Happy Hallowe'en!

I'm busy watching the Cowboys try and win without Tony Romo... enjoy the pics and the videos in the meantime.

Happy Halloween - NHL Style

I could go the route of posting some of the greatest, bloodiest fights. But that's been done. (not that I didn't enjoy the fours hours on YouTube watching them... again...)
But instead, I'll go the educational route.
Go back. Go waaay back... to Halloween 1972. The place, Philadelphia. The Flyers wanted to play a joke on their rather portly starting goalie, Doug Favell. They took his plain, white mask, that was like the mask worn by every other goalie in all of hockey, and painted it bright orange. Like, you guessed it, a pumpkin.
You can imagine the joking and the remarks by his teammates.
This was the very first time that a goalie had a painted mask other than plain white. Doug, the good natured fella that he is, decided to stick with it... with a minor modification. No more pumpkin.

After that, other goalies followed suit. Doug was later traded along with a 1st round pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Bernie Parent and Larry Goodenough.

The mask needed modifying for his new team colours. And new country.

To end his career, Doug finished out with the Colorado Rockies, and a season with the brand new expansion Edmonton Oilers.

With all of the mask art we see today, a cultural icon of sports, all of it started with a Halloween prank in 1972.

Thanks for being a sport Doug!

Happy Hallowe'en!

It's Hallowe'en!!! And what better way to spend it that finding a trick or treat in the mailbox?
Our good friend Dave over at Indians baseball cards. Always. offered to send out tricks or treats to those who asked. Hey! Free cards! I'm in.
I received this little beauty today. I was secretly hoping for the evil clown in the bottom row,(you all know how I feel about clowns... I love me some clown) but who can argue with the simplicity of the pumpkin?
What did I find inside???

5 Ryan Klesko cards. I loved that guy. You always knew two things when he played.

One, he was giving 120% on every play.

Two, he was never gonna get "caught looking" at the plate.

6 Jeff Blauser cards. One of my favourite Braves from back in the day. He had an autographed picture hung in his locker during his playing days. It was personalized; "Blaus, you're the best! Your pal, Jeff"

Yes. That's right. It was a picture of himself.

7 Javy Lopez

9 Crime Dog

7 Andruw Jones

2 Chipper

1 Dale Murphy - Why the hell is this man not in the Hall of Fame???? Tell me. Anyone.

Bueller?

1 Hammerin' Hank

1 Bob Horner 1987 mini, glossy, league leader something or other that I haven't figured out yet...

and 119 more wonderful Braves that I don't have the bandwidth to scan, but are nonetheless remarable in their own way. It was an absolute blast going through and remembering guys who I haven't seen in a long time. Old favourites, and guys who were there only long enough to have their picture taken.

Thanks Dave!!!