One Last Blast

This time of year is one of the most exciting, yet at the same time, one of the hardest to take. On one hand, I am pysched that baseball and the Braves are back...and what a HELL of an Opening Night for the Braves Sunday night. I don't need to tell you what happened Sunday night, we all saw the domination of Lowe. But at the same time, just thinking about the fact, by the end of Saturday night hockey is over for about 6 months....well, Thrashers hockey anyway. Of course I'll be watching the Stanley Cup Playoff...but it's just not the same when your not at Philips Arena.

Perhaps, despite the fact it drives people crazy and gets people sick, that this one last (hopefully) blast of winter-like weather is fitting for one last week of Thrashers hockey. Maybe it's a sign that we'll be playing like this come next season when it starts to get this cold again. One last blast of winter, one last blast of Thrashers hockey.

I still wonder how I manage to survive all that time without being at Philips Arena, without being at Thrashers games. Of course the Braves help to fill the gap, and as much as I love baseball and the Braves, and even though I rememer 1991 like it was yesterday and I have a million Braves memories, it's still just doesn't fill that void that hockey does. But there's always the excitement of what goes on with the team during the offseason, the potential changes, the ownership court battle news, there's always something to talk about. Sure, the boards tend to get pretty...well...deserted during the offseason, but there always the few, core group of folks that are always on the boards no matter what time of year it is. And of course there is the countdown to next season, to Opening Night...that first game...after being away from the ice for about 6 months, there is nothing quite like seeing the ice for the first time again it all it's cold, pristine white glory.

So what do I want to see next season? I want to see Kovy signed, sealed and staying. I want to see another banner in the rafters of Philips Arena. I want us to win a playoff game....winning a series would be sick, but this IS the Thrashers we are talking about...baby steps here. Let's win a playoff game...and then talk about moving further along. Sure, I've had hockey nerd dreams of a ticker-tape Stanley Cup Parade down Peachtree and a huge celebration in Centennial Olympic Park, but what Thrashers fan hasn't? But let's get real...let's just start by making the playoffs...and winning a game. Just one single game...and then maybe let's see where we can go from there.

On a totally random note, I'd really like to see some upgrades to Philips. Don't get me wrong, I love the place as it is. But let's face it...the place hasn't changed since the doors opened back in 1999. The same old, way out of date big screens sit on that wall...they are faded out, gross and no one cares to look at them. It is PHILIPS Arena, so I'd like to think that PHILIPS would want to showcase their latest and greatest technology...but they don't really seem to want to do that. They should be at least changed out to HD flat screens.

Look at the Lightning's, Flyers and of course Canadien's video scoreboards. Sweet. Ours...same old thing since 99. Now, don't get me wrong, there is a lot worse out there, and it's still a great video scoreboard, but cmon....everything is HD now...it's about time for a serious upgrade. Look what they did down at The Ted...World's biggest HD screen...not saying we should try to out do the Canadien's video board...ok, well, why not. World's biggest HD in-arena video scoreboard doesn't sound like too bad of a way to draw in the casual fan. Just a thought. Imagine the replays...in huge, vidid HD ...fans in HD...man. That would be sweet.

Bring back the STH early entrance. It doesn't have to be a full 30 min...maybe even 15....I loved it when they did it in the past and I think even just a few minutes its a great compromise....even if Hawks fans never take advatange of it, I know a lot of Thrashers fans did; I'd love to see it back...not not a necessity by any means.

Well, it's getting late, I know there is more I have on my mind, but it'll have to wait for the next post...I can't keep my eyes open any longer.

Can't wait to get to Philips Arena Tuesday night!