Why So Serious?

With the Academy Awards coming up, there's alot of buzz surrounding the late Heath Ledger's portrayal as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Many believe that he should be nominated and win for Best Supporting Actor. And it looks like you can count Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen amongst those who think Ledger should win the Oscar.

That's because in practice Lehtonen has been showing off a brand new mask with a picture of Ledger as The Joker on the side, as seen above.

This isn't the first time that Lehtonen has put something pop culture related/nerdy on his mask. Previous themes included Transformers, Final Fantasy X, and Kill Bill.

I'm sure this will definitely sway Academy voters to vote for Ledger. Here's how I imagine that discussion might go.

Voter #1: I'm really not too sure about voting for Heath Ledger as The Joker. I think there are some other pretty good performances that are deserving too.
Voter #2: Yeah but Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers thinks he should win.
Voter #1: Well then! Give that man the Oscar!
Voter #2: Give it to his family or whomever is accepting it for him you mean.
Voter #1: Oh yeah...
*Awkward, sad silence*

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Crosby Nails Guy In The Cubes; Nobody Cares?

Sidney Crosby is the NHL's golden boy. That's a statement that shouldn't surprise anybody. And because of this, and because the NHL has sunk tons of marketing dollars into Sid he gets away with a lot.

That apparently includes punching an opposing player in the groin repeatedly from behind. You read that right.

During last Thursday's game between the Penguins and the Thrashers, Crosby proceeded to sucker punch Thrashers d-man Boris Valabik in the head and then in the groin while he was down on the ice. I kid you not. (Video is down below for proof)

Why this story hasn't been covered more, or why Crosby hasn't been suspended or fined is a mystery. Or technically conspiracy is the right word. I just hate to throw around conspiracy theories too much for fear of sounding like a hillbilly from down south who believes everything is a conspiracy.

But conspiracy seems about right this time around. If any other player did this, every single media outlet, hockey analyst, or talk radio host be outraged. So far the only people covering this have been sports blogs Deadspin and Puck Daddy.

Also, no word from the offices of Gary Bettman about this incident. Even though it happened almost a week ago. By comparison, as soon as the words "sloppy seconds" slipped out of Sean Avery's mouth, Bettman had Avery suspended indefinitely.

Puck Daddy made a great point when they wrote about this. If it was the other way around, if Valabik sucker punched Crosby in the family jewels, he wouldn't see any action for a long time. And because Valabik is such a huge dude weighing in at 6'7", 240 pounds, Crosby wouldn't be seeing any action of a different sort for a very long time. If you follow what I'm saying...

I guess the lesson from this for all you kids out there is that it doesn't matter how you act or what terrible things you do. As long as you're really good at something you will be let off the hook. Get good grades in gym class? Go out and punch some math nerds in the crotch during the reccess. If the principal gets all up in your business, just tell him that the NHL said it was okay.

Blockbuster Trade In The Works?

Now I don't claim to be a hockey insider with multiple inside sources. I'm just a handsome, witty, hockey fan/secret agent who writes things on the internet. But I just came accross this rumour of a big trade in the works which seems to be pretty legit. Though if it isn't, don't come to me complaining. Because I will tell you to talk to the hand like it's 1998.

According to the Toronto Sun, the Minnesota Wild and Atlanta Thrashers are discussing a deal that would swap stars Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Gaborik. I'll give you a second to recover from your mind being blown.

The Sun goes on to say there's a belief the sides have been talking about sending Gaborik and Kim Johnsson to the Thrahsers in exchange for Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong. It's believed Waddell was in L.A. last week to see the Wild play the Kings and Ducks and scout Gaborik and Johnsson.

But here's the kicker in this all. In the article The Sun actually says "Denials will come from Thrashers GM Don Waddell and Wild counterpart Doug Risebrough (they always do)" Way to cover your asses guys.

That way down the road if this trade doesn't happen, the news rag can say, 'Well we also said that the GM's denied it so therefore we weren't saying it would happen for sure.' All things you learn in Media B.S. 101. Taught at MBSU (That stands for Media B.S. University for those of you who weren't aware.) And after doing a quick Google search, it is also short for the McGill Biology Student Union. Sorry to drag you guys into this.

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Meet The Blue Crew

I just came across this video of auditions for the Atlanta Thrashers' Blue Crew. For those of you who don't know what the Blue Crew is, neither do I.

After watching the video, my guess is that the Blue Crew consist of aspiring models who weren't good enough to have a career in modelling, who now clean up the ice surface at Thrashers games during stoppages.

The video is pretty good and you should check it out. It has everything. Hot girls skating, hot girls working out, hot girls giving each other evil glances while fighting over me. Maybe I'm just imagining that last one. But you must admit, the first two are pretty good.

Morning After Meltdown: Atlanta Thrashers

On Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Atlanta Thrashers got thrashed (Yay for cheesy puns) 7-0.

It was ugly. We're talking Sarah Palin trying to get through an interview ugly.

“We weren’t ready, and from the start we didn’t have the effort we wanted,” Atlanta forward Colby Armstrong said. “There was a couple of good bounces for them, but at the same time the game was there for us. After they got up a few, we just kind of folded the tent.”

Hey Colby, I've got news for you. "A couple of good bounces" is when a team wins a close one and just edges you out by a goal or two. Instead, the Flyers blew you guys out 7-0 and made you look like fools.

To make matters worse, Thrashers net minder Kari Lehtonen was left in net for all seven goals. That's embarrassing. Also, promising Atlanta d-man and the third overall pick in this year’s draft Zach Bogosian didn’t return after Philly's Darroll Plowe slammed him into the boards midway through the second.

So for calling this one in and getting blown out 7-0, the lowly Atlanta Thrashers are awarded the Morning After Meltdown.

Worst...Sweater...Ever!

The Atlanta Thrashers are getting in on the whole third jersey craze and I think I speak for all of us when I say I wish they didn't.

Where do I start?

The Baltimore Ravens like logo on the shoulders, the Pirates of the Caribbean inspired word mark, the white elbow patches, the NBA team numbers on the front, the striped third world country soccer team socks? What an assault on the eyes!

You know what's the most disturbing part? That the Thrashers probably spent millions of dollar on designers and focus groups on these and somebody thought they were a good idea! Seriously whatever those people are on, I want some.

Now here's the good news. The Thrashers released a schedule of when they will wear these monstrosities. Take a look so that you can make other plans those nights. If you do tune in, I think that there should be a viewer advisory warning before those games come on TV advising people that these sweaters are not for those with a weak stomach. I know they tested my gag reflex.

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