"All of the true things I'm about to tell you are shameless lies" — Bokonon
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
1994: Seems like an awfully long time ago...
9 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Actually, you only need to go back eight seasons (nine years) to 1997 - the last time the Rangers actually made the playoffs (which is still a long time ago) - the Rangers beat the Devils in seven that year as well. But thanks for remembering 94 - I miss it, too.
Plus, talk about a team limping in versus a team that couldn't be hotter right now.
I actually might get a break from diapers long enought to watch some of this series - I doubt it can top 94, though.
Oh, I know the last time the Rangers made the playoffs, Perl. Remember Wayne Gretzky? They really took advantage of the greatest player of all time on Broadway.
But in New Jersey, where it took five and then three years to collect additional Stanley Cups after 1995, we don't really consider making the playoffs much of an accomplishment.
Exactly my point, Bones. What Devil fan wouldn't remember the last Rangers/Devils playoff series, and continue to stay bitter all these years afterward? I almost get the feeling that the Rangers 7-year playoff drought is more satisfying to Devils fans than the 2 cups they won during that time. Don't you find that to be a bit sad? It's similar to how Boston and Mets fans chant "Yankees suck" at games when they're NOT EVEN PLAYING the Yanks!
It only goes to show how the top-class franchises in sports like the Yankees and Rangers will always draw the envy of the more "Mickey Mouse organizations" - which is a good segue back to Gretzky...
As far as Gretzky goes, the move (or non-move) that ruined a possible fairytale encore for The Great One was when they let Messier go to Vancouver, leaving Gretzky somewhat twisting in the wind, and thus began the playoff drought.
Gretzky's shining moments as a Ranger, however, were clearly during the 1997 playoffs - I actually was at the playoff game where Gretzky had a hat trick, and you knew then that Gretzky had really cemented his place in the fans' hearts at that point. So it wasn't a total waste. But you're right - they blew it big time by not taking full advantage of the Messier/Gretzky magic for as long as possible.
And congratulations to your team on the Division crown - well deserved. And good luck in Round 1, where none of that matters anymore. Just hope it doesn't go to game 7 - I hear Matteau already has his front row seat reserved that night at Continental Arena.
6 Division Championships in 9 Years 4 Conferene Championships Since 95. 3 Stanley Cups Since 95.
The Rangers are a team that started out hot but the last 30 games have been terrible. Maybe the rest of the league was still learning the NEW rules of the game while the Rangers were playing above their heads. Devils will not be the typical defensive team they've had in the past but this team can actually score some goals. The loss of Colin White will hurt but at least we won't have this guy now to take the dumb penality. Rangers don't scare me anymore...how could they with the way the season ended.
So predictable, Bones. I was waiting for the "Name 5 Rangers" line - so therefore I'll reply by bringing up my tired reply of "Where did your newfound Mets enthusiam come from after being non-existant for the late 80s/early 90s?". Can we finally call that argument even now?
And not to be defensive here, but that's why I specifically kept my comments rooted in the past, and not "in the now" as you stated - All I was talking about was how great the NY/NJ rivalry was, so how could I have been talking about anything other than 8+ years in the past (insert 98-05 Ranger playoff absense joke here).
You brought up Gretzky, not me - so I'll continue to let him speak for me on top-class franchises.
So let's get on to the hockey "in the now", shall we? - I think we've hyped ourselves up enough now, haven't we? That's all part of the fun, which I obviusly miss - and why I took the bait on your original blog post. And despite what you may think, I am excited to watch this series.
And just to se if I could do it (and to give you a laugh), here's what I could come up with off the top of my head this morning (go ahead - let me hear it - I'm definitely missing some obvious ones):
You've really assembled quite an all-star team with those seven guys. What, with two goalies and all (both misspelled).
But here's a quick primer: "Your" team is basically Eastern European (mostly Czech), with three Americans and six Canadians.
You've got Sandis Ozolinsh, Darius Kasparaitis, Tom Poti, Martin Straka, Marcel Hossa, and a fella by the name of Petr Sykora who you might recall from his glory days on the other side of the Hudson.
Good luck to them. They'll need it.
p.s. You'll notice on the rare occassions I even bother to speak about baseball, I'm not masturbating over 1986 the way you do over 1994 or the moral victory of 1997. It's about what's happening now.
9 comments:
Actually, you only need to go back eight seasons (nine years) to 1997 - the last time the Rangers actually made the playoffs (which is still a long time ago) - the Rangers beat the Devils in seven that year as well. But thanks for remembering 94 - I miss it, too.
Plus, talk about a team limping in versus a team that couldn't be hotter right now.
I actually might get a break from diapers long enought to watch some of this series - I doubt it can top 94, though.
Oh, I know the last time the Rangers made the playoffs, Perl. Remember Wayne Gretzky? They really took advantage of the greatest player of all time on Broadway.
But in New Jersey, where it took five and then three years to collect additional Stanley Cups after 1995, we don't really consider making the playoffs much of an accomplishment.
Congratulations, though!
Exactly my point, Bones. What Devil fan wouldn't remember the last Rangers/Devils playoff series, and continue to stay bitter all these years afterward? I almost get the feeling that the Rangers 7-year playoff drought is more satisfying to Devils fans than the 2 cups they won during that time. Don't you find that to be a bit sad? It's similar to how Boston and Mets fans chant "Yankees suck" at games when they're NOT EVEN PLAYING the Yanks!
It only goes to show how the top-class franchises in sports like the Yankees and Rangers will always draw the envy of the more "Mickey Mouse organizations" - which is a good segue back to Gretzky...
As far as Gretzky goes, the move (or non-move) that ruined a possible fairytale encore for The Great One was when they let Messier go to Vancouver, leaving Gretzky somewhat twisting in the wind, and thus began the playoff drought.
Gretzky's shining moments as a Ranger, however, were clearly during the 1997 playoffs - I actually was at the playoff game where Gretzky had a hat trick, and you knew then that Gretzky had really cemented his place in the fans' hearts at that point. So it wasn't a total waste. But you're right - they blew it big time by not taking full advantage of the Messier/Gretzky magic for as long as possible.
And congratulations to your team on the Division crown - well deserved. And good luck in Round 1, where none of that matters anymore. Just hope it doesn't go to game 7 - I hear Matteau already has his front row seat reserved that night at Continental Arena.
I know you think you are pushing my buttons, but you (and your team's track record) hardly qualify as a legitmate adversary in this debate.
Seriously, dude. Since you are so very much about the now, why don't you name 5 current Rangers other than Jagr without using the web.
And comparing the Rangers to other "top-class franchises" like the Yankees is perhaps the most absurd in your litany of absurd statements.
The Rangers sure spend like the Yankees. So it might be more accurate to say they are very much like The Yankees. Without all the winning.
(Yes, we are counting the titles. Six Division Championships in the last 9 years for NJ. Zero in the last 12 for the Blueshits.)
6 Division Championships in 9 Years
4 Conferene Championships Since 95.
3 Stanley Cups Since 95.
The Rangers are a team that started out hot but the last 30 games have been terrible. Maybe the rest of the league was still learning the NEW rules of the game while the Rangers were playing above their heads. Devils will not be the typical defensive team they've had in the past but this team can actually score some goals. The loss of Colin White will hurt but at least we won't have this guy now to take the dumb penality. Rangers don't scare me anymore...how could they with the way the season ended.
DEVILS in 5 (but hopefully 4) !
So predictable, Bones. I was waiting for the "Name 5 Rangers" line - so therefore I'll reply by bringing up my tired reply of "Where did your newfound Mets enthusiam come from after being non-existant for the late 80s/early 90s?". Can we finally call that argument even now?
And not to be defensive here, but that's why I specifically kept my comments rooted in the past, and not "in the now" as you stated - All I was talking about was how great the NY/NJ rivalry was, so how could I have been talking about anything other than 8+ years in the past (insert 98-05 Ranger playoff absense joke here).
You brought up Gretzky, not me - so I'll continue to let him speak for me on top-class franchises.
So let's get on to the hockey "in the now", shall we? - I think we've hyped ourselves up enough now, haven't we? That's all part of the fun, which I obviusly miss - and why I took the bait on your original blog post. And despite what you may think, I am excited to watch this series.
And just to se if I could do it (and to give you a laugh), here's what I could come up with off the top of my head this morning (go ahead - let me hear it - I'm definitely missing some obvious ones):
Lunquist
Weeks
Rucinsky
Nylander
Strudnick
Malek
Ortmeyer
You've really assembled quite an all-star team with those seven guys. What, with two goalies and all (both misspelled).
But here's a quick primer: "Your" team is basically Eastern European (mostly Czech), with three Americans and six Canadians.
You've got Sandis Ozolinsh, Darius Kasparaitis, Tom Poti, Martin Straka, Marcel Hossa, and a fella by the name of Petr Sykora who you might recall from his glory days on the other side of the Hudson.
Good luck to them. They'll need it.
p.s. You'll notice on the rare occassions I even bother to speak about baseball, I'm not masturbating over 1986 the way you do over 1994 or the moral victory of 1997. It's about what's happening now.
And with that, as Judge Mills Lane so eloquently put it: "Let's get it on!"
(Enjoyable as always, Bones! I wish more goons would join in)
2 men enter
1 man leave
2 men enter
1 man leave
2 men enter
1 man leave
-chief
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