Patience Is A Virtue

I wanted to wait until after the first day of Free Agency and be able to include my adventures at the Draft in one post.  Sure looks like my patience paid off. 

Check out Through The Lens tab for pictures from the draft!  

2011 NHL Draft - Just The Facts
With the 10th pick in the First Round the Minnesota Wild select: Jonas Brodin, defenseman. 

With the first trade of the 2011 NHL Draft Chuck Fletcher lowered the boom as Gary Bettman announced: "Minnesota Wild trade to the San Jose Sharks Brent Burns"...and the air was completely sucked out of the Xcel Arena as an incredibly large contingent of Wild fans gasped, waiting to hear the payoff.  The Wild received in return: Devin Setoguchi, Charile Coyle (stud college power forward, to use Russo's words) and Zack Phillips.  Finally the Wild fans let out their breath in the form a cheer loud enough to qualify for the goal horn, myself included.  That's not to say there weren't some boos, there were.  There are those folks who will always feel that you shouldn't trade any player of worth for something better.

Day Two of the Draft saw Minnesota trading picks with Vancouver to select Mario Lucia - left wing (yes, that Lucia, U of M Coach).  The team also picked Nick Seeler -defense, another hometown boy and followed up by selecting Stephen Michalek - goalie and finally Tyler Graovac - center. 

Free Agency and Trades 
Prior to July 1st the Wild did trade a 2013 third round pick for Darroll Powe, a forward on the Flyers.  Friday, July 1st, was the first day of free agency for the NHL and it was 'all quiet on the western front' for the Wild but then I didn't expect anything front-page-newsworthy now that Burns has been traded. 

• We re-signed Josh Harding to a one year contract.  
• Jose Theodore found a home with the Florida Panthers.  I wish the very best for Jose and I'll be checking in on the Panthers to see how he's doing. 
• Cam Barker's Gone!  I could do a whole song and dance about this but the guy's not worth the time or energy - kind of like the lack of time and energy he gave the Wild.
• Andrew Brunette is in Chicago with his former coach from the Avs and I've asked Vance to take good care of Bruno for us until he's ready to come back home for a tv or radio Wild gig.
• Antti Mietinen hasn't been signed by any NHL team as of Sunday afternoon...*crickets chirping...sorry Mikko
• John Madden hasn't been signed by any NHL team as of Sunday afternoon.    

July 2nd came and went, still nothing and again I'm not surprised at all.  

And on the 3rd day of July Check Fletcher lowered the boom again and made an 'even-up' trade with San Jose: Marty Havlat in return for Dany Heatly. 
I was stunned and disappointed - not that we lost Prima Dona Part Timer Havlat - for that I'm eternally grateful.  What I'm so truly disgusted with is that we went for someone who's clearly a Cancer in the locker room, has fitness issues, is injury prone, fails to show up in the playoffs and pouted his way out of two teams (Ottawa and Atlanta) before going to San Jose.  He's 30, has declining production issues since the 2006-2007 season - which of course is being blamed on injuries he "bravely" played through.  Yeah, right.  Now he's our festering blister to deal with.  Some may call him an elite scorer in the league, kinda like Havlat was supposed to be, until his attitude got in the way.  Now it's up to Chuck and more importantly, Mike Yeo, to prove me wrong in my assessment.       

2011 NHL Draft - I'm In Heaven Notes! 
I have to start out by saying how utterly disappointed I was that Vicki wouldn't be my partner for this event.  It was absolutely crushing that we wouldn't be spending this once in a lifetime event together.  Seriously Vicki, will we ever be okay at a hockey game or event without each other? 
I attended the Fan Fest at the Crown Plaza and chose to sit in on the Coaching Legends to hear Scotty Bowman speak.  Turns out he not only speaks but he meets-n-greets.  What a great pleasure to shake hands with him and offer my humble thanks to a man who's represented the best in hockey over the years.  
I was on a break between the Fan Fest and the start of the Draft when I happened to stumble into free lower level tickets as opposed to the club level tickets we were originally assigned.  Due to the late notice of these tickets I was unable to lure anyone away from their plans but as it turns out fate was working it's usual magic as you'll read in a moment. 
I got to the X, entering via gate 1 along with a group of RABID Sabres fans, and made my way up to the club seats to see what angle I'd have of the event.  On the way back through the arena I came across the newly minted Winnipeg Jets fans who couldn't have been more excited.  I remember that feeling and couldn't help but be excited for them.  Who else did I run into...oh yeah, Wes Walz, cuz it's not a Wild event without Wes.  I now have my Round One ticket signed by him.  I also got some great pics of the Stanley Cup, the replica I'm sure.

I grabbed a soda and settled into my seat in 104.  I looked to my right and was thrilled to realize that I was sitting next to the draftees and their families!  There are some nice pictures of these boys as they are being hugged by their folks and making their way down to the stage after having their names called.  I was chatting with the Penguins fans behind me when the text came in from Tim L, wondering if I was at my home away home.   
**Sidenote: I started to look around for Tim and realized that Wes Walz was standing at the rail at the top of my section.  We exchanged head nods and smiles.  I waited until he turned his head to talk to someone else before snapping a picture of him, but c'mon - who's stalking who at this point?? 
Anyway, Tim just happened to be sitting with his friendsTad and Shadd in the section directly above me.  I think it took them 5 seconds to leave their seats and join me in 104.  We had a blast talking about hockey, the Wild, the Draft and life in general.  All three of them were working their smartphones looking up stats for our draftees as well as other team fans around us.  I think Tim's battery died at one point and one of his friends actually pulled out a second phone just to keep up!  Tim was even kind enough to babysit my camera so that I could use the little girl's room during the evening - which I was VERY grateful for...that large soda kills me every time.  I have to say that Tim, Tad and Shadd really went a long ways towards making up for not being with Vicki during the draft.  Thanks, Guys!!

Notables from the Draft    

• Gary Bettman was booed every time he spoke - which kinda got old but I still laughed.
• Vancouver Canucks got booed every time they selected or were mentioned in a trade, and it was funny every time.  
• The Rangers acknowledged the loss of Derek Boogaard and had Aaron Boogaard on hand to receive the standing ovation in Derek's memory as well as announce their first round draft pick.  It was an awesome moment.
• The Winnipeg Jets fans were rocking the joint during their first round pick and it sent chills up my spine remembering how I felt during our first draft.  It is truly something special to be a part of something from the beginning. 
• Most other teams in the league think the Wild play in the city or state of Minneapolis...idiots.  
• Got to chat with Craig Leipold about the Burns trade, the draft events and the Wild's future look.  

Time to close up the laptop and spend one last Fourth of July watching the city's fireworks from the deck while enjoying a glass of tequila and ginger ale.   

Wild Road Trip, NHL Awards, NHL Draft

Wild Road Trip
Well, it seems we've found someone who goes more ga-ga for a hockey player than I do for Wes Walz.  That would be the two young ladies I accompanied to today's Wild Road Trip pit stop in St. Cloud.  The recipient of the giggling, flustered and totally red-faced request for autographs?  That would be Mr. Cal Clutterbuck in all of his furry-faced glory.  Ginnie's girls were all but melting in their shoes and Cal sent them into fits of hysterical laughter when he asked if one of them had taken the pictures they had brought for him to sign.  Gin had to step in and she pointed to me, not in line but following along while holding purses and coats.  I darn near fainted as Wes waived and gave me the nod, along with Cal's big smile.  I didn't catch the conversation but I got the OMG report from the girls on the way out to the car.  Wes Walz said he knew he recognized his picture from somewhere before and Cal said he loved the candid shots of him during warmups just having fun.  I loved that I helped two young hockey fans get to meet a Wild Legend and a Wild Fan Favorite.  The girls chattered all the way home and thought Mom and Aunt Dee were Hockey Goddesses for taking them.  It was a good day in the State Of Hockey.             


NHL Awards
If I had to sum up the awards show in two words: John Hamm

This guy is one handsome hunk of hockey fan!  I've lusted after him for a number of years now with Mad Men going into it's third season and prior to that in The Day The Earth Stood Still, The A-Team and The Town.  But finding out that this man is from St. Louis, Missouri and has always been a long suffering Blues fan just sent me over the moon!  I lost track of the fact that he was presenting the Vezina Award because I was drooling over what he'd look like in a locker room....Oh, yes...congratulations to Tim Thomas too.  

Hosting again this year was Jay Mohr, normally a funny guy, just not when it comes to hockey.  He did much better than last year but then he had no where to go but up from last year's show. 

Funniest Moments
Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler looking like they'd rather be anywhere else doing anything else rather than accepting a trophy that wasn't the Stanley Cup.  The Hockey Gods punish and I laughed out loud. 
  
Wild Represent!
During the clip showing the NHL Plays Of The Year we got to see our very own Wild represented...one of our guys going ass over elbows into the players bench after being hit by a Mac truck. 

2011 NHL DRAFT
Television Coverage: Versus 6:00 p.m. our time Friday.  I'm not seeing coverage for Saturday but that could be a misprint?  I'm pretty sure Versus showed both days last year. 

Here's the official draft order for this coming Friday and Saturday, compliments of Russo.  Minnesota has the 10th pick in round one on Friday.  They pick again on Saturday: at 71 in the 3rd round, 101 in the 4th, 131 in the 5th, 161 in the 6th, 191 in the 7th.  That means unless Chuck is wheeling and dealing like a master magician there's not much for the Wild to get hot and lathered over in this draft.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't watch or pay attention to the draft.  I mean, C'MON PEOPLE!!  It's the freakin' draft and we're hosting it this year!!  I am so jazzed for this experience I can't hardly wait for Friday to get here!  I bought an extra SD card for my camera and a portable charger for my battery just to be sure I won't have to miss getting shots of hockey legends wandering around the arena and mingling among the tables during the draft.

For Nan and George - This rendition of your song always makes me think of you :) 

Ramblings

Friendship Quote

"A good friend can make you laugh until you pee...And then make you laugh about that." 

This was on one of the 50 or so birthday cards I've received and it's just too good not share with you all.  That statement represents the True Friend mantra at its best, right along with: "Yes, those pants make your ass look fat" when you're in the fitting room and "Let's do that again!" when you're both sitting in jail waiting for the bail money to arrive.  When you've got great friends, you've got everything you need in life.  Thanks to everyone for making this the best birthday month a 50 year old 'girl' could ever have!  I'm going to need a three day siesta when all is said and done but what a blast it is to be spending time with the folks I hold near and dear!  
Movie Reviews

Super8
In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.
Baby Boomers will laugh their way through this one and Rich firmly believes that's exactly what J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg were gunning for.  The references to our generation were "Mint!" and the music rocked.  Kids in the age range of 9-13 will be hooked by the action, CGI and other special effects.  I personally could have done with a lot less of the flared lens effect Abrams is obviously so fond of but I did LOVE the zombie movie theme and the finished product at the end.  This is not a statement movie, or leave-you-thinking-for-days movie.  This is just plain entertainment, folks - enjoy!

The Tree of Life
The impressionistic story of a Texas family in the 1950s. The film follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father (Brad Pitt). Jack (played as an adult by 'Sean Penn' ) finds himself a lost soul in the modern world, seeking answers to the origins and meaning of life while questioning the existence of faith.
Introspect is the best word I can find to describe this movie and what I took away from it.  This is the movie that will have you thinking for days, possibly weeks afterwards.  It made me remember feelings from my past that I hadn't felt in a long, long time.  Clearly this movie spoke to me on both personal and faith levels but in talking with other people who saw it they felt the same way.   

Trailers
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (June 29)
Are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet???  Rich, dude - get your game on buddy and watch the 2nd movie, which was amusing but embarrassing, kinda like the Star Wars movie with the JarJar Binx character but WAY COOLER effects.  Oh, and when are we going to see Green Lantern??  

Cowboys and Aliens (July 29)
Read the book (Scott Mitchell Rosenberg).  Then set your sights on the oh-so-delicious mostly naked Daniel Craig, grizzled Harrison Ford, Sam Rockwell and some chick named Olivia Wilde.  When I saw the first trailer for this movie way back during the holidays I was pretty skeptical.  Now I'm excitedly awaiting the NOW PLAYING status at my local theater.        
 
Minnesota Twins
As badly as those first few weeks of the season were, it seems the last three weeks have been just as impressive.  After sweeping the Padres at home this weekend the Twins have won 13 of the last 15 games.  Delmon Young still sucks,  Baby Jesus needs to produce big time now that he's back in the line up.  Of course, it's just a matter of time before another 'bi-lateral soreness'  or hang nail or bad haircut sidelines the Twins' equivalent of Marian Gaborik.  I'm sure I'll be hearing from Connie or Bobbi for that remark...but that's why I made it - bring it!  Never forget that I am...Evil Dee :) 

Crunch and Munch
My latest addiction:

                                               +
 Newman's own Peach Salsa
                                       
                             
Yummy Goodness that just keeps on giving!  The Hint Of Lime chips are pretty darn good too.