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I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

Frayed Knot Jan 28 2011 03:17 PM

Kind of a goofy idea, but I kind of like it and, hey, it's not like the NHL has much to lose by messing around with the same old formulas. What "it" is is the concept of splitting up the two sides in Sunday's All-Star Game, not by conference, not by North Americans vs Europeans (both of which they've done) but by naming two captains and having them choose up sides from amongst the nominated players like they're back on a frozen pond somewhere. Not quite sure how the captains -- Eric Staal & Nicklas Lindstrom -- were chosen, but it's now up to them and their co-captains (Mike Green & Ryan Kesler for Staal; Patrick Kane & Martin St. Louis* for Lindstrom) to alternate picks as far as which guys they want on their squad. Will be interesting - although would be even more so if I were more up to date on this stuff - to see who they're going to pick. Regular season teammates? ... Friends? ... Countrymen? ... Goalies? ... Scorers? ... The supposed best available player? Also, how quickly does Eric Staal pick his brother Marc, and do the identical Sedin twins (and regular season teammates) get picked by to play on different teams for the first time in probably forever? And maybe most fun of all: who gets the distinction/insult of being picked last? Seeing as how it's all All-Star quality guys the last pick, unlike back in the schoolyard days, can't be the fat kid with his finger up his nose, but I still bet no one wants to be that guy. * Pronounced in the French style of: Mar-Tan San Louie - and, no, he doesn't play for St. Louis

metirish Jan 28 2011 03:40 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

I didn't know this, great idea and it will have me tuning in. The NHL has fallen so far of my radar, even moreso since I got fios and they don't carry MSG in HD.

TheOldMole Jan 28 2011 05:42 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

I thought it was a neat idea, too -- and then I missed the game. Did Eric Staal pick Marc?

Frayed Knot Jan 28 2011 07:04 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

TheOldMole wrote: I thought it was a neat idea, too -- and then I missed the game. Did Eric Staal pick Marc? Well you didn't miss the game, that's not until Sunday. Only the picking was tonight (and might still be going on). I caught a few minutes of it which was a bit cheesy and hokey but hockey does hokey very well so it kinda fits. And yes, Eric Stall picked brother Marc (although not early) but the Sedin twins got split going in consecutive picks in this draft and in the same order they originally went when they went consecutively in the NHL draft.

A Boy Named Seo Jan 28 2011 09:31 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

Sounds very cool. At the same time I'm thinking I'd hate it if they did that for the baseball all-star game, & I don't give a shit about the baseball all-star game.

Frayed Knot Jan 29 2011 07:18 AM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

For baseball - and to a lesser extent the NFL - the leagues/conferences still mean something even if not quite as much as they once did. But I've never heard of any NHL or NBA fan who carries any kind of East/West pride around with them so the concept makes more sense in those sports. With basketball's tradition of choosing up sides for street ball they should probably be embarrassed that hockey beat them to this idea as generally the NHL beats NO ONE to a good idea. Maybe the whole 'we got nuthin to lose' mentality gives them an edge here.

TheOldMole Jan 29 2011 08:57 AM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

Baseball All-Star has a more entrenched tradition. Otherwise, it would be cool. With the hands up the bat to see who picks first.

Edgy DC Jan 30 2011 12:08 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

I'm not sure. The distinction between the leagues has mostly become nominal.

Frayed Knot Jan 30 2011 01:37 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

But there's still an identity with teams (at least those not named 'Brewers') and with most cities, and with most fans that associate them more with one league than the other. Stuff like that still means something and isn't affected by the fact that offices and functions on Park Avenue have largely merged. Plus the DH is still evil.

Edgy DC Jan 30 2011 01:43 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

The league identites haven't been degraded in the public mindset much by the merger of the office, but they have by more frequent interleague player movement and interleague play. I imagine fantasy leagues have contributed also. It is true that the different DH rules has contributed ot the leagues retaention of their identities.

TheOldMole Jan 30 2011 01:55 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

Even better idea -- have some sort of drawing or contest, and name two fans as honorary captains, let them choose up sides. Still thinking of hockey, of course.

G-Fafif Jan 30 2011 02:33 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

Seeing as how both games are happening today, about the NHL All-Stars take on the Pro Bowl squads in basketball?

Frayed Knot Jan 30 2011 03:31 PM Re: I'll take Jimmy ... and Eddie ... and ...

Or, better yet, outdoor hockey and football on ice!