Bloggers' Happy Hour

Coach Bill wants everyone to know that any and all bloggers on this site are invited to a Bloggers' Happy Hour, from 6-7:30 p.m. before the Oct. 25 game with the Sharks at the St. Pete Times Forum. Coach Bill says the manager at Shots, the arena's restaurant on the west plaza, has promised to set up a "big" table or perhaps a whole section for everyone to get together. So, if you're going to the game, or even if you're not and just want to chat face-to-face, drop by. 

Comments

[Amanda]

I haven't posted here in a few seasons either, but I'll back up what LR said. I remember Sarasota Bill from 'back in the day'. That sure didn't sound like him...

[Boltflasher]

As of now, I will not be at that game on 25th but lets try again in between Thanksgiving and Xmas.
Thanks for the effort Coach Bill

[the shrinkette]

What a humorlerss bunch!! But I guess you lose any semblance of gaiety when your team sucks so bad.

[LightningRod]

I plan on making it.

[coach bill]

LightningRod- Thanks for the heads up on the Sarasota Man. Please come to our party on Sat. the 25th at Shots. Also, I hope the real Sarasota Bill can come too. It's not probable that the imposter would show his face- I mean that literally since some take refuge in hiding behind a typewriter
(sorry David-a keyboard) and throw out brash statements and insults. In any event, all are welcome.

[LightningRod]

C Bill, H Chic, leo etc. Sarasota Bill was a regular blogger here for a long time. About 1.5 to 2 years ago he stopped commenting here, as he didn't like the personal attacks by the Shrink and others. He finally stopped blogging when the Shrink started posting under his name. The above SB blogs don't reflect the tone or style of the SB I know; and he wouldn't make the comments made in the blogs here. It goes to show you that the person behind SB's name just wants to stir-up cr-p; and has to hide from the light of day. In fact, back then, this blogger even carried on numerous long blog conversations with himself using other's names.

I guess there is a 1/10th of 1/10th of 1% chance that I am wrong. If I am wrong, SB send me an email through Yahoo; and I will apologize to you and also post it.

[Hockey Chic]

Coach Bill for President. I love ya man..

[coach bill]

Leo- The # at Shots is (813)301-6705. If you plan on calling, check in at 7. Most should be there then( 7:30 gametime). Ask for me and I'll put the gang on. David- I'm glad that you found my incorrect usage of the word bloggers "hilarious". Too bad you wern't around for The 3 Stooges. You would have loved them. If we ever do this again, we'll call it the commentators happy hour. And you're right. I don't have a very good command of modern technology. I assume this thing here is a mouse? That doesn't make me stupid,David. Just ignorant on that particular word definition. So thanks for the heads up. And you know what? I don't really give a rat's behind.

[coach bill]

Sarasota Bill-(cool name by the way) I've seen your blogs ( oops! Posts!-sorry David) a few times recently. If you're planning on hanging with us this year,and if you want us to read what you have to say, please stop with the insults. We're all "friends" here. We don't agree with each other often and that's good. I learn alot from reading other's points of view. This "party of whiners" may not be your cup of tea, but it should be fun to meet all our friends with funny names. If you think you could behave yourself,why don't you come? It might be fun and different for you Sarasota, being with a bunch of adults. I'd sure like to meet you. I wish you could make it Leo. The sHABS play twice here. I've got a ticket with your name on it and plenty of room( my kids are all grown up and out of the house).

[PD]

Leo carefull with the "Chic"
She can play at both ends of the ice, nudge nudge, wink wink.

BTW Chic congrats on the Keg win. Winning a tournament is a beautiful thing.

[Hockey Chic]

Keith, really you think I have not read the posts for the past three days. Whatever. Typically when someone calls someone else stupid it is quite often due to their own insecurities and inadequacies.

Stupid is as stupid does...

Leo you know me so well have you played with me before. lol Love ya man. By the way I would not make you call shots I would allow you to have my cell number unlike Keith and Sarasota Bill..

Have a great day boys..

Go Bolts!!!

[léo]

Disagree Sarasota.
I woulda called later. 7:05 not enough data to use as leverage on y'all.
Furthermore, I think the coach woulda accepted the call outta principle and that the Chic would be all peaches'n'cream, playing all nice-nice until she'd get me on the ice and "accidently" bodycheck me into the player's bench door stanchion.
Think I was born yesterday, Ms.Chic?
So get yer scenarios straight, Sarry.
Moving on,
Just so I understood correctly,
ROBERTS is n.12? Oh.
Well... At least he was back on the play...
Just so y'all know, I don't WANNA say "I told you so" about Roberts cuz I KNOW Roberts is giving it his all. But he's finished.
As for RECCHI, I WILL tell you "I told you so" cuz Recchi is a coattail rider. If he ain't playing with V4, you'll get nothing out've him. Why? Cuz he's finished too.
Seemed pretty clear he was finished when Pitt, the Caners and the Trashers DUMPED him. In ONE year.
I wonder what's going to happen now in TB.
My algorithm had you SCORING. I hadn't expected the poop to hit the fan so early.
What are y'all gonna do?
P.

[keith]

You should probably read all the posts of the past three days. Then you wouldn't sound so stupid, chic.

[Hockey Chic]

***Correction on who wrote the previous blog...

Wow Bill been looking thru my rose colored glasses. Who is a whiner it sure sounds like you are more than any of us. Dude and it is a canadian not spilled mild

Although the auction does sounds like a good idea. Who peed in your cheerios this morning? It was not me.

For that matter speak for yourself when talking about us/ me in particular. May want to meet me before speaking for me or putting words in my mouth.

Go Bolts!!!

[Saratota Bill]

Wow Bill been looking thru my rose colored glasses. Who is a whiner it sure sounds like you are more than any of us. Dude and it is a canadian not spilled mild

Although the auction does sounds like a good idea. Who peed in your cheerios this morning? It was not me.

For that matter speak for yourself when talking about us/ me in particular. May want to meet me before speaking for me or putting words in my mouth.

Go Bolts!!!

[PD]

Don, Ajax, Coach Bill, thx for update on Ranger..no I didn't see the game , opted to watch the Rays meltdown.
Just saw the minus 2 in the box but did see replay of Roberts, (Leo), coast on his 1 million dollars, on that goal.His head isn't in this.
That explains why he didn't see anymore ice. Never figured that contract or Recchi's, how can you be a leader from the bench?

Ajax is right.. the blue line in hockey is like the O line in football. You snooze you lose.

They better figure out the best option on Stamkos soon even if it's back to junior (is that an option?).Confidence is everything.

What's with that annoying, invasive Coldwell home search at the bottom of the blog? Can't they take some other real estate, no pun.

[Sarasota Bill]

Schedule for Bloggers Happy Hour:

6:00 Gather at Shots and order your favorite beverage--for many spilt milk.

6:02 Crybabies exchange e-mail addresses and, in some cases, spouses and whining begins in earnest.

6:30 Hockey Chic auctions off rose-colored glasses with proceeds forwarded to Koules and Barry in order to procure a Top 4 defenseman.

6:45 Ajax, who doesn't need many belts to drone on, recounts the history of Lightning glory days in excruciatingly nauseous detail and, amazingly, fails to put anyone to sleep.

7:05 Leo telephones Shots from Canada to put in his two cents. No one accepts the call.

7:30 Party of whiners adjourns to the Forum along with cocktail napkins containing scribbled excuses for anticipatory loss.

[david]

There is really only one blogger here. The rest of us are commenters on your blog. It's pretty hilarious when people use technology and tools such as this, and don't even know what they are.

How about "Lightning Strikes Happy Hour?"

You're not a blogger unless you have a blog or post content on a blog. Umm, commenting and ranting about other's posts is most definitely anything but blogging.

[Melanie]

Ranger looked great last night!! I was so happy to see him back on the ice.

There were WAY TOO MANY penalties, some were not warranted!! I think New York paid off the referees!!

I agree with the others who posted, it's going to take time for the players to gel together. There are so many new players and everyone needs to get used to playing together.

I like the line of Lecavalier, St. Louis, Prosal, Ranger and Meszaros. I think that line could go far!!

I think this blog was regarding the Bloggers Happy Hour...I could make it out there but there are a lot of factors I have to weigh in as well. I will be at the game, just not sure of the Happy Hour!!

GO BOLTS!!!!

[coach bill]

I agree with you, MikeP- we need some time to gel. We've got great talent but that doesn't compute when your in a team event. I'm still confident that we'll get it together. I've never really been a Lunden fan, but he looked good last night. PD- Stats don't always give an accuate reading. Ranger looked very good last. Quick,strong,and logged alot of mins.
Hope to see ya'll Sat night.( Ya'll??-where the hell did that come from?)

[Hockey Chic]

Well you are all really surprising me in that I thought for sure when I logged on that I would see nothing but negativity.

I agree that Carle looked out of position and slow. I also thought Roberst and Recci looked like they were disinterested and did not want to be there.

It is not for lack of trying I think for most of the players out there. The team showed some brass when they were able to come back and get into the game. The fans at least from where I sat where just waiting for something bad to happen to jump on the "we suck," band wagon.

There was heart out there, but one guy cannot do it alone. It takes a team. They gotta believe they can do and this team can.

We gotta go back to the basics fellas, work on passing the puck, get to the net, shoot and shoot often, crash the freakin net, and lets see some fore checking. I did not see any of it out there and also trust that your team mate is going to be there.

I will say this and it is true, hockey is not the easiest game to play if it were everyone would play it." Now the next time the fans want to pick the team apart maybe they should lace up a pair, Of skates that is, grab and puck and stick and hit the freakin ice. It ain't as easy as they make it look.

This is, My Game, My Team and My Town. I am with you guys all the way thru the good, bad and the ulgy...

Go Bolts!!

[Boltflasher]

Yes, Roberts is not getting anything done out there. May be time to dress someone else. Not sure I agree on Stamkos, yet. He's young, a rookie on what is basically an expansion-like team due to unfamiliarity of all the players...give it some time...

[ajax]

1. Isles D plays 2 feet in front of the blue line, ours plays 2 feet in back. Huge difference, must be corrected and I think it will. Was better than the other night.
2. Carle makes alot of mental mistakes, seems to forget who is his guy, who is in front of the net.
3. Was 100% wrong about Roberts. Do not be surprised to see him put on waivers. He simply can not skate anymore.
4. No wins, 4 days rest, Kolzig and not Smith, insane!!
5. And most important to this game. Most passive penalty kill I have seen in a long long time. Isles skated across the blue line time after time
CONTROL THE BLUE LINE CONTROL THE GAME.
6. Stamkos, from what I have seen is no where near NHL ready. That is tough to type but he looks lost out there.
7. Why Kolzig, he gave up so many big rebounds.
8. Only 4 games. Saturday night might be a real EYE opener against a good Wild Team. See ya there.
9. Ranger is a very good player. We will be a better team because of him. Don't know how any of you can question that. Roberts and Vinny did nothing to support the play on either goal 1 or 3, although on the Vinny mishap, goal number 3, Carle's play was inexcuseable. The guy came down the wing and he DID NOT MOVE. PERIOD. The guy shot from the bottom of the circle and Carle never moved an inch to challenge him. Carle time after time seems to be a second slow in his reaction time.

[Boltflasher]

The best way to get Stamkos out there more is to stop slashing...

[Chris]

Don, I agree with 99% of what you say. But I don't know about playing Stamkos, Vrbata, and R2KN on the pk. I mean we were 9/10 in killing them. You really can't do much better than that. I completely understand your frustration with their lack of playing time but I don't really thing there is much that can be done about it when you take 10 penalties.

[mike p]

yea...look on the bright side, we got a point at least. I think with Smith in net, Malik added to the blue line, the lines gelling together, and Stammer-time getting more ice time, the lightning will be alright. It's gonna take a couple months though.

[Don in St. Pete]

PD, I guess you didn't watch the game, since you don't know. On the first goal Ranger and Carle played the play perfectly and Robertsd let up where he fcould have put hinself in position to intecept or disrupt the shot ( so yeah, I'm sure that's why he sat the balance ), On the tying goal in the 3rd period, V4 had position on Hunter but didn't challenge him. Our D was close to perfect tonight but the forwards had a couple lapses that cost us dearly. Once again, Stamkos, Vrbata and R2KN were awesome but played sparingly. Barry, id we're going to take so mnay penalties, it may be beneficial to play them on the PK now and then.

[léo]

Caught the highlights.
Forgive my ignorance,
But who's n.12 on your team?
The guy that just skated along on the Isles first goal?
Besides that and Olllie's gaffe (hey, it happened to the Priceberg last night), it looked (to me) like your boys played pretty good.
Of course, they don't show the boring crappy parts in highlights, so I guess I'll just keep relying on y'all for tidbits of info I can insert as ponderables in the fabled algorithm and collate later to great delight.
Gorgeous pass from Prospal to V4 on the latter's goal.
The former's spastic upset turtle dance showed how happy he was when HE scored his first.
Malone presents himself in the VERY circumstances he was hired for, to score an important goal.
Stammy? What'up? Is he playin'?
AND, you got a point.
Good game.
P.

[olin]

...new owner's, office,coach, player's doesn't seem to end Bolt's woe's from last season. Maybe a good "multiplayer drop the gloves" might help loosen thing's...?

[Boltflasher]

Can't really blame the D too much tonight. Great to see Ranger out there. Blame loss on overall on continued poor play by forwards who are unsure of what to do and end up slashing the opposition out of frustration or some other reason...the lines, other than MVP, have not jelled and need more work. Two of the regulation goals can be attributed to poor play in front of net by Roberts and Vinny...Until these lines jell, we're not going to see a W...

[PD]

Don how does Ranger being awesome square with his -2 in a 4 goal game?

Did Roberts get benched after the penalty or hurt? 1:37 toi.
at least Stamkos got about 10 minutes.

[Don in St. Pete]

Well we were much better in the 3rd period. If V4 doesn't cave on defense on that play, then we win with no ot. Still too many stupid penalties. These penalties keep players like R2KN, Stamkos and vrbata off the ice. Ranger was awesome. Krajicek, Lundin and Carle played very good as well. I will say again the problem doesn't seem to be our defense. Stupid play by Olie during OT, he should have let it go or continued the cycle around the net isntead of trying to clear it through two defenders. Once again around 20 minutes in penalties by the Bolts. You can't spend a 1/3 of the game in the box and expect to win.

[keith]

Ollie.....what were you thinking fella?

[léo]

I gotta say,
Coach, you're an ace, far as I'm concerned. Only natural to see you show the same sense of hockey solidarity towards others as you have towards me.
The nicer they are off the ice, probably the most fiercesome are they on.
I bet playing against ya is no walk in the park, am I wrong?
Bottom line: When the day comes when TB's Ring of Honour is unfurled, after V4 and Papa Jacques, you're first on MY list, coach.
TB's lucky ta have ya.
Peace.

[Don in St. Pete]

Anumber of great chances this period but instead the Isles pad their lead. Talk about bad luck, we had a number of opportunites where the goalie was out of position and the puck seemed to bounce over our stick every time. A number of cheap penalties again, especially the one on Niskala on which the Isles player appeared to squeaze his legs around Niskala's stick. I count 4 giveaways by V4 so far, 3 in the 1st period all in the offensive zone and one in the defensive zone in the second. Time to finish guys bouncing puck or not, get it done. GO BOLTS!

[Don in St. Pete]

I'll be there. The first period tonight was strong for the most part, after the early run of penalties and the terrible job on the backcheck by Roberts that allowed Comrie to score uncontested. Ranger has been a rock, and Krajicek has been impressive. Hope the 2nd is better, GO BOLTS!

[McGz]

Wish I could show up too but I'm stuck in Texas. Gametime! Let's go Lightning!

[jim-nj]

would but for obvious reasons I can't. I hope u get a good turn out tho! I wish fans cared about hockey up here as much as down there.