This week’s Morning Java tries figure out the Cardinals, the Penguins’ fourth-line vacancies and the great gap between women’s team sports internationally and nationally.
Good stuff guys. As to the fourth line problems, I'm not that solid on the third line with Kunitz and Dupuis. One lost his game and one almost lost his health. However, I do think that there will be a lot of talent available especially with cheap and tryout contracts along with having to try Wilson, Sundqvst and Rust at some point. It makes me vomit any time Bennett is relied upon for anything.
FYI, there is a pro women's league now, and it is surviving for the time being. Like MLS, places like Seattle and Portland draw well (in particular Portland who averages over 10k per game).
Pretty amazing how similar the Pirates and Cardinals team stats are.
Milo made an observation the other day that this series has been built up a little too much, and I tend to agree. Regardless of what happens they'll get to chew on it over the All Star break. I'm predicting a split. They just got to keep taking series everywhere else and they will be there in Sept.
Really like the Morning Java piece. It could be vastly improved with investment in microphones. Can barely hear you guys when your heads turn toward one another. Better to solve this with mics than always talking toward camera. Allows you to keep the casual conversation feel.
It's not a big capital investment either. Quality mics can be had for few hundred bucks.
Sid killed quite a few penalties last season. You don't really want him to be killing penalties that often. If you have him killing penalties you are putting him in a position where he can't generate much offense. Then when the penalty is over he will be stuck on the bench since he needs a chance to catch his breath before taking his next shift.
The best approach would be to not have Sid killing any penalties, and have him fresh for a counter-attack once the Penguins are back at full strength. You can sprinkle him in occasionally on the PK, when you really need to win a faceoff or score a shorty, but he really shouldn't be taking a regular PK shift.
Scott
7-8-2015, 10:02 am
I think you can attribute the large rating to a National Team playing during the 4th of July weekend. Our Ladies were loaded for Bear.
Our Womens Soccer program is light years ahead of the Mens team, and yes they deserve more funding. To me it still resembles the more "pureness" that the Olympics used to have before the Dream Teams started playing.
The US MNT will always suffer from the best US (men) athletes playing something other than soccer.
Not sure that they are light years ahead of the mens. I'm fully prepared for any abuse that could follow this statement but mens and womens football are lightyears apart. They're not even comparable. For how popular football was in the States 20+ years ago when your current side were kids you do very well in the mens game.
Steelkings
7-8-2015, 11:32 am
Lighting makes DK's hair green. Or, he's more punk rock than I thought.
Also, If you ever envisioned what it would be like listening to a sports writer talk when he's all stung out on caffine. Change the you tube speed setting to 1.25. Simply awesome!
I have theory about social media significantly helping the ratings for the final. People were tweeting, posting, ect...like crazy during those first few minutes when U.S. went up 2-0. Followers read those posts and tuned in (what else was on?). They stayed around for a few more minutes and saw 2 more goals and another near miss off the header. People stayed because of the offensive explosion to see if we would pour it on and then to see the final celebration later.
Dejan - sounds creepy, I know, but... I love you, man. I feel your passion, whether in a punk band or in a local sports scene. It's overwhelming. And I love it. It's why I went lunatic.
But when I watched this, I got verklempt... Are you doing ok? Taking care of yourself? I'm an insomniac, so I understand alternative schedules. Making do with what the body dictates. But I can't help but notice you look tired. Maybe hiring staff has been a help, but, as an owner of multiple businesses, I can't help but point out that it's folly to stretch yourself too much (killing the golden goose as it were). And I know it is stressful having new staff.
Be well, man. Know that we're in this for the long haul. We lunatics are all looking forward to reading your journalism through 2018 and beyond. Leverage this staff you've created as much as possible, cause here's one lunatic who seriously digs what you're cooking.
July 8, 2015
Morning Java: Whither women’s team sports?
by Dejan Kovacevic • Videos • Penguins, Pirates
This week’s Morning Java tries figure out the Cardinals, the Penguins’ fourth-line vacancies and the great gap between women’s team sports internationally and nationally.