Rocktoberfest

The Toronto Rock are pretty good to their season ticket holders. There's often a little trinket in with the tickets each year, and lately they've hosted a season ticket holder party. I generally do everything I can to pass along these favours to people who will appreciate it the most - kids (like my nephews). Last year they started Rocktoberfest, a two week draw of prizes for everyone who renewed or purchased season seats before the deadline. Cool stuff, but it's not like I'd ever win anything ... except that trivia contest when I won an autographed Whipper ball and playing card.

Sid Dickens Fall 2012 Preview Review

Hi again everyone. I've been about as motivated to type up this review as Sid Dickens was to design the Fall Collection for 2012 (Collection of Curiosities), which is to say that if I can do better than mail this review in, I will have one-upped Sid. But before we get to this collection's review here are the previous ones: Spring 2012, Fall 2011 and Spring 2011.

Fireworks: Perpetual Pursuit of Perfection

Well, the first part of summer has flown by. Seems like just yesterday that I was buying fireworks for the May 2-4 long weekend. Since then I've learned a few things that I wanted to pass along.

NLL Crystal Ball: 2012 Champion's Cup

Ouch!
My playoff picks have been atrocious. I've only got one of the 6 games right. I should've quit when I was ahead, i.e. after the regular season. After the break I offer absolutely no insight into the National Lacrosse League Champion's Cup Championship game.

Fireworks: The How To Guide by this Idiot

It is nearly the May long weekend, which means it is time to celebrate Queen Victoria by blowing up a small piece of Canada with fireworks. Yes, that's right. FIREWORKS!!!

Fireworks!

In this blog post I'm going to explain how to do your own show in your own backyard.

NLL Crystal Ball: 2012 Division Finals Edition

Nothing like two upsets to really bust a playoff bracket, especially when one picks an upset that didn't happen. Hence my abysmal 1-3 record in the first round of the playoffs. The best news of the last week is that when the Rock host the championship game they will do so on Friday May 18th at 7:30pm. This means that I can watch the game without interrupting my long weekend plans (i.e. FIREWORKS). And those fireworks will be extra special with a seventh Rock Champion's Cup championship (PS the NLL needs a better name for the cup).

NLL Crystal Ball: 2012 Playoff Edition

In the final week of the NLL season I went 2-2. I finished the season ahead of all the experts at IL Indoor with a record of 40-32. <pause to take bow and accept flowers from the roaring standing ovation> Since I started making predictions about the NLL I'm 46-33, so now it's time to see what I've got for this year's playoffs.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 17

Well, we've reached the final week of the regular season. I went 3-2 last week, so I'm at 38-30 on the season. Over at IL Indoor the best of the experts (Jenner and Pilson) are at 35-33, so as long as I go .500 this week I'm guaranteed to finish ahead of them. As I've been saying all season - the less you know, the better. It's been an odd season for making picks. Maybe next year I'll get Lannis to work her smarties, and the Gnome to flip his coin and see how random methods stack up. This week's picks, favourites and bonus bets are after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 16

I went 2-2 last week, which brings me to 35-28 on the season. I've never really appreciated how bad some of the announcers are for lacrosse, because normally I watch several games at a time with Livestream and I have them all on mute. More on that after the break, as well as my picks and favourites to win the cup.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 15

I went 2-2 last week. The blame lies entirely at the feet of Philadelphia. Thanks a lot, jerks! I'm now 33-26 on the season, which is one up on Jenner and Pilson and a lot up on the other Insiders. This week's matchups are interesting, and thankfully the Wings don't play so they can't screw up my prognosticating ... this week. There's the battle for second overall; actually, it's not much a battle, since Colorado only needs to win one more game on the season to ensure they finish ahead of everyone in the East. There's also a battle of cellar-dwellers between Buffalo and Edmonton; a win would give either team an advantage in the race to not miss the playoffs. My picks and favourites are after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 14

I went 4-1 last week. So I'm at 31-24 for the season. It's a pretty straightforward week for picks, which makes me nervous.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 13

I went 3-3 last week, so I'm at 27-23 on the season. I made a few prognostications last week for which I would like partial credit. First, I was convinced that Philadelphia and Colorado would split the series. I guessed, poorly, that the home teams would win. I could've been 5-1. I was also hesitant about picking the Stealth the way I did, but it worked out, so we'll call that one a wash with the Wings-Mammoth. Second, I wrote this about the Roughnecks-Goondits game: "Two teams that are perfectly matched for extracurricular nonsense, but Calgary has more talent." Ding ding. Ring the bell, the Goondits are back in town. I pity the team who plays them this week ... well any week really.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 12

I got back to my winning ways last week with a perfect 3-0 week. I'm now 24-20 on the season. If only I could transfer my mojo to the Rock ...
It's been yet another busy week for me, so the not-even-remotely-insightful picks, favourites and magic numbers are after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 11

Another bad week for me at 2-4 last week. This has me back in .500 territory at 21-20 on the season. It's been another busy week for me at work, so without any further ado, my picks, favourites and magic numbers after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 10

I went 1-3 last week. My first really bad week of the season, which brings my season record down to 19-16. I'm rushed for time this week, so my picks, favourites, magic numbers and check-in with preseason predictions are after the break (and it will all be brief).

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 9

I went 3-1 last week; I'm up to 18-13 on the season. I'm having unbelievable luck predicting winners of games, but that doesn't mean I know anything about what's happening on the floor. Earlier this week I posted about trying to learn more about what is happening on (and off) the floor, which I followed with my first attempt at colour commentary.  Paul Stewart devoted two separate posts of his mailbag to answering my queries (which is extra awesome because I was only expecting one). First, he explained why no insider is likely to post colour commentary for the benefit of fans. Second, Stewart explained the statistical and strategic differences between basketball fouls and lacrosse penalties. I can't thank him enough for taking the time to explain some of those Xs and Os that have perplexed me. When I have time and space in front (of a keyboard), I'll probably brainstorm five million more questions. He'll soon be sick of me!

After the break, check out my picks, favourites, magic numbers and other thoughts.

Getting Inside Lacrosse - Analysis of a Successful Power Play

As per my earlier post, I'm going to breakdown one successful power play. I'm going to do this for two reasons. First, I want to learn about the game, and I know there are other fans out there who are similarly interested in lacrosse strategy. Second, I'm hoping that someone who actually knows something about lacrosse will take this idea and turn it into something awesome. With access to HD TV footage, and proper production equipment, the NLL could probably put together some really informative videos to help explain the game.

Getting Inside the National Lacrosse League

There have been some really interesting posts about lacrosse lately. Two of them have been extremely insightful and critical looks at what might be holding lacrosse back from growing and gaining respect. The third, some Tweets from Paul Stewart, have been more exciting for me. Keep reading for my thoughts on all three.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 8

I went 2-2 last week. When I saw that Graeme had the same picks, I tweeted that we were going .500 on the weekend ... if only I was as prescient at figuring out which 2 games I had wrong! Anyway, I'm up to 15-12 on the season. Thankfully Pilson and Jenner had the same picks, so I'm still up on the entire IL Indoor panel. This week's picks, favouritisms, magic numbers and other numbers after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 7

I went an impressive 3-1 last week. Let's take a moment to bask in that glory, because it's all downhill from here. I'm at 13-10 on the season, which is one up on Jenner and Pilson, the two best experts over at IL Indoor. I hope no one at IL Indoor gets the idea of copying me, especially Stewart and Shanny who would most certainly drag me down with their terrible luck. My picks, favourites and magic numbers after the break.

Let's Talk about Mental Health

Today is the second annual Let's Talk about Mental Health day. It's a Twitter bomb of slacktivism. The goal is to have a conversation, so, I'll bite, let's have a conversation. One a little longer than 140 characters.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 6

I went 2-2 last week, which is a bit of a middling pattern I've developed this season. This puts me at 10-9 overall this season; that's one back of Pilson and one up on Jenner and Shanny (and better than all the other IL Indoor experts).

If you aren't on Twitter, you should be, because the Toronto Rock are taking over Twitter, and they are doing it well. Pat Merrill started #dguyproblems up again today, and Josh Sanderson responded with an #oguyproblems. We were also the first to hear Rob Marshall reporting that he was on his way to the hospital for Xrays on his broken foot. I'm glad someone told him that he didn't have to follow us all back, but he might want to reconsider self-reporting injuries. Just saying.

Anyway, in looking at the schedule and records I noticed that it's entirely conceivable that by the end of this weekend we could see six of nine teams sitting with two wins each, and as few as two teams above .500. Hello parity!

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 5

I went an impressive 4-2 last week (better than all the IL Indoor experts). I'm now 8-7 on the season (tied with Pilson and ahead of all the other experts). The know-it-all in me wishes I'd gone 6-0, but the Rock fan is happy about the two wrong predictions. Anytime Rochester and Buffalo lose, and look awful doing so, is good. This past weekend of lacrosse was so exciting that I wrote this post on Sunday. I figured that was a bit early to post, but I'm home sick today, so it seems as good a time as any. I go out on some tenuous limbs with my picks this week, which can be mocked after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 4

Time to check the crystal ball again. I went 2-2 last week, which is respectable, and I'm at 4-5 on the season. I've decided on a methodology for the weekly favouritism, which I think should give it some credibility and fun. Check out my picks and other prognostications / pontifications after the break.

Habs Thoughts

I have a question for Leafs fans about Tomas Kaberle. He looks completely and utterly lost on the ice since joining the Habs. This is saying something, because he's playing alongside the slowest man in the history of hockey (Hal Gill - who I can forgive, because he puts in an honest effort every game), two rookies (Emelin and Diaz) and two near-rookies (Subban and Weber). I remember there being a lot of hype about Kaberle in Toronto ... was this a case of him being the closest thing to a competent player on the Leafs (such that the Toronto-centred media deluded themselves into believing he was good)? Or has his skill set dropped off dramatically now that he's been infected with the "loser" mentality?

I'm sure you Leafs fans have a question you want to ask us Habs fans about an equally over-hyped player, the answer to which is after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 3

Maybe I should stay out of the business of making guesses on a game-by-game basis this National Lacrosse League season. I went 2-2 last week, so I'm 2-3 on the season. There are four games this week, and I'm not feeling very productive this afternoon, so I figured I'd get my picks done before I get swamped with other things later in the week. I was going to just throw my picks down, but Graeme insisted I provide insight and analysis. Check it out after the break.

NLL Crystal Ball: Week 2

It's the second week of the National Lacrosse League Season, and there's four games on the schedule tonight. Edmonton has another week off, but everyone else plays tonight. The Rock-Goondits game is going to be broadcast live on TSN in Canada, and all of the games are available through the NLL Livestream feeds. My picks are after the break.

Sid Dickens Spring 2012 Preview Review

The first picture of the first tile of the Spring 2012 collection appeared yesterday on the 10th of January. This means it's time for the return of the most popular biannual blog post (Fall 2011 / Spring 2011). I know most of you come for the pictures, but for the three of you who come to read what I think, I will once again be live-blogging each day's release(s). So check back daily for updates. The tiles and my thoughts are after the break.

Player Profile: Dan Carey

I can't tell you how excited I am to see one of the newest players on the Toronto Rock: Dan Carey.

Image stolen err I mean borrowed from IL Indoor.

Crystal Ball: 2012 NLL Season

I'm getting very excited for the start of the 2012 National Lacrosse League season. I just listened to the podcast of the first episode of Toronto Rock Total Access; I watched some of the guys on CP24 this morning, and last night I read Andrew McKay's piece on Matt Roik. I'm unbelievably excited, even more so because my oldest nephew is coming down for his first game on Sunday.

Since I nailed my playoff predictions last year (stupid Boston), I figure I might as well gaze into the crystal ball again before the season starts. This isn't rocket science, because only one team in the entire league will miss the playoffs. In fact, teams could start clinching playoff spots as early as the All Star Break at the end of February. What amuses me the most about the number of teams making the playoffs is that two (or more) teams could go winless this season, and one of them would still get into the playoffs using the goals for / against tiebreaker.  Check out my predictions after the break.