One Olympic sport that I look forward to seeing each year is water polo. Forget football and toss your sticks against the boards; there’s no tougher sport than water polo. People are out there trying to get the ball by choking people underwater. People claw and kick their way to victory. Do you know what’s happening underwater? The refs don’t either. The closest hockey can get to that level of violence is with expansion KHL teams (too soon?).
After making my salad and plopping down on my sofa one last time before moving to Columbus, I practiced my sit-and-reach by stretching for the remote control. Tuning into NBC, commercials are running. I casually laugh at the new Marco-Polo Geico ad. Then suddenly, returning from the break, it happens:
“Haaaaand this is Pierre McGuire back with more women’s water polo action!”
I was floored by that…voice… It made me miss watching hockey with Pierre doing his “Inside the Glass” bit. More the hockey than “Inside the Glass” though. Summer will end soon enough, right?
Doing some research, Doc Emrick and Pierre apparently cast some of the 2012 water polo games in London. It’s too bad Doc was not calling the game, but at least I was gifted a game where Pierre did not mention Sidney Crosby’s name once. Additionally, Pierre shares my sentiments on water polo. That sport is pure brutality.
Nashville Predators News
Waiting for Hockey: Front Office | NHL.com
And you think you’re bored without hockey on TV. The Preds front office is taking summer boredom to a new level.
Around Hockey
Basu: This is who Shea Weber needs to play with – Audio – TSN
Twenty minutes of Shea Weber talk. I think pairing him with Markov would be a mistake. Weber needs to be with someone with speed.
Fleury Ready To Compete For Penguins’ Net – Today’s Slapshot
Well considering that Fleury has a no-trade clause and Murray doesn’t, the looming expansion draft certainly should nudge the Penguins to stay with Fleury.
Nick Spaling est le quatrième étranger – Genève-Servette Hockey Club (French)
Spals heading out east…waaaaaayyyy out east. East as in Switzerland.
Cult of Hockey: career year predicted for Taylor Hall in New Jersey. Can he do it? – The Province
Where’s the dragon?
Team Finland U16 Forwards FIrst Class of the Selanne Academy – Selanne.com
Teemu Selanne opened his own training academy in Finland. Top Finnish youth players are already flocking to it. On an unrelated note, who’s more deserving of the “perfect human” title, him or Nicklas Lidstrom? Poll below.
Passing Project: Dangerous Primary Shot Contributions – NHLNumbers.com
Stats for the fanciest of fans.
Sources: Boston Bruins not a favorite to sign Jimmy Vesey – CSN
According to two sources, free-agent-to-be Jimmy Vesey is leaning toward the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils as he considers where to sign.
Dave Prior Hired as Director of Goaltending and NHL Goaltending Coach – Vegas Is Hockey
Prior served in a similar role with the Washington Capitals under George McPhee. He’s the guy that Holtby was painfully average with.
Canadiens plan to set start limit for Carey Price in season back from injury | The Hockey News
Sixty to 65 games is a limited schedule? The Canadiens management clearly has set out to build their team in the spitting image of last season’s Predators.
Islanders owner, Jon Ledecky, cheering on Katie Ledecky in Rio
Katie Ledecky, owner of one silver and two swimming gold medals from these Olympics already, was cheered on by her uncle Jon in her quest for gold.
Hockey Humor
Watch: P.K. Subban nails impression of Don Cherry – Sportsnet.ca
This is from last season, but if you have nineteen seconds for a great laugh today, here you go.
Which player is the true “Perfect Human”?
| Teemu Selanne | 70 |
| Nicklas Lidstrom | 55 |
| Corey Perry | 13 |