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Sean Avery vs Elisha Cuthbert Who's More Popular?

Alright so who do you think is more popular Sean Avery or Elisha Cuthbert?  Well I have 3 criteria for ranking popularity. 

• First up is a google search:

        Sean "6 Game" Avery = 682,000 search results
        Elisha Cuthbert = 4,920,000 search results
        Advantage Jack Bauer's annoying daughter

• 2nd query google image results

        Elisha Cuthbert = 215,000 exquisite pics
        Former Dallas Star Sean Avery = 85,000
        Advantage Darcie (post a comment if you know who Darcie is)

• 3rd query products on eBay (powered by GetItNext)       

        Elisha Cuthbert = 693
        Sean Avery 184 search results
        Advantage Dion Phanuef's girlfriend

Avery Does Not Want NHLPA to Appeal Suspension

Looks like Sean Avery is taking this absurd suspension like a man.  According to Larry Brooks, Avery does not want the NHLPA to file a grievance on his behalf.  He is also keeping a positive frame of mind and wants to get past this and resume his career.  What team and/or league he will be playing for is a larger can of worms.

Does NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Have Parkinson's?

Did anyone notice that when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was presenting the Stanley Cup to the Detroit Red Wings that his hands were shaking?  Now it could have been due to the booing but after more than 10+ years on the job Gary has gotten used to it and I've never noticed him shaking before.  I also noticed him trying to keep his hands closer to the cup almost trying to hold it to shield or hide the shaking.  I have been one of Bettman's most outspoken critics but I hope I am wrong and he doesn't have Parkinson's.  Lets hope it was just a case of him being excited about awarding the greatest trophy in sports.

NHL Bettman To Host XM Radio Show

Don't forget hockey fans, the villain of the NHL will be starting his new radio show, “NHL Hour,” which will also feature various league executives. It will debut on Tuesday, November 27 from 4 to 5 p.m. EST on XM Home Ice and NHL.com, get your questions and rants ready.  Its still unknown if they will be allowing unfiltered call-ins or if they will dump out if fans ask hard questions.

Credit to the great Ken Henderson for the funny Bettman image.

Bettman To Take Calls on XM - Time to Lay Into Him NHL Fans

As many of you know, I hate Gary Bettman.  I can't stand this guy, I won't get into a huge rant but I can't stand what he has done to the NHL.  So when I happened across a TSN article today, I almost fell off my chair.  As some of you know, I've had chats (one sided) with Mr Bettman and have also left him lengthy and strong voice mails.  To date I've never heard a reply and luckily NYPD never showed up at my house, just kidding.

I for one will be calling in to try and get my "live" questions answered (man I have so many), although I'm sure Buttman will have some kind of NHL minders hand selecting fluff calls.  A guy can dream can't he?  If he allows uncensored calls its going to be firestorm as I know I am not in the minority when it comes to disdain for our beloved Commissioner. 

Here's the article, I shouldn't even promote this since xm doesn't usually get a lot of calls and don't want to decrease my chances of getting through, eh here's the article and link Bettman on Xm:

Want to quiz commissioner Gary Bettman about the state of the NHL?

XM Satellite Radio will give listeners the chance to do just that, announcing plans Monday for a new show called NHL Hour hosted by Bettman and a rotation of league executives.

The weekly program, debuting Nov. 27 and also broadcasting on NHL.com, will be co-hosted by Bill Clement and encourages fans to submit questions via phone and e-mail.

"I look forward to hearing from our fans directly and being a part of this one-of-a-kind radio show," Bettman said in a statement.

NHL Network Launching on Directv in HD

There are a lot of rumors floating around so I'll try and separate out facts from speculation:

Fact: The NHL Network has signed a carriage agreement with Directv, click here for the NHL Directv agreeement.

Fact: Directv has no capacity to add the NHL Network in SD, it will supposedly be adding it in 2008.

Fact: Directv is said to be launching the HD version of the NHL Network by the end of October.

Speculation:  Heavy speculation is that the NHL Network will be added for Directv HD subscribers Weds Oct 24th.  Hopefully when subscribers wake up and check their guide it will be appearing on channel 215.

For the full list of Directv HD channels that are currently available check out this blog: Directv Complete HD Lineup.  For New York Rangers fans check out Matt's latest blog on the status of MSG HD.

If you've tuned to any of these channels and cannot receive them you might not have the proper equipment.  You will need the following in order to receive the new HD channels: a 5 LNB Dish, and one of the following MPEG 4 boxes: a HR-20, HR-21, H-20 or H-21 model.  Without this equipment you will not be able to receive the signal from the new bird.

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Why You Need to Buy the New Reebok EDGE NHL Jersey!

The new RBK Reebok jerseys are awesome and I can’t wait to get my hands on one of them.   Here are my top reasons why you must buy the new Rbk EDGE sweater, I mean jersey, or is it Uniform System, oh I'm so confused.

- As a superstitious fan your team needs every EDGE it can get (man I should be working for Reebok).

• - You’re an Islanders fan and are just happy that they didn’t put the Gorton’s Fisherman logo back on it.
• - You have hyperhidrosis and hope that Reebok Playdry moisture management technology will keep you from sweating through your uniform system oops I mean jersey.

- You own a ton of reebok stock and can somehow justify the expense because you’re a shareholder.

- You’re a NASCAR fan and 4 Reebok logos is not obtrusive at all.

 

- You’re a friend or relative of Gary Bettman and really feel sad and don’t understand why he always gets booed.

- Lace up collars are so cool.

- Change is good and you also have an online petition to bring back Fox and the glowing puck.

- You’re a hot girl and the tapered jersey accentuates your assets.

Check out my blog yesterday titled: Top Reasons to Boycott Reebok EDGE Jersey.  Want to check out the new jerseys?  Below I've listed links to the teams that have already released their new Rbk EDGE jerseys.

- Buffalo Sabres Jersey                                 - Anaheim Ducks Jersey - Leaked

- Minnesota Wild Jersey                                - Carolina Hurricanes Jersey         

- Pittsburgh Penguins Jersey                         - Montreal Canadiens Jersey    

- Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey                        - Calgary Flames Jersey

- Philadelphia Flyers Jersey                           - Vancouver Canucks Jersey       

- Detroit Red Wings Jersey                           - Ottawa Senators Jersey         

- Washington Capitals Jersey                       - New York Islanders Jersey

- Tampa Bay Lightning Jersey                      - Nashville Predators Jersey    

- Florida Panthers Jersey                             - Columbus Blue Jackets Jersey

- Dallas Stars

NHL Reebok Edge Jersey is all about the $$$$

So by now I'm sure you know that the NHL has decided to bring in a mandatory new jersey for all teams for the 2007-2008 season.  The  paid advertiser oops I mean supplier, Reebok has been "selected" to design and produce the new jersey. 

Now the NHL more than any other sport has been infamous with allowing/encouraging teams to change their jersey's, add new ones, and change home and away colors in order to increase revenue.  Now don't be mistaken with this latest round of jersey changes, I know they're saying its to increase speed, reduce weight, perform better, hit harder, etc etc.  The reason?  Have you see the Reebok logo on the back?  Well that's one reason.  Have you seen the new prices?  Well let me tell you.  A replica is going to set you back 115-130 (USD) and the real deal, the authentic one is going to be a stiff $250 (USD), both prices are WITHOUT a number and name.  Figure another $50-$80 bucks to stitch on the name and number.  So for the real mccoy were talking $300-$330 bucks for a jersey that might be obsolete when your team trades or fails to sign a player. 

So much for progress, while I like some of the designs I'll stick with the old, bulky, heavy, traditional sweater and Bettman can keep this "uniform system" for the Madison Avenue suits that have never laced up a pair or skates.  Keep in mind when you hear players endorsing them they might have an endorsement deal in place with Reebok or they are the assigned player rep from each team to be the Reebok mouthpiece.

For those of you who truly hate the new jersey or want to save some dough, now is the time to pick up the "old" style before its sold out.  Check out these great deals on  NHL Jersey Deals.

Want to see what the new designs and jersey's look like?  Check out my previous blogs and photos of the new Reebok Edge Jersey's for the following teams:

Detroit Red Wings Jersey

New York Rangers Reebok Edge Jersey

Boston Bruins Jersey

Ottawa Senators Jersey

Washington Capitals Jersey

New York Islanders Reebok Edge

Nashville Predators Jersey

Florida Panthers Reebok Edge

Columbus Blue Jackets

Los Angeles Kings Jersey

Matt
Searching eBay for the best deals in hockey!  getitnext.com

NHL introducing new jersey's / sweaters

Today might be the day that we get our first live look at the new NHL jersey.  It's rumored that the Capitals will be going back to their original red, white and blue color and will unveil them at the 2007 draft.  So make sure you check out the capitals new sweater when they introduce their #1 pick.  Bravo to the caps for returning to their original colors.  But it will be interesting to see how people react to the new jersey design.

NHL teams have kept a tight lid on what their new jersey's are going to look like.  Check out this USA Today article from the beginning of the year that offers a prototype and all the performance specs.  I'm glad they involved the players in the process, I hope the NHL did alot of survey's with their fan base.  Fan base meaning real hockey fans, not ones they are trying to appeal to south of the border in the  warm weather states.

I consider myself a hockey purist and do not like drastic changes to the culture of the game.  If the original 6 sweaters have different colors, patterns or stripes there will be a mutiny.  If the blueshirt is drastically changed I might have to quickly pick up the "old" before they are gone from the market.  Currently a quick look on ebay turns up only 77, view results (note: i excluded the flyers, devils and islanders).  One of my fondest memories is of Messier scoring his patented far side wrister and seeing his jersey flapping in the wind as he skated past the net.  I guess I'm not the only one that is worried about change.  There already is a petition going around protesting the new uni's click here to participate (6637 so far).  Unfortunately the NHL doesn't seem to care what it's hardcore base thinks these days. 

I personally think the NHL should have spent the last couple of years researching elbow and shoulder pads so they are not armor.  Instead, 6th avenue has decided to change only the visual parts of the uniform, the parts that don't concuss and injure players.  I guess keeping their stars on the ice is not the priority.  I'll save my hard plastic cap rant for another time.

So be sure to check out the draft and let me know what you think about the new jersey's. 

Matt
getitnext.com
Just get it.

John Muckler deserved better from the Sens

As many of you know, I am a HUGE hockey fan.  To the point that most of my Canadian buds do not believe that I live south of the border.  Even though my primary focus is my beloved New York Rangers  I have to take a moment and comment on John Muckler losing his GM position today. 

I'm not sure why the Ottawa Senators felt compelled to fire Muck today but it seems ill timed.  2 weeks after the Sens made it to the finals, 1 week before the draft and 2 weeks before UFA begins, wow.   I for one do not see the logic in firing him, maybe some behind the scenes events took place that we're not privy too.  But even if he did mess up big time, Muck is a legend in the game and deserved alot better fate than being fired.  This could be his last stop and for John to ride off into the sunset this way is unfair and uncalled for.  The Sens easily could have shown some class and had him stay on as GM and Bryan Murray as Assistant GM in title but be the main man with Muckler advising.  They didn't even try and soften the media impact and say he will remain on as a consultant or adviser. 

All this after he revamped them with fiscal responsibility and rid the team and the city of the chokers who plagued them for so many years.  It's wrong on so many levels.  I could see after last year or the year before when the Sens teams underachieved after great seasons.  After dispatching the Sabres and making it to the finals only to be derailed by the Ducks, this is how they treat the architect.  If they want to blame someone maybe they should blame Gary Bettman and the 9 day layoff.  More on that later.

Good luck Muck, just after the scars healed in your back from Neil Smith you get another another dagger.

Matt
Isn't it time you get it?