.  Some bug-eyed guy whom I assume is with the Hoyas thought we were completely crazy.  He told me "It's basketball today. Come back at 5."  So I go out and send JP a panicked email. "HELP" I plead and yes, he calls. Amber, my partner in crime for the weekend, and I follow JP's instructions and head over to Ballston Commons Mall where the Caps practice for morning skate.  We track down the contact with the Caps who tells us--I don't have your passes now, come back to MCI at 4 today.  So to sum up it is now 12:30 and we have treked all over DC on the Metro (the train, not the player--minds out of the gutter people) for no good reason.  We did get to see part of the morning skate (that is public at the practice facility) and we watched as Hanlon (the CAPs coach) took time to sign a bunch of autographs for fans standing in an autograph queue.  I'm optimistic about tonight, hopefully it will go smoother.  Now I'm off to spend more time treking around DC with my laptop in shoes too nice to trek around the streets...

Yes, it has been a month since a blog entry.  Sure, there was Christmas, a staffing shortage at work, fun with surgical consults, being struck with the plauge and yes, hiding my head in shame after that Peach Bowl loss.  Never fear, things are looking up.  Tomorrow morning I head to DC for a weekend of wild fun and debauchery bridge and tea parties with some old mates.  Saturday I get treated to some top notch hockey.  Or at least I get treated to some top notch access to whatever quality hockey the Caps and Thrashers put on the ice that night. I don't want to spoil the surprise but I'll post about my experiences here and over at Southeast Shootout.  For what it's worth I have done some writing over there while this poor site sat still.  Its all about hockey so feel free to go check it out.

After two and half years of living here in 'Dawg land it looks like I'll finally get the on field evidence I need to shut up all the Georgia fans who surround me daily.  Of course it took my team having their worst season in several years to set this show down up.  The Hokies will be shutting down that 'Dawg offense in the Peach Chick-Fil-A a Bowl on Dec. 30.  The only question left is how much money can I make by accepting the friendly wagers that will surely be offered up by my acquaintences here.

Chick-Fil-A Bowl Information

It's strange how sometimes something you dread can turn out so well.  Atlanta has a miserable record against the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Last season the Leafs beat us 4 times by a combined total of 19 points.  Earlier this season they beat us 4-2. In fact to find the last time Atlanta beat Toronto you have to go all the way back to October of 2003 when we walked away with a 3-2 OT win. Tonight we took a big step ahead as a team and dominated the Leafs walking away with a 5-0 win.  The highlights:

• Marian Hossa had his first Thrasher hat trick. (His last one came when he was with Ottowa in a game against the Thrashers.) 
  
• Kari Lehtonen had his 4th shut out of the season (setting a new single season franchise mark for shut-outs).  
  

The hat trick and the shut out are both impressive, but more so was the way the whole team pulled togather.  The hat trick wasn't just a product of Hossa's puck mastery.  When we found ourselves on the power play late in the game everyone on the ice was trying to get the puck to Hossa.  On the other end of the ice everyone was working hard to help Kari preserve that shutout.  Kari was on fire tonight and its obvious that his success in the last two games has really bolstered his confidence.  It was also refreshing to hear chants of "Hos-sa, Hos-sa" and "Kari, Kari" coming from the crowd instead of the usual drivel.

I agree with most of the things Bob Hartley does with the Thrashers, after all he knows infinately more about hockey than I can ever hope to comprehend.  The decisions of his I've really questioned came during the games where Kari Lehtonen gave up a couple of quick goals and Hartley quickly pulled him and went to Johan Hedberg.  Coming from a football background there are some football thoughts that infiltrate my hockey thoughts.  I think of goalies the same way I think of quarterback and I really worried that getting pulled quickly and being sat for so many games would shake his confidence.  On a night like tonight where our defense was spread thin it would have been easy for Hartley to make another goalie switch.  Hopefully sticking with Lehtonen is a sign that his confidence is up and he's regained Hartley's trust.  The end result was an incredible 5-4 overtime win over the Rangers.  A nice bit of revenge exacted for that loss they handed to us a few weeks ago. Those losses by Carolina and Tampa Bay are just icing on the cake.

For two days I’ve patiently read the incessant whining from Capitol’s fans (and yes, some Thrasher’s fans) about how all fault for Wednesday’s brouhaha can be placed squarely on the shoulders of Andy Sutton and his “cheap shot” on Green with just over a minute left in the game.  These complaints fall under two headings: Sutton is a cheap shot artist who does this all the time and it’s about darn time some team stood up against his brutality; and the Thrasher’s had the game in hand and there is no reason for aggressive play with so little time left.

The Cheap Shot
Sutton’s hit didn’t merit anything more than a two minute roughing penalty.  He’s a defenseman and he hit the guy with the puck when the opportunity presented itself.  That’s what he gets paid for.  Was the hit high? Yes.  I’d prefer Sutton find a way to check Green without getting penalized too, but he was just coming onto the ice and needed to react quickly.    

Uncalled for in a Game You Will Win
This second argument is the one that really burns me.  Anyone who thinks you stop playing aggressive defense because the end of regulation is near needs to have their head examined.  Or better yet, go back and watch some tape of our early season loss to the Hurricanes.  Our team learned the hard way this season that you can’t stop and take a breather when the final seconds are ticking off the clock.  We’ve had teams score twice on us in under a minute.  We’ve had a team score a game winning goal with half a second left on the clock.  If those losses taught us ANYTHING it’s that we can’t blow off the last two minutes of the game.  Thrasher fans who jumped on this bandwagon should be ashamed. We want our team to win and for that to happen we need them to play defense until the final horn sounds.

I’m sure my arguments won’t silence anyone, but the NHL rulings make it pretty clear where the league places the blame. On the Capital’s side you have $30,000 in fines to Hanlon, a three game suspension to Brashear, a one game suspension to Sutherby.  On the Thrasher’s side $10,000 in fines to Hartley and a one game suspension to captain Mellanby.  Frankly I’m surprised, and disappointed, that Hanlon didn’t receive as suspension of his own.  He engineered the first three on three throw-down and I suspect he wanted to meet Hartley in the parking lot after the game and go at it Karate Kid style.  One thing I do know, on December 15^th I’ll be at Philips for the rematch.