The Hoosier Hockey Drinking Game

Well with Labor Day Weekend arriving and the fact I haven’t posted in about two weeks (I have been working a lot on my podcast, thus HH gets put on the back-burner temporarily) pressing down on us, it is time to unveil the Hoosier Hockey Drinking Game!

Now is the perfect time to play a drinking game as the off-season drags on. Also, who wants to remember a weekend without hockey anyway?

I’ll be the first to admit that I have never played any sort of drinking game, but if I could find people to play this game with, I would attempt it.

And Bloggers Are Supposed To Be The Unprofessional Ones

The guys over at Pension Plan Puppets have been plagiarized, not once, but now multiple times by the Toronto Sun.

The story in short form is as follows: PPP posted an article that contained an interview from Czech magazine on their site. Since the interview was in Czech, a reader of PPP translated it for them. Along comes Dave Fuller of the Sun who reads the PPP article and takes the translation directly from them and uses it in his article for the paper. PPP at no point is given credit/citation for the translation and when the blog contacts the paper, they are told “get over it.”

Here’s the issue, the Sun claims they used Google Translator for their article. I can speak and write in two languages. I have used Google Translator at times when I have difficultly understanding something written in my second language. Therefore I am obligated to raise this:

The Plight Of Women In A Boys’ Club

Often I write about the connections between Punk Rock and Hockey. Well there is another one I talk about often, but seldom like to bring up online because I do not want to dwell on the negatives. The fact of the matter is that both cultures are boys’ clubs. By this I do not mean that women cannot participate or play major roles, merely that men dominate in both leadership positions and sheer numbers.

I, being a male and not constantly reminded of this, sometimes fail to understand what women go through. In fact, I probably do not even remotely understand what it is like to be a woman in a society such as this.

Yesterday I got a glimpse into it.

My place of employment was holding a pre-season camp for youth hockey. As part of my job, I was running check-in and directing people to their respective dressing rooms. The first camp went well with no real struggle. Then came a moment I will honestly never forget.

The Speculation That Will Just Not Die

Being a Midwesterner and one that grew up here, I’m ingrained with the idea that there is no better conference than the Big Ten. Although my alligence lies with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, the only conference that matters is the Big Ten. If it’s football, basketball, etc, I really only care about the Big Ten.

I guess in the South they’re pretty hyped on their brand of football, that’s nice. Give me Ohio St. v. Michigan. Hell, give me the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe.

Regardless of the trash talking storm I’m sure to be starting, I am a completely biased Midwesterner that loves the Big Ten.

Now we all know that I love hockey. What if there was a Big Ten hockey conference? Well, first I think I would start by doing a little jig. Then I would probably make Big Ten hockey a large focal point of this blog or my upcoming podcast.

Yet, it’s not going to happen. At least not any time soon.

Commenter Discussion: The United States of Hockey?

Today as I was catching up on posts I’ve missed on The Clink Room, I came across this map:

I recognize this design as there is also a United States of Baseball map that exists. Apparently Nike commissioned the map at some point, but I do not recall ever seeing this before.

Personally, I believe that the Blue Jackets’ “nation” is quite too large and Florida is essentially completely incorrect. In my massive amount of time I’ve spent in that state, I do not recall ever meeting a Panthers fan. I could be wrong, but I’m thinking that most of those living north of Tampa are either Lightning, Thrashers or Hurricanes fans. Although, I will say that I believe Indianapolis is well represented as most fans in this area are either Blackhawks, Blue Jackets or Red Wings fans. Also, great call on making Northwestern Indiana and the area stretching to South Bend as Blackhawks fans. That I know is 100% accurate.

What about you guys? Thoughts? Areas that are either completely correct or off-base?