Got a sugar buzz from last night’s Caps game?
We came out and played well. But quickly went down 2-0. I wasn’t concerned because I thought we were playing well and just not capitalizing on our chances. We have a lot of talent on the ice and at some point, a break will come our way and a power play will click.
But after ten minutes into the game, the emails started coming to me I see this morning. Whine. Cry. Bitter. Sour. Dyspeptic. Random. Disrespectful. Some obviously from the same person – same typos but from different email addresses. Sad, lame, funny.
We then played better scoring at the right time. Scoring in bunches. Alex Ovechkin scored 2 goals in 12 seconds. Nice to see.
We win 7-2. But no more emails? Thank you.
So a 3 game road trip – 3 games in 3 different time zones. We win 3-0; we lose 2-1; we win 7-2. Three games with f0ur goals let in. Two wins out of three games. Do you see a change?
We win 7 games in the month of October – 1 less than last season. Is it time to panic yet?
We score less and we defend better than last year. Our goaltending seems to be stronger.
We are short handed with lots of injuries. We don’t care about that. We care about keeping the other team from scoring.
We sit 4th in the East in the standings.
First month is out of the way. We get a few days off to rest up and heal up from a crazy schedule and road trip.
And after 12 years of random pixel generation to me, I reach a breaking point and I am now shutting down access to me from certain individuals via email. It just got old and I feel battered. Sorry but it is just time.
Go Caps!
Clearly, you’ve arrived.
They were emailing you when they were down 2-0 to Calgary???? The Caps came back from 3-0 down in the third last season against the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, and there are people worried that the Caps were down 2-0 to Calgary in the first.
Sheesh, they should be reminded of last year’s game with Chicago, and the National TV game the Flames played with Chicago last year where the Flames were up 5-0 over the Hawks and lost.
The Caps are a team that can overcome a 2-0 deficit in a game. I’d rather they didn’t have to, but the two goals scored by the Flames were not defensive break downs as much as they were good plays by the Flames. Despite their recent seasons, Calgary has some legitimate talent (albeit underacheivers) and they are capable of beating any team in the league any given night (or as happened last season, on a Sunday afternoon in Washington).
I will say seeing the Flames in the retro uniforms was pretty awesome. Think when they come to DC next year they could wear those, and the Caps could break out their Winter Classic uniforms from this year. Make it look like what should have been the 1989 Stanley Cup Final…
Let’s go Caps!
Just wanted to say, not all of us are bitter and complaining. Your sports team is still entertaining and I will support them no matter what the season, or team looks like. That having been said, I think this is still the best team in the NHL and will win the Cup. Go CAPS!
Don’t know how you’ve lasted as long as you did. Some of us out here in CAPS fandomland support this move if it has become time. Can’t say I wasn’t slightly concerned with a very early 2-0 lead by Calgary, but there wasn’t a single thought in my mind that e-mailing you would change the play on ice. I leave that up to the hockey gods who have probably just been bombarded by my “air-challenge” to the team to get their butts in gear and turn the tides – because they know they can. In Calgary, a little faith went a long way AND HOW! I’d say two goals, 12 seconds apart is quite the payoff.
There are plenty of fans, like me, who “air-coach” to their TVs or from their seats at games. Making hasty e-mails to someone, especially in the middle of a game, seems a bit impatient to me. Now, if you announce that you want to change the team logo to a baby eagle or something – well then, all bets are off and I might have to snatch the first smart phone I see to get you my thoughts ASAP!
Hope you’re still completely aware of the rest of us who simply love our hockey and appreciate the fact you’ve let us send you e-mails in the first place. We are many. Thanks for taking the effort to “hear” us.
Maybe those who will now find themselves without access to you had no other venue for expressing themselves and you’ve been thoughtful enough to “leave the door open” so to speak. Of course, those who have abused that privilege in mean spirits get no sympathy from me.
As a fellow CAPS fan likes to say “Don’t Feed the Trolls.” (Isn’t that right M.R.?)
GO CAPS!
Ted
Thanks for all you do and have done. Sorry there are those who abuse our great owner.
I am an advide hockey fan(BEARS SEASON TICKET HOLDER)and I love the Capitals. I am not worried about the Caps, as you said it is early and the guys are working on it. It isn’t perfect and we need to expect that. New players in the line-up and constant injuries make it tough to form chemistry but it is coming. Keep up the good work, Bruce is a great coach and will get them on track. GO CAPS GO! GO BEARS GO!
You can’t please everybody Ted, so don’t feel bad. You tried your best– more than most in your position would– so you can shut out the knuckleheads without tarnishing your integrity, so well-known and loved by the vast majority of Caps fans!
PS– Tell McPhee that I said that it’s time for him to move Varly to a contender who needs youth in the net and is willing to pay for it.
All the best, my friend!
-James
Ted, Don’t let a few sour apples ruin the whole bunch. You’re still the best owner in NHL.
You shouldn’t be reading emails during the game anyway.
GO CAPS!
Ted,
It was a decent month, not the best but it is October. We likely peaked too soon last season, I want us peaking in April this time around. Offensively we have not seemed to find the chemistry yet this season, but we are playing much better defense.That is the advice all the experts gave to us anyway. The best news is that Neuvirth has been outstanding and could be the top rookie in the league.
You should block email from the chronic complainers. I have been a Caps fan from day one and this is the best team we have ever assembled and for that I thank you.
Ted,
Thank you for a great team. Thank you for being the sort of owner who realizes that October is a time to iron out bumps and wrinkles and that one game here or there isn’t reflective of the season that still lies ahead.
Just
Thank you for our Washington Capitals and making DC a hockey place.
You said it, Ted! Don’t let one or two bad apples spoil it for the rest of us. Your open-door policy has always been refreshing, but unfortunately due to the anonymity of the internet, some choose to abuse the system. Go Caps and Wiz!
A smile for you instead:
“I remember one time Bobby Orr said to me, when I was giving the team heck – this is a true story – he came to me and said, ‘Don, do you think when you’re giving the team heck, you can give me heck a little too?”…Don “Grapes” Cherry
btw…A big Thank You goes out to Michal Neuvirth, Alexander Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and John Carlson from my seven fantasy teams
Very nice Mr. Leonsis – it must get so very depressing to hear these same individuals bitch about the same things over and over when they don’t “get their way” or we don’t win every game and their “favorite” player doesn’t get preferential treatment. Many of these bloggers are SO VERY DISRESPECTFUL as you said – I feel sad in a way for them – maybe if they went to Church once in a while they might be able to look in a mirror and see their sorry selves – I guess I’ll have to do the praying for them. Thanks for listening – keep up te good work for the team.
Sort of off topic, but I thought the camera work at Calgary was great. It was a unique angle for most of the action (a bit lower than Caps games on CSN), and corner and end zone angles were dropped in really well during the action. I assume this was Calgary’s feed, but it there’s anything CSN can take away from this that would be great.
Teddy, I hate to say it BUT how many times have I said “just hit the delete button” or mark them as spam. There are so many good people. Don’t let them spoil the journey or influence the aura. It’s too much fun! The defense unbelievable, the goalie magnificent and now offense just put us all in our place!!! 7-2. Way to go Caps.
Mr. Leonsis,
It is so different hearing you angry! I get it though. This team is not perfect, but they are talented, fun to watch, and have a winning record. I have been a fan since I was a kid and will be a fan until the day I die
When you bought the Wizards part of me was really upset because I didn’t want to share you! Don’t let these crazy people beat you down. You do far more than any other owner for your fans.
I will of course repectfully continue to discuss my concerns for this team (though I do it on WaPo CI), but know that I and MANY others see all the huge positives that have happened with this team over the past few years…and we also recognize that slips will occur and you can’t always win
Faithfully a Fan Forever,
Rachel
Hi Ted,
It’s good to see the Southeast division doing good so far. You might get a run for your money with Tampa this year. Please don’t talk about crazy schedules. I think we had by far the toughest schedule in the NHL in October. Two games at Helsinki, @Ottawa, @Vancouver, @San Jose, @LA, @PHX, vs Wsh, @NYR, and vs PIT. Good luck to representing the Southeast will be coming for you in a couple of years