Gay hockey fans uncomfortable at the Garden

A really interesting (and worrying) read from the NYT. I think we are pretty lucky at the VC to not have a lot of garbage like what is written below (at least that I hear):

During the final 10 minutes of many Rangers home games, the spotlights focus on Section 407 as Larry Goodman, a longtime season-ticket holder, pumps up the crowd with a goofy dance.

As Goodman’s routine is broadcast on the giant monitors above the ice, a familiar chant picks up momentum. “Ho-mo Lar-ry!” the crowd shouts. “Ho-mo Lar-ry!”

The chant is one example of what several gay hockey fans describe as a toxic atmosphere during Rangers games and that Madison Square Garden, which owns the team, is not doing nearly enough to address their concerns.

And if you think calling someone a homo is a good way to communicate, you are an idiot. Ahem, Rangers fans.

Tip to Nicole for the heads up.

Simon wonders at lack of Pronger suspension...along with the rest of the world

In general, I find Chris Simon to be an idiot. But he might actually have a point on this one:

Chris Simon thinks there's something wrong with the NHL's system for handing out discipline.

After watching Anaheim's Chris Pronger step on Vancouver's Ryan Kesler and walk away unpunished, the oft-suspended Minnesota Wild forward wondered why.

"It would be nice to have things treated fairly, at least," Simon said after the Wild practiced on Friday. "I don't think in that instance it's fair at all. I couldn't believe right away that nothing was going to be done about it. I still can't believe it."

The play happened Wednesday night when Pronger and Kesler became tangled behind the Vancouver net. As Pronger turned to head back up ice, replays show him stepping on Kesler's leg as the Canucks forward lay on the ice.

That is pretty ridiculous. You cant suspend a player thirty games for an incident like that, then look the other way when the next guy does it. There has long been the feeling that the NHL doesnt have the clearest policy on suspensions, and this incident isnt going to help it at all.

UPDATE: As commenter Dan, Jr. pointed out, the NHL rethought not suspending Pronger and he is now on the hook for 8 games. What I still dont understand is why their wasnt an automatic suspension, and why the length is so much shorter then Simon's 30 game ban. This isnt just a double standard (remember, Pronger now has 8 suspensions in his career, and Simon has the same number), its actually a full blown mental fart.

Blithering Idiocy, part deux

Paul Holmgren needs to be fired.

That blithering idiot, who defended Steve Downie after this hit, after Downie was clearly letting his temper get the better of him again, after Downie was "avenging" a legal hit by Christoph Schubert, after Downie's half assed apology to McAmmond, is still tacitly absolving that little shit of any blame in the matter.

Flyers GM Paul Holmgren told reporters Friday that the team plans to have Downie serve the NHL suspension in blocks, calling him up from time to time to serve the 20 games. Downie has not played an NHL game with the Flyers and was expected to start the season in the minor leagues. But injuries this week to forwards Scottie Upshall, R.J. Umberger and Joffrey Lupul boosted the chances that the 20-year-old prospect could have started the year with the big club.

"He can go the American League and play," Holmgren was quoted as saying in the Philadelphia Daily News. "Our plan is to make this suspension go away as quickly as possible. And because of our cap situation, we're probably going to have to get creative."

Holmgren added that the 20-year-old forward would be recalled to the big club on days the AHL team is not playing.

"I've talked to the league about this," Holmgren told local reporters. "When we carry him on our roster, we're pushing the limit of the cap, so there is punishment to the Flyers, as well."

In the words of some very eloquent Hershey Bears fans, BULLSHIT!

NOTE: The AHL has suspended the little shit for the first month of the season. Oh how painful pitiful.

Listen up NHL marketing departments!

Sherry from Scarlett Ice and HLOG fame has a great piece (with lots of good dialogue) about the new pink shirts that the Sens have put out for female fans. Sherry very eloquently hits the mark about why female hockey fans hate this shit (I am a little less eloquent). Her piece is a must read for any hockey fan, especially when you consider that females make up a big part of the game -- whether as a fan, blogger, player, or as the Mom who drives her kids to practice.

The thing is, you can't pigeon-hole the female fanbase and say you're catering to their needs when all you offer them in their sizes and cuts are jerseys that completely eliminate the point of offering team merchandise in the first place. What's the point of shelling out for a team's jersey when they're all the same colour?

There is a pretty healthy discussion going in the comments as well. The common thread? Not one of the hockey bloggers who commented would ever buy a pink, "Sens Girl" t-shirt. It would kind of be like wearing a Hooters outfit to your first day at Harvard.

I will definitely post more on this later (as its a source of unending annoyance for me), but for now Sherry speaks for a lot of us.

And note to the Caps: How about some female sizes in the jerseys? This doesnt quite do it for me.