Happy Blog Birthday! Battle of California starts its senior year.
by Earl Sleek on May 9, 2010 9:00 AM PDT
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This was a hasty effort -- I'll do a proper blog-birthday cartoon for the sidebar later.
Woo hoo! Blog birthday! Sorry, Mr. Lincoln, but I'm in a speech-stealing mood today:
Fourscore and sevenyears ago, our blogfather brought forth on this internet a new hockey blog, conceived in imitation, and dedicated to the proposition that all NHL rivalries are created equal, regardless of time zone.
Now we are engaged in an era of old-vs-new media, testing whether this website, or any blog so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are hockey fans from a non-hockey state met on a common blog of this vast internet. We have come to dedicate a portion of this cyberspace as a tribute for Kings, Sharks, and Ducks who gave portions of their playing careers that this rivalry might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate…we cannot consecrate…we cannot hallow…this site. The brave players, current and former, who skated here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we write here, but it can never forget the rivalry they built here.
It is for us, the BoC fans, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which traditional sports journalism thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…that from this great rivalry we take increased devotion to that cause for which the players gave their last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these franchises shall not have hated each other in vain; that this blog, under SBNation, shall have a new birth of silliness and cynicism; and that idiocy of the fans, by the fans, for the fans, shall not perish from the internet.
So say we all.
Yes, four years to the day after James Mirtle started this mock-Battle-of-Alberta knockoff, we somehow haven't had our internet privileges revoked just yet. A tremendous thanks to everyone who has written for this website -- Rudy, Chen, PJ, Meg, Cheechew, O'Brien, and even occasionally Mirtle himself. And of course a special thanks to the readers, commenters, and fellow bloggers -- this really wouldn't work without your voices in the mix. Thanks to SB Nation for continuing to support us -- the community-based platform works really well. And heck -- thanks to old-school journalists, too; I'm glad I'm not responsible for breaking any news.
It's the start of BoC's senior year -- let the slacking begin!
Oh yeah, and go Mom.
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Congrats!!
My boys hate when I do the trip down memory lane with them … but I remember when I first found BoC … it was so intimidating back then … don’t ask me why, you guys seemed to know each other and clearly know way more bout hockey than I do … but it was a great source (who knew?) for to learn something (okay what I’ve learned from BoC isn’t always hockey related) …
you guys are awesome and I appreciate all the time and effort you put into this site. Thank you! :)
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
don’t ask me why, you guys seemed to know each other and clearly know way more bout hockey than I do …
Yeah, it’s all a cleverly-designed sham — we BoC writers barely know each other and I was raised on NHL94. Intimidation, begone! :)
"Ridin’ The Meat Train & Dreaming of Jack’s Johnson All Summer Long!"
http://www.battleofcali.com/
we BoC writers barely know each other
This is true. First time I met Earl we talked for like 3 hours. My buddy asked me, “So what’s his real name?” and I said, “Uh, like Tim, or Pete or some shit.” He asked, “What does he do?” I replied, “I don’t know, it didn’t come up.” He said, “What did you guys talk about the whole time?” “Hockey,” I replied.
The West Coast is the Best Coast.
Happy birthday, BoC! Stay rad!
and on the 93rd postseason of the National Hockey League, the Slovakian-hockeygod Zeus commanded from high atop Mount Figueroa..."RELEASE THE MEAT TRAIN!" And it was good.
by DodgerBlueBalls on May 9, 2010 10:10 AM PDT reply actions
It's been 4 years full of awesome!!!
Here’s to more years of awesome!!!
I'm warning you! I have ADHD and I know how to use it!!!
Happy Blogday!
Cheers, Complaints, homerism and bashing of mediocre pop musicians in 140 Characters
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding
by Kevin Sellathamby on May 9, 2010 11:11 AM PDT reply actions
<3 BoC
As much as I enjoy Mirtle, you guys are what really pulled me over to SBN and got me all signed up and stuff. And I know I wasn’t the only one.
Happy birthday, guys.
http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.
Good god
If you guys act this way now, what the hell will it be like when you guys get to your college years.
The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time
Wow — great shot, man. Almost looks like I should insert a banana peel somewhere in there.
"Ridin’ The Meat Train & Dreaming of Jack’s Johnson All Summer Long!"
http://www.battleofcali.com/
by Earl Sleek on May 9, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
This blog used to be way better back in the day. Starting around the beginning of April, it started to go downhill fast.
It’s all time-travel jokes and pictures of dogs now. I miss the olden days.
Congrats anyways, guys. I was a fan for years before I was a writer.
The curse shall be ended.
Battle of California
One of us isn’t making it to the next anniversary, friend. I will end you.
The curse shall be ended.
Battle of California
Happy Blog Birthday!
This is where we hold them! This is where we fight! This is where they die! Remember this day, men, for it will be yours for all time.
I’m far more of an FTF person, but happy birthday anyways.
by In Bust we Trust on May 9, 2010 10:46 PM PDT reply actions
Happy birthday BOC. Thanks again guys. This is seriously my favorite hockey website.
by JohnQPhats on May 10, 2010 8:13 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
HAPPY BURFDAY BOC!!!
I shall sacrifice 50 bulls to celebrate
2009-2010 Anaheim Ducks.."Hey at least its not crack!!"
"Happy Hour is the hour after everyone from Happy Hour has left"
From the awesome:Dos Equis Old guy...but most likely from some marketing person who never gets laid
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on May 11, 2010 5:37 AM PDT reply actions
How did I miss this? File this under “Signs that I’m getting old.” Congrats, guys. Great to be a (tiny) part of the madness.
When I'm not battling in California:
Cycle Like The Sedins
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| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
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51 | 29 | 16 | 6 | 64 |
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