z_The Hockey Page - Toronto Star

Farewell to the Hockey Page

Well, this is one of those good news/bad news sort of mornings.

The good news is there'll be a new blog moving into town. By the end of the week, The Spin, Damien Cox's blog, makes its debut. From what Damien tells me, it'll be mainly hockey, including blogging from over in Turin, but also spin into the other areas that cross his sporting radar, like tennis and the CFL, so I'm sure it'll quickly show up on all the best blogrolls.

The bad news is that the Hockey Page is shutting down. Regular readers have noticed of late that the postings have become sporadic, while over at my JABS sports blog, I've done a little more hockey recently (and will continue to do so). Speaking from my own perspective, too, the HP has never really done what it was supposed to do, save for those few days last September blogging from Leafs preseason training, and for that I have to take the blame.

Oh, and couple more things: I'll be live-texting weekday Olympic hockey on the website, and thestar.com will be adding a podcasting element once the NHL resumes after the Olympics. Stay tuned for details on the websites, and JABS and the Spin.

To the bloggers and the readers who dropped by and maybe even took the time to comment, thanks so much. Damien will do a lot better job of keeping you regularly informed on all matters hockey, and if you want to wander over to JABS now and then, more's the better. Peace.

(C.Y.)

See ya, Mike Milbury

(OH, THIS IS GETTING CONFUSING): Looking at Eric's permalink, and the Star's speakout area where it landed, the one that i NEVER look at 'cause it's usually full of Nigerian oil millionaires looking for somewhere to park their money, I see this came in THURSDAY. My mistake. So now we have THREE bobbleheads to award, TWO of them already spoken for -- Eric, and Gary. Congrats Eric! Way to go Gary! I'm going to stop now. It's been a bad week for me and computers. *head slap*)

(LATER ON FRIDAY): Well, Eric McErlain over at the ever-entertaining Off Wing Opinion has put his name in the hat for one of these here bobbleheads up for grabs -- and it's going to take some doing to top this one, but you've got all weekend, kids, so go to it. Check out Eric's shot at his blog here. Meantime, here's a taste:

CW: Peter, Lorne, Butch, Bill, Steve or Rick, what does it matter? You never seem to be able to get along with any of your playmates. [Shakes his head] That's it, I've made up my mind. If you can't share it's time to grow up and let somebody else play with the wooby, Michael!
MM: [SCREAMS and CRIES] NOOOOOOOOOO!
CW: [STERN] Stop it Michael, there's no crying in ice hockey and you know that. Besides, you've had the wooby for 10 years now and you should give somebody else a chance.
MM: [SNIFFLES and WIPES HIS NOSE] I'm sorry.
CW: That's ok Michael. If I can forgive you for the Yashin contract I can forgive anything. Did you really think you would play with the wooby forever?

(FRIDAY POSTSCRIPT PRESCRIPT: I'm going to keep this one open till Monday, 'cause I found another bobblehead. One of 'em has Gary's name on it, but there's still one more up grabs so people, c'mon. Send in your entries, and have a fun weekend.)

A couple of links, 'cause I'm in a New York state of mind:

AP PHOTO

Wang to co-owner: "That young man Mike. What'll he do when he grows up?"

With reports flying about last night that Mike Milbury was ready to fire another coach, the Islanders as usual have added a novel twist.

Yes, Steve Stirling is out and assistant Brad Shaw is in. But that's Milbury who will step down as well, once a replacement is found, and take a job sharpening pencils and serving as a senior vice-president in the Charles Wang sports operation. Here's owner Wang, announcing the end of Milbury as GM with this lump-in-the-throat confession:

“Even prior to our current slump, Mike and I had been discussing the next phase for him. I have often challenged him about what he wanted to do when he grows up. Yesterday, Mike came to me and selflessly said that the time had come for a change in the general manager’s seat."

Wouldn't you love to have been in on those discussions between daddy Charlie and young Mike?

Tell ya what. Send me your best Mikey and Daddy "conversation" -- put 'em in the drawing room having a heart-to-heart, or in the car as Mikey is getting a ride to hockey practice, or wherever you wanna put 'em discussing whatever it is l'il Mike wants to do when he grows up.

I'll publish the best of 'em tomorrow in this space -- and to the best one (I'll be the judge of that), I've got an official Team Canada Chris Pronger bobblehead doll to award. Knock yourself out.

Oh, and just in case you think that's all that's going on in New York, take the Long Island railroad across the East River and into Manhattan, and they're putting on a big show, Broadway, or at least MSG, giving its regards to Mark Messier after starting it off with a box of Kleenex last night, even the Knicks' Larry Brown getting in on the act. For a selection of links that'll keep you readin' and weepin' till tonight, look no further than Hockeybird.

(C.Y.)