Go get 'em, Dale!
by Donny Rivette on Jul 28, 2010 8:08 PM EDT
2 comments
In case you weren't aware, Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon qualified for starter status in this weekend's U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, WA. His tee-off times and grouping for Thursday and Friday:
- 9:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. -- Dale Tallon, Lake Forest, Ill.; A-Scott Sullivan, Grand Junction, Colo.; Steve Krause, Hales Corners, Wis.
And yes, we said "U.S. Senior Open", which may differ from the Waterbury Open in several key aspects. Inject obvious and overused Shooter McGavin line here. Then again, at least Happy had a Whalers banner in his bedroom. But come to think of it, Gilmour had nothing on this.
For the uninitiated, this is considered a Big Deal. Featuring golf legends such as Mark Calcavecchia, Paul Azinger, Fred Couples, and Tom Watson - among many, many others - Dale has the opportunity of a lifetime; a fantasy camp, where the putts count, in the real world. Very cool.
And to you haters out there crying about the Cats' GM prancing around a golf course for less than a week - in the absolute dead of summer - when he should be aggressively pursuing overpriced UFA deadwood which doesn't fit The Plan: he's entitled to a life, so enjoy the weekend. Let the Rangers have their delusions.
Rounds three and four will be televised by NBC Sports on Saturday and Sunday from 4-7pm ET. If you never gave a hoot about golf (these are the FLORIDA Panthers, yes?), here's your excuse to become a fan for several days; the folks here can help you along as well. Besides, when's the last time a Panther received national exposure on a Big Three network? Other than this guy, of course. Soak it up and savor what may be a pretty sweet few days.
Tallon had previously won the Canadian Junior Golf Championship in '69 but (thankfully) stuck to pucks, becoming Vancouver's first-ever draft pick in 1970.
ESPN's "Vendor Inspection Reports" and the Southeast Division - UPDATED
by Donny Rivette on Jul 28, 2010 6:54 PM EDT
10 comments
Word is spreading quickly regarding a recent ESPN story covering the tasty topic of sports arenas around the U.S./Canada and the cleanliness - or specifically lack thereof - among their internal food and beverage vendors. It's a must read from top to bottom, if only for the bureaucratic language employed. "Excreta", anyone?
More after the jump, including a rebuttal of sorts from the BAC's concessionaire...
A Euro-leagues profile for beginners
From Bruce at Puck Worlds:
European hockey started at the turn of the century, and it was mainly a central European phenomenon. The Nordic countries weren't introduced to the sport until after the First World War, and Russia/USSR didn't take the sport seriously until after the Second World War. The first European hockey nations were France, England, Belgium, Switzerland, and Bohemia (Czech Republic/Slovakia), who formed the IIHF in 1908. Germany took up the sport around this time as well.
A great breakdown of the various leagues across the pond; well worth a visit.
Spidey C. Panther needs your help
From The Rink is hosting a poll focused on a number of hockey oddites found among the usual collector cards and signed pucks on Ebay, one of which happens to be a sweater representing a bizarre Spiderman-Panthers mutation (courtesy of Nike, like there was any doubt).
We're lagging, so get in there and vote...don't let the Cats fall to a muppet. Please.
I am going there to have fun, enjoy the process. Obviously, my focus is on hockey and golf is a diversion. I am playing well and I have been working hard on it since I qualified and free agency has wound down. Every spare moment I have had I have been working on my game. So I’ll try not to embarrass myself.
Panthers GM Dale Tallon, on his participation in this weekend's U.S. Senior Open, via the Montreal Gazette. Good story about his qualifying round at the link.
VIDEO: Tallon straps on the funny as 'Hawks commentator
by Donny Rivette on Jul 26, 2010 10:26 PM EDT
3 comments
Circa 1996, an unbelievably hilarious situation former Blackhawks color guy and present Panthers GM Dale Tallon finds himself in after going semi-anatomical in describing a "lower body" injury to Ottawa's Sean Hill. Must watch the entire set-up for full effect. Phat kudos to Frank at The Rat Trick for turning up this bounty from bmerri19 via YouTube.
Panthers likely set at center for 2010-11
by Donny Rivette on Jul 23, 2010 11:19 PM EDT
10 comments
Thursday's acquisition of veteran center Marty Reasoner assuredly wraps up the question of who the Panthers will be sporting at center ice, at least to begin the season:
Stephen Weiss - Steven Reinprecht - Shawn Matthias - Reasoner
Rome wasn't built in a day, and nor will a contending Panthers squad. On that note, sorry kids...Dominic Moore will not be making a triumphant return. Honestly though, it's not a bad lineup down the middle for a rebuilding club:
- Weisser's coming off a career year in goals, doubling his output from 2008-09 to 28, but here's the stat that carries weight: he still managed 60 points after the combined losses - especially on the PP - of David Booth and Nathan Horton (71 man-games in the toilet). That's a grande feat considering last year's Cats. Potential wingers: Booth, Michael Frolik.
- Rhino played all 82 games, at which 38 points may appear a bit underwhelming, save for a few hot streaks when combined with Cory Stillman. Regardless, ten of those points came on the power play, and the possibility of his combining with a consistent core of uninjured linemates is intriguing. He's not getting younger, but the right mix of supporting players would certainly help matters. Potential wingers: Christopher Higgins, Rostislav Olesz.
- Matty gained credibility with his strong second-half play; though not necessarily garnering a gaggle of points, his physical presence on the ice increased dramatically, SOG rocketed up, and regular observers could see the maturation process at work; more ice time will only better his opportunities. If he continues at the same pace Reinprecht could find himself manning the third line. Which is, of course, the end game. Potential wingers: Radek Dvorak, Stillman.
- Reasoner's no enigma here: having spent the past two seasons with Atlanta, he's not a stranger to the Cats' coaching staff (what remains of it). What would be strange is an ability to replicate the 30-point season of 08-09 playing with the likes of Kenndal McArdle and Byron Bitz, though many see, not unreasonably, far more potential down the road in all three players. He's got a boatload of games behind him, is well respected around the league, and wins faceoffs. Potential wingers: the aforementioned, plus any combination of Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier, Mike Duco, Michal Repik, Evgeni Dadonov, and a virtual cast of half a dozen others.
Dollarwise, that's a collectively bargain basement bill coming in just short of $7.1M (U.S., per CapGeek). For four centers. Cheap? Unquestionably. Wise? Considering the genuine "rebuild" phase Florida finds itself in...yes. None of the organization's prospects at center are anywhere near ready for the big club.
Viner goes solo as Panthers CEO, Chairman, GP; Siegel back to limited partner
by Donny Rivette on Jul 23, 2010 5:11 PM EDT
4 comments
A big step for the organization as the top three positions are solidified into the responsibilities of a single person. Almost could have been a coin toss as to who would end up in the driver's seat and the franchise would have "won" with either result.
Cliff Viner and Stu Siegel have both proven to be more or less "hands-on" owners when necessary (taking responsibilty for the mess that was last season, though in reality that was the doing of former ownership and management regimes) and "hands-off" by hiring a brilliant mind in Dale Tallon to run the team as a general manger should. It would have been far more self-satisfying to the egos of lesser men to simply bring aboard a spineless, pal-to-the-owner, marionette-type: easily walked on while controlled from above. Short of arguing over internal budgets, no one can level that description on Tallon.
Both men displayed enormous drive and a tireless push toward reshaping the Florida Panthers when they burst on the scene in November, impressing fans and employees alike with their commitment for the dawning of a new era for the club. Well, maybe not all employees; can't please everyone, evidently. Of course, all of this sweetness and light will take on new meaning in September when a few results are demanded.
Anyway, it's heartening to see a single entity at the top, without the expected power struggle which typically accompanies such a move.
The official release can be found here.
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