Monthly Archives: October 2009

Yuck

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That game looked like a game played between grownups and some spoiled teenagers.

When you play Detroit - in Detroit - you can’t give them 5 power plays with stick based penalties. Everyone knows that. Read this blog post to see some good notes from the game.

Detroit scored twice on the power play, one with 6 minutes left to take the lead and then they do what great and experienced teams do, they put the sleeper hold on us and just won like it was a playoff game 3-2. Boring and hyper efficient.

We have much to learn from a perennially great team like the Red Wings: Mostly don’t believe the press clippings; play hard, play disciplined; have everyone contribute on playing good D; and hold on when you get a lead.

We have left a couple of points on the table the last three games. We don’t use excuses of playing on the road against great teams to start the season. If we stay out of the box, we have more points. Points matter at the beginning of the season as much as at the end of the season. We are learning how far we have to go to execute and truly become a good team.

As I have said before, miles to go before we sleep.

My City is Smarter Than Yours

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Here is a controversial but well researched piece in the Daily Beast about intelligence and “smart” cities ranked from top to bottom.

Washington, DC comes in #7 - in a close tie – with Seattle.

You would hope we would have ranked higher as we do control policy, laws and budgets.

But on this scale, we “ain’t that smart.”

Check out the listing. Pretty interesting rankings.

Paranormal Activity

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Run – don’t walk – and see this film.

With a budget of probably less than a major star earns in a day, the film scares the bejeesus out of you.

What great news for indie filmmakers. This film is well acted, feels like a real life documentary film and is absolutely terrifying. I went in a skeptic and I came out not wanting to sleep in my bedroom tonight.

Wow. Kudos to the filmmakers and actors. Kudos to the major studio that bought the film and is distributing it everywhere now. It’s a great film and should be a big hit. This generation’s Blair Witch Project.

Would Be Romantic If True

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So on Friday I had a series of business meetings at my office at Kettler. I met with the Salvation Army folks on a charitable effort we are planning. At 10:30 am, I met with Lewis Dvorkin. Lewis worked for me at AOL and is a great friend. He was formerly a key player at the WSJ and at Forbes and Newsweek and he is now Founder and CEO of a great new blogging network called True/Slant. This is a booming new business.

My meeting with him went to about 11:30 and then he asked for a tour of our facility. We toured the building and then at about 11:40 we strolled out together and watched 15 minutes of the practice alongside Dick Patrick. As practice was ending, I walked Lewis out and then jumped on a conference call at noon.

I then conducted another quick meeting regarding my new book; left the office; got a haircut; and came home a bit early to hang out with my family. It was a nice relaxing day at the office.

I think I worked for 15 minutes on Capitals related issues yesterday and saw about 15 minutes of practice with a buddy.

When you read this article, it would appear that Bruce and I are in synch on practice coordination and that I watch the players run their drills and Bruce will analyze tape. :-) USA Today is a great publication and they cover the NHL quite well but this kind of throw away note is misleading. I wasn’t watching practice with a watchful eye. I didn’t even notice Bruce wasn’t on the ice.

No one knows nothing. Remember that!

I Said to My Wife

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After we went up 3-2 last night after Backstrom’s second goal, ”Wow. We don’t deserve to win tonight.”

I was right. I was unhappy. But I was right.

We looked out of synch. We played “loosey goosey” hockey all across the board and the New York Rangers are a much improved team.

Early season games in the NHL are different than later season games. Everyone is playing with energy; defense hasn’t kicked in; and while talent will usually win out a team that plays hard and digs and wants it more can achieve really terrific results.

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