Olympic Gameday: Come Back Ziggy
by RudyKelly on Feb 20, 2010 9:04 AM PST
99 comments
Today's Games:
Brave Norway vs. Switzerland, 12 PM (MSNBC)
Latvia vs. Slovakia 4:35 PM (MSNBC)
Germany vs. Belarus, 9 PM (MSNBC)
Wrong Ziggy, but still: awww.
These Olympics have been great for a few reasons: not only did I get to reignite my quadannual love affair with curling (the only other time I get to yell, "Sweep, you fucker!" is at my parent's house and my mom doesn't appreciate it), not only did that one French chick fall right out of the gate and into my heart, but I got to see Ziggy Palffy again! Ziggy, as you know, was the franchise for the Kings back at the turn of the millennium and is to this day the leading scorer at the Staples Center. (Thanks, random season ticket stub!) He left the Kings after the lockout and played half a season for the Penguins before saying, "Fuck Pittsburgh" and retiring. Since then, he's been playing in his native Slovakia and making household names out of guys like Juraj Mikus. That was the last we heard of Ziggy until just the other day, when we saw him skating with his signature stride and we squealed with glee. Then your roommate called you a girl, if you're anything like me.
(True story: a buddy of mine went to pick-up at HealthSouth during the lockout and Ziggy was there, just skating around as one of the guys. He said that during one shift Ziggy skated to the red line and then unleashed a snap shot that hit the crux of the cross bar and right post and went in. Then he signed shit for everyone before he left.)
The best part is that Ziggy still looks pretty good. Skating on a line with Marian Gaborik and his good friend Josef Stumpel (yea!), Ziggy still has the speed and shot that made him a star in the NHL. He still moves his feet at an absurd rate and he still has my heart. I think he could still do pretty well in the NHL. Plus, he could mentor the impish prospects like Oscar Moller and Andrei Loktionov. Imagine Ziggy on a line with Kopitar, or skating with Frolov and Handzus. Yeah, he could skate with Frolov and Handzus and then they could all come over to my house and we'll play Mario Party and laugh at Zeus when he can't alternate between A and B because he's a spaz! Yeah, and then I'll never be alone and everyone will like me and I won't wake up with a wet bed ever again!
Sorry, got carried away.
But still, I honestly think Lombardi should give it a shot. Ziggy probably doesn't want to leave his native country where I'm sure he's a celebrity and national hero to come back to America, but there's no harm in asking. If he were to come back it'd probably be with the Kings. I mean, it worked for the Ducks and Teemu, why not Ziggy? Pick up the phone, Dean, and get Ziggy back into our lives.
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Fun fact: One of my closest friends is a gigantic Ziggy Palffy fan. He even had an Islanders #16 t-shirt that he wore to death in college. In 2000, we road-tripped to LA to see a Kings/Coyotes game — he wore his Ziggy stuff and I wore my Roenick stuff.
So yeah, you’ve got at least one guy on your side there.
You don’t need Ziggy when you have Cheechoo coming your way. :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 20, 2010 9:55 AM PST reply actions
damn … still need to work on how to be funny I guess … :)
/still think it’s funny tho
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 20, 2010 3:12 PM PST up reply actions
When I lived in Bratislava a couple of years ago, I got to see Ziggy play for his hometown team, HK 36 Skalica. It was beautiful. He was (and probably remains) the class of the Slovak Extraliga, clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the league.
It was also awesome because it was the first time he played in Bratislava since coming out of retirement, and even though he wasn’t playing for the road team, everyone gave him a huge ovation.
I’d love to see Ziggy come back and add a little extra dynamism and scoring (he’s shown already in this tournament that he still has the talent to compete against NHLers), but it’s also my sense from reading the Slovak press (admittedly, this is the same group of “journalists” who quoted Lubo calling Crawford a Commie a few summers ago) that Ziggy probably would be retired if not for the fact that he’s playing for his hometown team.
But a guy can dream.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 11:00 AM PST reply actions
Rec'd
After seeing him play throughout the tournament, I admit I’ve had thoughts and wishes of seeing Ziggy play again for the Kings.
I bought a Palffy jersey in 2002 then seeing the injuries catch up to him the following season then to sign elsewhere and then retire well… I don’t hold it against him or anything.
Go Ziggy! Hope to see him put on a Kings jersey just one more time
You know, the way they keep overlapping curling results with hockey starts, I’ve seen Team USA curling blow lots of games late — maybe this will be another one.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
vikingstad is pretty badass name… 1-1
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
Don’t count them out yet — 3-3!
On paper, this is the game of the tournament so far.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Saying that, I’ve been extremely half-watching today’s game, mostly just looking up at the goals.
Now I’ll really have to pay attention to this third period.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
not one tv here. and after the ski jumping today i just wanna go to cry…
was it vikingstad again?
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
Indeed it was — puck was passed to him from behind the net, and he roofed it from in close.
What happened in ski jumping? Tragedy?
http://www.battleofcali.com/
first our best jumper managed to fall his rehearsal jump. he did jump in the first round but it looked quite painful and he didn’t jump in the second round.
we had other jumper 3rd after first round. he was like 24th or so in final standings.
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
we had other jumper 3rd after first round. he was like 24th or so in final standings.
Sounds like the postlockout story of the Edmonton Oilers.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
at least we’re not alone in the failing boat…
this game really is quite entertaining
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
It is really entertaining — I’m hoping somehow Luca Sbisa can win it, but whoever the hero is, it’ll be great.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I kinda like Norway… they try so hard
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
oh la la… norwegian feed for the game. puts my swedish to some serious test
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
Ooh, can’t stop that Swiss patience.
Poor, poor goalie. 4-3 Neutralites.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
“Clink!” — a slow puck gets behind Hiller and hits iron.
I suspect Jonas may be drunk today.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
he definitely will be after this game…
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
the norwagian hobbit is rather good
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
Overtime!
That’s great — not only do they both get a standings point, but that means the winner has some immediate finality to it. Somebody’s going to be a fucking hero soon.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
the SO could be really entertaining
I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.
Hobbit and the Viking try to end it immediately, but Hiller’s up to that task, at least.
Good start, entertainment-wise.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
WOW. That’s some follow-up effort.
Great ending for the Swiss. And yup, heroic as fuck.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Since then, he’s been playing in his native Slovakia and making household names out of guys like Juraj Mikus.
Lebron James, Peyton Manning and Juraj Mikus.
(I’m guessing you probably meant a household name in Slovakia)
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
Aw, nothing cheers me up like an assistant coach pinching Lubo’s cheeks in celebration.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I cracked up. I bet Rudy shed a tear. I can only hope the coach was muttering, “Cookies for Lubo” in Slovak.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 4:51 PM PST up reply actions
And the best part was how much Lubo enjoyed it — he was beaming.
Good Lubo!
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Of course Lubo was beaming. It beats the hell out of playing in Edmonton this year. And he’s probably always happy whenever his coach isn’t a Commie.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 4:57 PM PST up reply actions
fucking hilarious, that made me laugh out loud
I'm nobody's fool, least of all yours
by BoulderDodger on Feb 20, 2010 11:53 PM PST up reply actions
I feel like I’ve gone back in time ten years watching Palffy set up Stumpel.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:05 PM PST up reply actions
They really should have found a way to pump “I Love L.A.” after that goal. :)
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Is it unfair to make a “hey, remember when Pavol Demitra used to play in the NHL … oh wait” joke?
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
by jamestobrien on Feb 20, 2010 5:16 PM PST up reply actions
You should start a campaign to bring him back to the NHL, sorta like Rudy here with Palffy.
I’d laugh.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Maybe instead we should start a campaign to bring Lubo back to the NHL.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:23 PM PST up reply actions
Not bad for a guy who plays in Kazakhstan.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:26 PM PST up reply actions
ouch … 4-zip now
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 20, 2010 5:25 PM PST reply actions
Hey, an actual current King contributes for a change!
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:27 PM PST reply actions
I much prefer closer games than these all out beatings … it’s like seeing a teenager beat up a toddler
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 20, 2010 5:28 PM PST up reply actions
Disagree. As a diehard Kings fan and a huge Slovakia supporter, I love seeing these video game scores. I can’t get enough of it.
Though I’ll get back to you in 20 minutes if it continues.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:29 PM PST up reply actions
Legitimate perspective.
Still, the earlier game was quite the thriller — I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed it.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
I got back in the third period expecting to see the Swiss dominating and was floored to see a 3-3 game. The Norwegians seem to have really put up a spirited fight. I’ve wondered what the Norwegian goalie could do with a real defense in front of him. He kept that game with Canada respectable until he had to come out with cramps.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:35 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, and the Olympics does provide a nice distraction from the stresses of the NHL season. I can watch the games with a bit more light-heartedness.
For instance, I’ve found it’s nice to watch Hiller give up a shitty goal and know it’s not going to ruin my day. :)
http://www.battleofcali.com/
ha ha!! there is that huh?
tho do have to agree … love watching this and not stressing .. granted our stress is different than yours right now, but still. I can just enjoy hockey for what it is. :)
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 20, 2010 5:42 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, Slovaks are sort of in an awkward spot — they may not fully belong at the grown-ups’ table, but they can certainly kick the shit out of the kiddie table folk.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
They’re definitely closing the gap between them and the “big six.” Pending the results of this tournament, we might start speaking of a “big seven.” There’s a clear separation between Slovakia and the teams below them, except maybe the Swiss, who seem like the clear eighth-best team.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:32 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah, it’s tough to gauge on small sample sets thus far. I’d be interested to see them go against a Sweden or Finland, though — those teams are looking like machines.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
Of course, my dreams of a Slovak gold died a little right before the tournament started when I realized they have Marian Hossa on their team. That’s the kiss of death for a team with championship aspirations, no?
Then I realized that with the Hawks Cup contenders this year, we have the potential for an impressive trifecta of Hossa losing three consecutive Finals with three different teams.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 5:38 PM PST up reply actions
It was like Slovakia decided to stop trying to score after going up 5-0, then got to the last ten minutes or so and decided, “Nah, let’s see if we can pot another one.”
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 6:42 PM PST up reply actions
Quite gentlemanly of them — that’s right at my limit.
Win by six, that’s allowable, but once you’re winning by seven — that’s more goal differential than you’re going to need.
http://www.battleofcali.com/
True. Though if it happened that Canada loses in regulation tomorrow night, they’d be tied in points at 5 with Canada, and it would go to goal differential, with Slovakia at +5 and Canada currently at +9. At that point, the Slovaks would be sorry they hadn’t tried to make it 11-0 or more.
But, I think it’s probably academic, and I did get the sense that the Slovaks were trying not to embarrass the Latvians needlessly.
by Alexander Dubcek on Feb 20, 2010 6:46 PM PST up reply actions
damn … and they tied it on Greiss
Ever get the feeling we are on a collision course with reality?
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" -- Benjamin Franklin
by ang6666 on Feb 20, 2010 9:22 PM PST reply actions
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