The Republic of Sport

Last Call

Last Call's Comments

Posted Sunday November 22, 2009, About: Niedermayer's friendly gesture starts fight

I think you zeroed in on it DWI. He probably hurried through a crowd and declined to sign autographs.

Posted Sunday November 22, 2009, About: Niedermayer's friendly gesture starts fight

I know these guys aren't perfect, and there is a price for celebrity, but to me , there are bigger things to consider than turning away from autographs sometimes.

Speaking of Domi, it is something that to me that him and Mario are such close friends. They never played together, they were opposite ends of the spectrum as players, and they come from different cultures.....but there was Domi standing next Mario in the owners box during the cup finals.

Posted Sunday November 22, 2009, About: Niedermayer's friendly gesture starts fight

Sorry Argos...I misunderstood and just reread the post.

If you witnessed it...that is good enough for me. Black mark on Mario for that one.

Posted Sunday November 22, 2009, About: Niedermayer's friendly gesture starts fight

I won't dispute the story since I wasn't there, but consider Mario was not popular by any measure in English speaking Canada that I can recall, at least very early in his career. He was shy, and a francophone that was perceived as being aloof because of it. If the story came from the mouth of a radio guy in Toronto, I would qustion the veracity, or at least its objectivity.

Mario is known around Pittsburgh for raising many millions in charity for Childrens Hospital. He has done so for many years. Most of it quietly. He visits ill children that want to meet him both home and on the road to this day. His charitable deeds are too many to mention. The Penguins have a program in which players ( including Sid ) personally deliver tickets to season ticket holders at their home.

if Mario snubbed some kid for an autograph under circumstances in which we don't know, he makes up for a million times over.

Posted Saturday November 21, 2009, About: Niedermayer's friendly gesture starts fight

Where was George Parros when all this was going on?

Posted Friday November 20, 2009, About: Bruins taking care with Savard

I think it is reasonable to expect Krejci, Lucic, Wheeler, & Wideman will continue to improve while Thomas just needs to play at or near a level he did last year.

While Kessel should develop into a 40+ goal man, the Bruins can build some more depth or parlay some picks to move even further up to get another top tier player.

Posted Thursday November 19, 2009, About: Flames mum on Phaneuf-Sutter confrontation

Don't knock it til you tried it Shaf.

You'll understand why in twenty years. ;)

Posted Monday November 16, 2009, About: Fleury: Rangers years were 'nightmare'

Didn't the Rangers realize what was going on with him? 3 years of self indugence of that magnitude will produce warning signs, right?

Maybe the team should be embarrassed for turning a head to the problem.

Posted Saturday November 07, 2009, About: Avery getting less ice time

This coming from a guy that constantly calls Sid Crosby a baby?

Posted Friday November 06, 2009, About: Another Ochocinco stunt

Hopefully the Ravens kck the crap out of the Bengals. Start them on the journey toward where they belong, below Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Steelers will take care of the Bungles at home next week, then it will come down to the battles between the Steelers and Ravens for the bully of the division...as it should be.

Posted Friday November 06, 2009, About: Porter: Patriots get special treatment

At least he didn't change his name to some mumbo jumbo for attention.

Posted Friday November 06, 2009, About: Another Ochocinco stunt

Dear Chad,

Let us know when you win something.

Posted Tuesday November 03, 2009, About: Ovechkin's injury downgraded

Hey, I don't make the rules here gocanada. I just go with the flow. There are scads of fans on here from teams in the east. Teams that are looking to replace the Pens as top dog. Some very good teams whose fans want to bring the Pens down in any manner possible. Winning the cup just magnified those feelings to those fans even more. It comes out in alot of threads.

Posted Tuesday November 03, 2009, About: Ovechkin's injury downgraded

It's called winning the Stanley Cup. I wll refrain from any sarcastic remark here because there are a number of Leafs fans on here I like.

BTW...unlike the last AO thread, this one is actually concentrating on his injury status and the effects on the team.

Posted Tuesday November 03, 2009, About: Chara silences Avery's chirping

You got a deal ws19.

And I agree. I think a B's-Pens ECF would be a great series.

Posted Monday November 02, 2009, About: How bad is Ovechkin's injury?

Ahh.... another Crosby vs Ovie argument thread. Must be Monday. Or is it Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday?

It would be interesting to see how the Caps held up if Ovie were out for any extended period of time. He may be the most indespensible player in the NHL in terms of his team relying on him to make them competitive.

Posted Monday November 02, 2009, About: Chara silences Avery's chirping

I can see a B's -Pens east final too, except with the opposite result than you predict. ;)

Posted Saturday October 31, 2009, About: GM blames cap for Red Wings woes

Staal is more than a third line player. He plays second and first line minutes most nights. He is a primary PK and is getting PP time also. They will exhaust all options before trading Staal.

The Pens will try to blend in a couple wingers and a Dman from the farm to save some cap. Kunitz was mentioned as possibly a casualty. Gonchar too. That's eight + million right there.

Posted Saturday October 31, 2009, About: GM blames cap for Red Wings woes

Or maybe because the Pens had something to do with it.

Posted Saturday October 31, 2009, About: Caps coach squeals on Avery

Just about all is fair game at ice level when it comes to chatter. Do you think opposing coaches or other players are telling Avery he has a nice haircut and where should they send the Christmas card??

Posted Friday October 30, 2009, About: NHL shuns stunned Gretzky

What is the leagues responsibility here? When the Pens went bankrupt, Lemieux was owed about 28 million in deferred money. It wasn't the leagues responsibility to make sure he got his money. He stood to lose it. The team was in bankruptcy. That was his major motivation in putting together an investment group to purchase the team and liquidate the debt. Mario didn't get his money. He became part owner instead.