Game 15. Madison Thunder (A) (L)

Game 15. Madison Thunder (A) (L)
Saturday, February 9

Oh what a game to miss!  Any game where it was reported that Amanita had to help break up a fight - even now, typing these words a few weeks later I can't believe it - is a game I would've loved to have seen.

Apparently, some player on the Thunder got pissed at Snootch and punched her in the face mask.  After the game, this same player came over to Snootch and called her something like "the dirtiest player ever."  Tempers flared.  Amanita and The Bearcat, who actually coaches the Thunder, intervened. 

Might've been different had the Thunder won.  It's one thing to be a sore loser, and yet another thing entirely to be a sore winner.  (In my other life as a tournament Scrabble player, I've definitely met my share of sore winners - a strange group.) 

But let's give that Thunder player some play: what does it take to be called "the dirtiest player ever."  What is Snootch actually doing?  She may be the chattiest player on the ice, but dirtiest?  Again: C'mon!

Game puck goes to Snootch, just 'cause. 

Incidentally, this was the first game Vito missed.  In another life, Vito used to play for a club in California, and this weekend, a few of those players came to Wisconsin to participate in the Eagle River Pond Hockey Championship.  Playing for the San Francisco Treats, she got to hoist the cup!

Game 13. Rockford Hot Wings (H) (L)

Game 13. Rockford Hot Wings (H) (L)

The Bearcat Scowls

In another life, I wrote reviews of church rummage sales on Chicago's tony north shore.  Towns like Winnetka, Kenilworth, Wilmette, and Lake Forest featured the best church rummage sales I've ever had the honor to sneeze through.  These sales would take place in the recesses of the church grounds, featuring dusty rooms connected by warrens crowded with crazed deal-finders.  Whole rooms were devoted to "devotional objects", "baby", "a/v", "unctions."  It was heaven.

So when I caught wind of the annual United Methodist Church rummage sale on Madison's north side about a week ago, I made sure that I went.  Vito came along.  While I did not expect there to be multiple rooms, I did expect there to be at least some good junk. 

Alas.  My one "find" was a spoken word record that promised to cure me of "excusitis." 

A pastry at Manna Cafe and Bakery and then off to the Shell for a league game against the Hot Wings of Rockford, Illinois.  When I think of Rockford I think of poet Matt Cook who wrote a poem (or found a poem) about Rockford.  The essential element of that poem was that Rockford had a metal factory of some sort back "in the day" and that printed on the brick factory building - at the top so it could be seen from the interstate - was a huge sign that said: Rockford Screw.

Which caused me and the rest of the Cloud Posse - Asperatus and Nimbus in full effect - to at least worry for our one-loss Lightning.  Well, we also were worried because we were without Amanita, Gloster, and Hlin.  That's a lot of firepower missing!  (Also, no cries of "Amanita … STONED!" would sail forth in the cavernous ice arena.  Also also, I would offer no kind of overly officious salutes but thankfully unnoticed salutes to Hlin as she skated stoically off the ice.)

The first period fulfilled some worry.  The Lightning were playing as if they had hangovers!  Very unorganized.  Lots of bunching up on one side of the ice.  And even though somebody collides with teammate Black Locust every game … well, I was worried.  The Hot Wings were playing with a  lot of moxie.  JP Specs (# 54) was rocking her Kurt Rambus-like epnymous specs.  Plus, their coach was of the yelling variety. 

But the first goal proved to be the only one the Lightning needed.  While the play resulted in one goal, it resulted in multiple style points: another perfect give-go-give-go between the Bearcat and MJ, with MJ getting the goal.

The Lightning would eventually win 7-0.  The game was close for one and a half periods.  In the third period, it was all Lightning.  The Hot Wing failed to register a shot on net for all of 12 minutes!  Meanwhile, the Lightning turned it on.  The period began 3-0.  Two minutes in and the score was 6-0.  There were some excellent goals.  None of which were caught on video, but many were witnessed by a bunch of hockey dudes, waiting to get on the ice.

Hockey Dudes look on as the Bourbon Wall signals the icing

I will at least attempt to describe some of the goals, for many were quite beautiful.  Like this one in the 2nd period: Snutch takes a shot from near the blue line, and Nicole's Friend tips it in.  Just like they do in the NHL!

Vito had a couple of goals.  The first into a wide-open net, the goalie down after deflecting a terrific shot from Nicole's Friend, Vito smartly skating down the slot unmarked.  Her second, and this would end the scoring, was a very Hlin-like skate to the slot and shoot.

Alone time

The game puck goes to Nicole's Friend, who registered 4 points with 2 goals and 2 assists. 

Notes: Vito and I eschewed the post-game beers and lunch.  Instead, we drove west to Black Earth to get some really good meat (we bought a pork shoulder and a couple of ribeye steaks) at Black Earth Meats.  We also bought some shoes at The Shoe Box.  At home, I would take a stunning hour-long nap.  In contrast, after the game MJ went out for a run up and down a hill in preparation for a 50-km cross-country skiing race at the end of February.  In contrast, the Bourbon Wall and Nicole's Friend stuck around downtown waiting for the 2 PM game skating for the Meteorites. 



Finally, here's a link to a poem by Matt Cook:

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2009/11/23

Game 11. Madison Meteorites (A) (N)

Game 11. Madison Meteorites (A) (N)

8:30 PM. Hartmeyer Ice Arena, Madison, Wisconson.

What happens on a Saturday night in Wisconsin when the Green Bay Packers are in an evening playoff game?  You expect to not have two full lines when you play your exhibition hockey game, that's what.  Which is what happened to our beloved Lightning at the Hartmeyer Ice Arena.  Luckily, it also happened to the top-division Madison Meteorites, who had only one skater on their bench.

What was not expected was this: Coach Hungry Heart, who helped lead the Lightning to victory in their first game against the Meteorites, arrived.  This was remarkable as many of you know, Coach H is actually on the roster for the UW Women's hockey team, and they had a game tonight as well!  That's dedication!  Although it should be said that she did not actually dress for the UW Lady Badgers.

Coach HH crosses the ice

All the troops

With the Packers and the 49ers tied, the View From the Clouds posse (including Nimbus and Asperatus) picked a bench and watched the proceedings.  Hartmeyer is nice: bleacher seating on both sides of the wide ice, affording good views.  Also, vending machine hot chocolate can be had for $.50.  Price goes up a dime if you want a large. 

After the first period, the Lightning faced their worst deficit of the season, down two goals to none!  A yell of "Hustle!!" quickly followed by what sounded like a lone shout of "LayYoFightLuongo!" and the Lightning were off.  The Bourbon Wall stood tall, and the understaffed Lightning generated chances on the understaffed Meteorites.

Against an unknown goalie, no not Warren Peas in a brunette wig, the Lightning came up short several times.  The cry of "Amanita … STONED!" echoed throughout the empty, cold, arena.  The sounds of the game fought for attention against the blaring television set, the broadcast of the Packers game cast an unsettling backdrop to the desperation of the Lightning.

On Amanita's second breakaway of the period, she held the puck a bit longer than usual, waited for the goalie to drop, and she slid through the crease and deposited the puck.  2-1 Meteorites.

Amanita deposits the puck.  Trust me.

The third period: awesome hockey.  I remember when I was in my playing days, playing league games that started at 11 PM on a Saturday night, one 50-year old defensemen playing the entire game, when pulling the goalie (me) meant putting your team a man down, scrapping out a victory.  I had hoped tonight would be one of those nights, so I took out my point and shoot and captured those hectic last moments of the game. 

A pulled goalie, a sustained attack, a mad scramble, the crowd chanting, the puck on Vapo Rub's blade, then MJ's ... and that's how it happened that the Lightning lost their first game of the season.  Coach Double H turned to the Cloud Posse and said, "I'm still 1-1 as a coach!"  Well, I was 1-1 after my first games as a goalie.

Notes: Went to Dexter's afterwards to catch the rest of the Packer game.  The place was still relatively crowded despite the by-now foregone conclusion.  Touchdowns scored by the losing team in blowout during garbage time are the worst kinds of scores in sports, don't you think?

Game 10. Sun Prairie Rage Blue (H) (L)

January 5, Saturday, 11:15 AM, The Shell

After a nearly three-week holiday layoff, the Madison Lightning looked to continue their unbeaten season against the Sun Prairie Rage Blue (as in Blue Division, not as in "rage so much that their faces turn blue").  A win today would be special: not only would it be 10 straight wins but it would be a "win one for the gipper" kind of thing.  The Lightning's first-year coach, Coach Thunder Road, is currently convalescing after surgery. 

Assistant Coach Johnny Bye-Bye rocking the fashion faux pas: two sports teams at one time!

But the Rage, division leaders as well and featuring some super fast skaters, including a player known only as "The Zero", had New Year's Resolutions of their own to keep: namely, "show those haughty Lightning what's what!"

It almost worked.  They almost prevented the Lightning from scoring in the first period, but a successful give, go, give, bounce, between Amanita and Nicole's friend with 4 minutes left to go in the first opened the scoring.  Who was to get credit for the goal?  The confused ref said "number 3" - Nicole's Friend.  Thirty seconds later, the ref comes by and says, "Give number 32 an assist" and voila, Black Locust tallies a point playing on Amanita's line.  Where was Vito, Nicole's Friend's usual wing pair?  She was off playing defense, subbing for the missing MJ. 

The Rage continued to play tight.  What was the phrase?  "Play up to the level of their competition"?  And so they did, matching shot for shot, playing with speed.  Warren Peas proved up to the task, lack of depth-perception be damned!  The second period: lots of drama, no scoring.

The third period proved to be the most exciting bit of Lightning hockey this season.  Who knew?  Even when The Bearcat scored a beautiful backhand goal (patent pending) to make it 2-0, the Rage would not wilt.  With Vapo Rub out for a tripping minor, the Rage scored in a scrum in front of the net.  It was a "play to the whistle" kind of thing, as the Rage coach kept yelling next to my ears goddamnit.  2-1 Lightning.  They pulled the goalie.  The Lightning sacrificed their bodies deflecting shot after shot.  And that's how it would end.

Notes: In a nod to the bonds that competition forges, the Lightning eschewed their usual post-game drinking hole to hang out with the Rage at their drinking hole.  And so it came to be that I ate my first veggie burger, accompanied with tater tots, of the year.

A distinctly average veggie burger

Game 7. Green Bay Dragons (H) (L)

Game 7. 

Blooming Grove Town Hall, Town of Blooming Grove, Wisconsin

There's not many things in life that would make The View From the Clouds miss attending a Madison Lightning hockey game, but a chance to spend $25 to hang out with these folk is one of them:

One of these Scrabble Sharks actually played the word YAKITORI on me

Yes, these are the people that made up the top division of the Madison "Winter" Scrabble Tournament, from Verona's Dastard Deltiologist to Chicago's B#*ch B#*ch Bingo.  Foremost among them is Magellan, the number one seed in a field populated by proven experts and past National Champions.  Hell, The One Circa 1981 represented the United States in Poland in last year's World's.

I was the 6th seed and, over a span of 8 games, I was expected to win "3.4" games.  Unfortunately, I won less.  I mean, it is a bit intimidating playing on a board like this:

In Scrabble's hey-day, the tourney directors gave the champions of each division a personalized board

But the day was not a total loss: The Lightning dispatched the Green Bay Dragons 8-0.  I learned this while talking to Vito over the phone after the game.  A bunch of the players were at the watering hole tossing back a few cold ones.  The phone call went something like this:

A View From the Clouds: Hi. 

Vito: A-yo!  How'dju do? 

AVFtC: Ah, not so well.  I went 2 and 6.  The Dastard just destroyed me by, like, 200 points.  He pulled the bag, though.  Guy plays "towering" with two blanks.

Vito: Yo!  F*ck that guy, he can't hold your jock, man.  You use them golden racks? 

[Vito was referring to my special gold racks.]

AVFtC: Yes, I did use the gold racks.  I let Zig use one of them.

Vito: WHAT?!?  Man, don't evah let that douche use yer gold racks.  He has enough mojo as it is.  Did he beat you?

AVFtC: Yes, he beat me.  He played "hieratic" during the end game. 

Vito: See?  So I guess we ain't going to Sizzler.

AVFtC: No, we're not going to Sizzler.  Um, how'd you guys do?

Vito: Us?  8-0 win, dog!  We were the Dragons' second opponent today, so … yeah, no sweat.  Game puck goes to Purify, she had a couple of goals.  She was feelin' it. 

AVFtC: Purify.  Check.  Good for her.

Vito: And don't worry about Sizzler.  Apparently, it's going down at Timbers' tonight.

[click]

Notes: I went 2-6 with 14 bingos - including BIOPICS, EPISCIA, and STIRRUPS - and my rating went down from 1542 to 1514.  Also, Guluth is a tropical location.

The action at Timbers'

Game 4. Janesville Jets (A) (L)

As Goes Janesville

It had rained all the way down to Janesville where the Lightning met fellow grey-division hockey team the Janesville Jets.  To celebrate the occasion, I wore my gaudy green New York Jets sweater. 

Both Jets would lose tonight, leaving me with simple yet mixed feelings:

Have the Lightning been too dominant?  Shots on goal tonight favored them 6 to 27.

Is Mark Sanchez really that bad?  The offense hasn't scored in a touchdown in years.

Should Vito and I go over to the Stone Barn afterwards?  Vito's still feeling under the weather and we haven't watched our requisite 10 hours of Friday Night Lights this weekend.

Should I expound on that one bit in my last post about "this nation's flawed two-party system"? 

Yup, but remember last year when we only managed six shots a game?
I guess, but it's all a part of god's (via Tebow's) plan for Jets dominance.
Will there be burgers?
And a resounding NOOOO!!  But wouldn't the Republican Party be so much better if the Tea Party actually became their own party? 

The Lightning won.  They scored six goals to the Jets' one to start the season 4-0. 

They once again put on the clamps and played suffocating hockey.  They played Original Six hockey!  (I don't know what that means but in all my years of listening to hockey on the radio, I've not heard that been used.)

I hadn't seen a defensive performance like this since, well, yesterday.  But no, really, I hadn't seen a game like this since that time in Ashwaubenon when The Bourbon Wall had to serve a suspension in the middle of a weekender against the Green Bay Goon Squad.  Timbers, our stalwart center, had to renew her Union card and do the Hungry Hippo in net.  Back then the Lightning also turned up the screws to achieve victory.  Tonight, with The Bourbon Wall moonlighting up in Fond du Lac - great Supper Clubs in those parts, I hear - the Lightning recruited the diminutive in stature, not of heart or stock, one-named goalie: Berlie.  An unknown quantity, the Lightning would take no chances.  But Berlie proved up to the task.  That one goal she let in was a two-post ringer.  Left post, right post and out, only to be stuffed back in by a swarming Janesville Jet.  Darren Pang, eat yer heart out!

Berlie

No Worries, the Slot's Covered

So I'm really enjoying the defensive play.  Tonight, without A1 or Snutch, I got to see plenty of Hlin, Michael Jordan, Bearcat, and Vapo Rub.  Great passing, great control during the power plays.  Me and the crew marveled at Vapo Rub's thieving abilities.  Was that her blowing up what last year would've been a two-on-none?  Was that her scoring a goal in a solo effort in yesterday's game?  I cannot WAIT to see her go up against her mom in a future contest.

The first period was great.  I did not know what to expect from Janesville.  Certainly they were going to be a bigger challenge than the Brew City Blades Blue.  So it was with relief that I witnessed Deren (nee Mama Jet) score the first goal of the game from the slot: a sweet one-timer that even put her to her knees.  Classic.

Deren's on the right.  The puck is still in the air, in the net.

In the second period, Vito netted her first goal of the season.  She lofted the puck chest-high towards the net and an opponent's stick tipped it over the goalie.  That's exactly how it's written it up in all the play books.  Way to go, Vito!  Who loves ya, baby?!

Amanita, after dishing out three assists in the Saturday game - on her birthday no less - put in two top-shelf-ers of her own tonight.  But she would pay the price: she was witnessed limping' n' grimacing' after the game.  Clearly the Lightning's best offensive player and mycologist, an injury to Amanita is an injury to all.  But wouldn't it be just the thing to rally around?!?

Timbers Enjoying the Moment

Notes:
Richard the Dastard Deltiologist, repping Madison in the Twin Cities in this weekend's Scrabble tourney, having led most of the way, lost in his last game to fall to third place.  Can't wait to see the bingo report, though!
Six fans, including the View From the Clouds, made the trip down to Janesville to support their Lightning.  The posse's only going to get bigger, folks.
Game puck #4 goes to Amanita, who came away with 3 points tonight, making 6 for the weekend.

Blowout

Blowout

Obligatory Scrabble post: the word "kidvids" is indeed playable in Scrabble.

 
Yes, your spell check is going to try to change that word to "kiddies", but don't make that blank an "e", make it a "v" so that your opponent (and you) can laugh at the word while challenging it.  When the challenge comes back in your favor, you take the last tile out of the bag and empty your rack, ending the game.  When you collect the points off your opponent's rack, you have enough points to win.

Not that the Lightning needed an late-game heroics to win their game today.

I was wrong to say in my inaugural post that the Brew City Blue was "despised."  The Brew City team that the Lightning despise is some other color.  Not blue.  "Blue" references not the color of one of the two political parties in this nation's flawed two-party system.  No, "blue" refers to the level of ability. 

In the Women's Central Hockey League, teams are placed in five sub-leagues, based on that team's level of ability.  There's the "green" league for beginners.  For the best players, there's the "red" league.  Green, blue, grey, white, and red.  Our Lightning belong in the grey league.  Last year, they played in the white league and won one league game, maybe. 

And so the Brew City Blades Blue team the Lightning faced today was actually playing a division up.

That's how it goes in the league.  Eventually, the Lightning will play the teams in the "white" division: U Wisconsin B, Fond du Lac Lightning Bolts, Madison Freeze White, and the despised Brew City Blades White.  Supposedly there they'll find a more evenly-matched game.  The Lightning will also play up to the white division.

Today, the Ligthning were expected to win and win they did.

The first two stoppages of play in the first period were due to goals scored by the Lightning.  MJ opened the scoring with a chest-high floater from near the blue line.  I like these kinds of shots: pucks wristed off the surface, through some traffic, somewhat surprising the goaltender, and finding a way into the net.  Snutch would score another one of these in the third period. 

The second goal of the game was scored by the incomparable Hlin, who doggedly stick-handled from the left circle to the top of the slot and shot. 

Then, on and on from there.  There were some chippiness (defined: hockey play) that was taken in various ways that ultimately led to Timbers being the beneficiary of some stellar passing.  Timbers positioned herself in front of the net numerous times, and stuffed sure passes into the net three straight times for a natural hat-trick to close out the blowout, 8-0. 

Throughout, the Bourbon Wall (nee Murmuring Wall) faced a sad total of six shots, one in the first, and five in the second, and none in the third.  None in the third.  I thought back to my goal-tending days and how I disliked, somewhat, the lack of shots against me.  It's true, having the puck on the other side of the ice kind of takes you out of the game, such that when you finally face some shots, you are not at your mental peak.  But the Bourbon Wall did make all her saves, and a few of them were good shots.

Despite that, I have to award the game puck to Timbers, who survived being tripped by the ghost of the Shell, to score that natural hat trick in less than 4 minutes.

Timbers

Notes: Vito left the game soon after the beginning of the second period, citing sickness, and smartness: better to conserve energy for tomorrow's game against Janesille Jaguars.  All but Mama Jet found herself on the score sheet.  But only Mama Jet had a film in the 2012 Milwaukee Short Film Festival.  The View From the Clouds had a film in the 2012 Milwaukee Short Film Festival, too, sort of.  The View from the Clouds had composed music to the film Missed Connections, directed by Susan Kerns and Kara Mulrooney.  That film, like the Lightning, won as well.

Season-Opening Double-Header

November 3, 2012. The Shell.

Muchly anticipated this side of Manna Bakery and Cafe, the Madison Lightning's season began today with a home and away doubleheader against the Madison Thunder.  Both games were played at The Shell.

Hlin, who had eschewed all semblance of a pre-season ala Lawrence Taylor, scored in her first or second shift in the first period to lead the Lightning to their first league win. That win either ties or eclipses the number of wins they had in their god-awful previous season. The Bearcat and Amanita rounded out the scoring, with Amanita finding the back of the net once, and some crossbar another time.

I wish I could detail some of these goals because at least one of these could have been classified as "beautiful", complete with nice passes, with being patient with the puke, a frozen goaltender. There even might have been a backhand shot there. But the View From the Clouds was sitting at the far end bleachers. The only goal I really got a good look at was the sole strike against the Lightning in the 3rd period.  The Murmuring Wall lost her shutout on an excellent backdoor goal by Rudolf.  I can't specify the time because the score board wasn't in operation.  The one and only key that unlocks the scoreboard control board had been misplaced! So ... no horn to mark the end of the period.  Instead the refs just blew on their whistles long and hard.

After the game, I caught a glimpse of the new coach walking out of the locker. She was sporting a NY Giants winter hat. I was wearing a Green Bay Packers winter hat. We did not acknowledge each other, despite me having attended her practices dressed in a Hartford Whaler away jersey.  Should I have said: "Good game, coach!"? Having actually never had a coach aside from my high school public speaking coach (and I just called him Mr. Donahue), I still think it's a pretty big deal to call somebody "coach." I used to get a big kick calling the legendary one-eyed coach for the Lake Forest College Foresters men's hockey team "coach." In the 90's, I did a bunch of skating at Lake Forest College during open skate and I'd see him every now and then kicking the bleachers or looking for lost puck.  "S'up, coach!" I'd say even though he did not know me from Sam.  

As part of my duty, I accompanied most of the team to Jordan's Big 10 Pub for lunch.  I ate a veggie burger slathered with mayo, ketchup, and mustard.  It was much better than the veggie burger I had last night at Ale Asylum.  But it still only rated a 52 out of 100.  At the pub, Young Jet drew up this play:

It's called "TWO-TWO-NO-EAT-CHICKEN-STRIPS."  It describes a gleeful yet suffocating penalty kill (with the goalie pulled).  The Bearcat clandestinely wolfed down the chicken strips.

I forwent the afternoon game.  Instead, I attended the Madison Scrabble Club at the Eastside HyVee, where I went 2 for 4.  During my last game, I played the improbable word KURTOSIS.  Perhaps even more improbably, my opponent knew what KURTOSIS meant.

 
While I was playing Scrabble and eating cake, the Lightning went on to shutout the Thunder to start the season 2-0.

Judging from what I observed in the first game, I'd say the Lightning seemed cohesive and the defense looked sound.  Credit the latter to the return of Super Snutch and the team's new addition, Michael Jordan.  Or give credit to the new coach?  Or to the fact that the Lightning are now playing in an "easier" league.

Game Puck #1 goes to Hlin.  Game Puck #2 goes to The Murmuring Wall. Next game is 11/10, also at the Shell versus the despised Brew City Blue.