Off to Chile

I haven't posted anything in awhile because I am off to the motherland this weekend and things have been hectic. (And if you didn't know I wasn't from the US of A... well now you know.) I'll be gone until next year (January 6th to be exact), so I probably won't be writing all that often,but you might as well check to see if I update this thing. You can of course email me to your hearts content, and I'll be happy to quickly delete them. Joking of course... I'll give it a glance before I delete.

Ovechkin fined for hit on Briere

I stated Sunday morning that I thought Alexander Ovechkin's hit on the Sabre's Daniel Briere, although warranting a penalty (because it was boarding), did not deserve additional action by the league. Well the league decided it deserved a $1000 fine. That kinda confuses me.

First thing, $1000 really is nothing. It seems like it's only meant to appease the Sabres while at the same time not be rediculously unreasonable. But it really makes no sense. The way I see it, the league should either say it was a "dirty" hit (i.e. a hit that intended to injure) and fine AND suspend him or you say it was an illegal but "clean" hit (i.e. warranting a penalty but not intended to hurt).

Ovechkin even says the league recognized that it wasn't a dirty hit... so what's the deal? If it's not dirty why fine him? The league certainly doesn't fine EVERY player who gets called for boarding, charging, or crosschecking (all penalties which could be considered "dirty" by the team taking the penalty). So what was so special about this hit?

If you watch the video you'll see that Ovechkin picks up a lot of speed and chases Briere out of the Caps defensive zone. Right after Briere dumps the puck, Ovechkin turn to check Briere (an entirely legal check since Briere just had possession of the puck). Right after Ovechkin turns Briere heads to the bench (turning his back to Ovechkin), and Ovechkin hits him with his shoulder in the back. Just a normal shoulder check, no charging, no follow through... simply nothing which someone could reasonably consider dirty.


Granted, I'ld be pissed if this had happened to a Cap, but I'ld have to be reasonable about it, all things considered. It was an unfortunate sequence, but I just don't see what the league expects Ovechkin to do if presented with the same situation. So the league fines Ovechkin a meager $1,000, and the Sabres are still going to retaliate in their next game. I just hope the fine for retaliation is much more than $1k...

No Pull Harness Review: Part 2 - Reviewing the Easy Walk Harness

I've gotten a good amount of hits looking at my post on No-Pull Harnesses/Front lead harnesses from last year. So here is the update:

First thing, last year I commented on how most big chain pet stores (and most of the smaller local stores, as well) didn't carry front lead harnesses. Well, the first update is that practically every PetSmart and Petco I have been too seems to now carry the Easy Walk harness by Premier (the same one I got for Gilligan (my dog... technically a "beagle mix", but he looks just like a slightly taller than average beagle). This, of course, is understandable since Premier is a big name in leashes, harnesses, etc and is already carried by both mega-retailers. However, none of the chain stores seem to carry Wayne Hightower's harness or any of the Softouch Concepts harnesses. A shame I guess since I'm not going to shell out the cash to try those harnesses, so I can really only comment on the Easy Walk Harness.

On that note, here is my quick review of the Easy Walk Harness:

The harness took some getting used to for Gilligan. He still tries to chew at it when it first goes on, but once we get outside it's normally not a big deal.

Pros: It works. It doesn't choke him (like a choke collar) or his legs (like a sporn harness). The materials (webbing, clasps, etc.) are good quality and well constructed. A different color webbing is used for the strap which goes under the dogs chest, making it easier to put on correctly.

Cons: Although the differnt color webbing helps, it is still a little complicated to put on, especially when your dog isn't looking to put on the harness. Additionally, it takes more time and effort to put on then to just click the leash to the collar. The harness seems to loosen easily if slightly (that is, not enough to come off but enough to require more adjusting than you may want to deal with); I think this problem happens because of the smooth metal buckles it uses and I think it comes up more often when you set it "small."

The first con (the harness is not easy to put on) is one that I think, unfortunately, is a result of design that will be found in all front lead harnesses, and maybe even harnesses in general. The second con (the harness loosens) may be a result of the choice of buckles, which may not be an issue on the other harnesses. In general, I am happy with the harness, but to be honest I don't use it that often. Mostly because of the time required to put the harness on and but when I do use it... I enjoy it.

College Hoops and The Caps beat the best

A few interesting happenings from last night in the world of sports:

• First, check out this D-III college basketball score. Thats right... Lincoln University beat Ohio State Marion, 201-78. Thats more than 5 points a minute scored by Lincoln. I also thought it was weird that apparently there is a school named Borat. ("The previous largest margin of victory in a Division III game was 112 points, set by Eureka College in a 149-37 victory over Borat on Nov. 29, 1989.")
  
  
• The Caps beat the "Eastern Conference leading" (Comcast SportsNet drove that point into the ground) Buffalo Sabres, 7-4. The Caps started well by scoring 3 goals in the first eight minutes. Buffalo's first goal came with about 5 minutes left in the first period. In a fluke play, Olie Kolzig went to fall on the puck with his catching glove and, instead of covering it, he squeezed it (like a watermelon seed) into the net.
  
  Alex Ovechkin was ejected in the second period for a hit on Daniel Briere, which sent Briere head first into the boards. However, unlike Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, I don't think the hit deserves "disciplinary action." Briere had just passed the puck and Alex hit him square on his back, with Briere about 5 feet away from the boards. It was a perfect distance for Briere to fall and take the brunt of the fall with his head on the boards. It was a scary hit but I fail to see how this should result in any action by the league.
  
  In fact, I was even surprised to see Oveckin ejected. Most boarding penalties come as a result of a hit in which the player hits his head on the boards. Most of the time they are so close to the boards they can brace themselves enough to take some of the fall with their arms (since they put their arms up on the boards). Briere, however, was at such a distance that he really could not prevent his head from hitting first and doubt Ovechkin planned anything more than just a check to the back. But I guess we'll see if the league sees it otherwise.
  

Ranking the DC Sports Newscasts

Back when there was a movie theatre on the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and Van Ness St. (where AU's Greenberg Theatre is now), I went to see a sneak preview of Jetsons: The Movie. I found the best spot in theatre: two seats hidden by themselves on the right side aisle which were practically in the middle. The theatre had a weird slanted wall that cut what would be the right rear half of the theatre off.

So I was sitting there and this guy comes walking right up to the seats and when he gets there (it was already dark by then) he seemed a little shocked to see me. He says something to the effect of "Ahh! Those are my favorite seats." And then walked away a little sad I guess but not at all mad (at least he didn't seem mad). Anyways, that was my one time run-in with Arch Campbell. Seemed like an alright fella, but he still creeps me out when his teaser (always ending with an overenthusiastic "NEXT!") and his wide-eyed reviews which I frequently disagree with.

This week I found out he's joining George Michael in leaving NBC 4. I was even surprised to find out that Susan Kidd and I.J. Hudson were leaving. Sad really. Not that I particularly liked them, but I grew up on them.

Well in light of this I've decided to rank the DC sports newscasts with my two cents on each:

4. WRC Channel 4 / NBC - With George Michael leaving this group is left floundering with Lindsay Czarniak and Dan Hellie. If you read my ramblings you know how I feel about Czarniak. Put it this way, there's a reason why I have "Czarniak's quote of the Day/Week/Etc" and its not because she's witty. Hellie is not bad, but he's a little too proper and doesn't seem to do much more than just read copy. In fact, I think he would do much better as an anchorman.

3. WJLA Channel 7 / ABC - I don't know what else to say but this: Vanilla. Not bad, but certainly not outstanding. Tim Brandt is fairly unanimated, but at least he knows his stuff. Greg Toland is serviceable but you're not winning a Super Bowl with him. He's a more animated but less "pretty boy" version of Hellie. And sometimes channel 7 throws a screwball by pulling crazyman Glenn Harris out of his crypt. (Mostly though, I see him on his Newschannel 8 show... is that even still on?!) These guys really took a tumble after Rene Knott left.

2. WTTG Channel 5 / Fox - I've always thought Dave Feldman is a better sportscaster than he is a soccer play-by-play man. (Maybe it's because I'm not a fan of his "It's in the net!" goal call.) Not that his play-by-play is bad, but he's got a very good personality for sportscasting. Lou Holder is good. He's a slightly more enjoyable newscaster than Toland. Finally, I'm not 100% sure how I feel about Dave Ross so we'll give him a solid C.

1. WUSA Channel 9 / CBS - Brett Haber used to be on ESPN's SportsCenter and he still announces like it. Most of those guys have "it" (what it takes to be a good sportscaster), but unlike a lot of those guys he doesn't come off sounding like such a tool. Levan Reid is stiff but has a good delivery and comes off seeming genuine. Sarah Walsh is also a very good sportscaster and, I think, earned her spot for her abilities instead of her looks (I'm looking at you Channel 4!).