Even the Iraqis Know the Deal.

NDSU SUCKS
Check this picture out.
This was sent to me from a buddy. I have no idea where he got the picture from but I like it. Personally I miss the UND Vs. NDSU rivarly, it has been too quite around here since we stopped playing the boys to the south. I am hoping that UND goes division IAA so we can start beating the Dirty Bison again.
Never forget you can't spell suck with out SU

Goon's Rambling 9-28-2006.

These People Can't Be serious
CHN
Here are the College Hockey News picks for pre-season all American.
First Team. I have no issues with this First team. Duh Elliot is a shut down goalie and back stopped the Badgers to the NCAA title. Without Brian Elliot no way Wisconsin wins that tourney at least not with Shane Connelly in net.

First Team

F - Brian Boyle, Sr., Boston College
F - Scott Parse, Sr., Nebraska-Omaha
F - T.J. Oshie, So., North Dakota
D - Matt Hunwick, Sr., Michigan
D - Kyle Klubertanz, Jr., Wisconsin
G - Brian Elliott, Sr., Wisconsin

Second team.
F - Michel Leveille, Sr., Maine
F - T.J. Hensick, Sr., Michigan
F - Ryan Dingle, Jr., Denver
D - Alex Goligoski, Jr., Minnesota
D - Brett Motherwell, So., Boston College
G - Cory Schneider, Jr., Boston College
Players to watch according to CHN. F - Jonathan Toews, So., North Dakota - Oshie's passed him, slightly, but Toews remains a force to be reckoned with.
Are you kidding me?
What kind of crap is this? That has to be the understatement of the summer, if not the year. I guess the number three pick in the NHL draft this summer is worthy of being a pre-season All American, or not at least by CHN standards? What a joke. Are you serious? How is Toews not at least a second teamer? I suppose they don’t want to slight a more important B.C. or Michigan player the two teams are littered with them.
Lets Go Further
CHN has Cory Schneider listed at the second team All American. You can’t be serious, that is almost as funny as Al Montoya being one of the top American goalies in his age group, I don’t see any NHL teams beating his door down to sign him. I think it is a stretch to say that Schneider is the second best goalie in the NCAA. It’s obvious that CHN like INCH isn’t going to give UND any love so maybe we should just give up all hope on this site. Like I said these poll are nothing more than a beauty pageant or a popularity contest, they make good gee whiz reading. Its no secret that college hockey has an east coast biases, its well documented, they have for years even though its been proved that the WCHA is the strongest league in the NCAA right now. I figure CHN had to pick at least one of the two UND players so they picked Oshie. Not sure of the logic on this one. Or they close their eyes and threw a dart and the dart landed on Oshie.

Here is one of my responses
I posted this as a follow up to a message on Sioux Sports that was written by Farce PoohbahThe Link

I think you (Farce Poohbah)summed it up pretty well, even after being gone for a few days. I am sick and tired of fans expecting us to take this crap laying down. Notice its always from the people that were well represented In the polls. The Fighting Sioux are over looked year after year. Why. Because we aren't a gasp, a Big Ten team nor are we a big school. There seems to be this so called bias towards the bigger schools especially Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Minnesota and Boston College as well as an east coast bias.

Farce Poobah, I think you mentioned what a lot of us have been saying in this thread in one shape or another. However, some have taken issue with it. I guess one can’t call a spade a spade. Thanks for bringing up the numbers. For those of us that numbers savvy or good at math 14/81 is equal to 83%. Those are hardly All-American numbers. Nor are they very good at all. I think one can make the argument: Schneider is a good goalie (there is no question about it) but it has been proven that he fails to show up when it matters the most. Shall we say at key times like during the NCAA tourney? If he Corey do it in the big games how the heck is he ever going to play in the NHL? There are no Merrimac’s or Providence’s in the NHL.

Face it the Sioux have lit Schneider up in the past. Schneider was hardly sharp during last years semi final against UND (yep our goalie had a bad game too). Cory was also shredded for 6 goals by UND during the East regional in 2005. Or should we say when UND won the NCAA's version of the Bean Pot. Schneider lost big in his own back yard. Yep that makes me thing he is an All-American material. Of course not, but these things are decided long before they get to the playoffs. They base these numbers on regular season play. That is why I think some of these polls are a joke. I also think its funny when I see someone from Quinnipac or Mercy Hurst in the top ten of the NCAA scoring when they have been feasting on cup cakes all season. It just proves my theory that UND is definitely not Merrimack College, Vermont College, or University of Mass Lowell.

Back to the Pre-Season all-Big Ten poll. Michigan's name is all over the pre-season all Americans polls from CHN, So is Boston College. I am wondering if CHN and INCH know there are teams west of Minneapolis. What are Sioux fans to gleam out of last season's NCAA tourney; are the so-called self appointed geniuses telling us it had to be a fluke? The CCHA put four teams in the tourney last season, which in my opinion was too many, only to have one of them make it to the second round.

So in conclusion: UND has one all-American candidate and he is from the same team UND bounced Michigan out of the NCAA tourney last season. What are we to gleam from this poll that the last season was a fluke? I mean these are the same guys that were on the Michigan team last year in the poll this season. If last season proved anything it was nice to see Michigan out the safe confines of the state of Michigan, where they were one and done. I would like to see this happen more often.

Wake Me up When September Ends.

Wake me up when its over
It’s Upon Us.
Ah yes the August heat has come and gone, September is almost over and the yearly right of passage Ducktober is upon us. The golf clubs are ready to be put away for yet another season. I am not sure that is a bad thing, because God knows there can’t be many good shots left in them for the season. Actually it was a pretty good golf season as I played decent golf for most of the summer, to revisit an old cliché a bad day of golf is better than a good day at work. But I digress. A good day of golf doesn’t come close to a good day of hunting.
Dakota sporting a new hunting vest
The Waterfowl season opens in North Dakota for residents Saturday at first light. I think Green Day said it best “Summer has come and passed the innocent can never last wake me up when September ends.” With the beginning of Ducktober also comes college and NHL hockey season’s openers. It just doesn’t get any better than this. This is the time I year I look forward to the most. It’s just too bad October and November aren’t 6 months long.

In Case anyone is confused.

Goalie

In case anyone is confused let me refresh your memory.

Sieve

Former Sioux Hockey Player Tyler Palmiscino.

Palmo
This came in my email today. Check out Tyler's ugly uniform.

Goon’s Ramblings 09-12-2006.

Student Behavior at Sporting Events
There seems to be a reoccurring theme appearing on college campuses nationwide, as the college sports season kicks off. There is a big focus on college campuses by school administrations on what to do about student behavior, antics and cheers at college sporting events. The University of North Dakota is not at all immune from this issue. Last season the UND athletic director Tom Bunning held forums at Engelstad Arena before the hockey season to discuss on what is expected from its students body as far as student behavior, and what type of language that is acceptable and not acceptable while attending University of North Dakota sporting events. The issue has also been discussed in great lengths on Siouxsports.com as well. The debate has been fast and furious. Some students have claimed that their first amendment rights are being trampled upon by heavy handed college administrations. On the flip side of the issue some older fans are tired of hearing profanity laced cheers coming from the student sections at college sporting events.
BU to Clean Up Student Language at Sporting Events
So fast forward to the present, Boston University Administration is trying to clean up it’s student’s language at sporting events. Dean of students Kenneth Elmore told The Boston Globe the school adopted the no-swearing policy after numerous complaints about profane language during hockey games.
BU Administration to control students behavior I guess the BU administration is not happy about the F’em up BC sucks cheer.
BU Video

Drop the puck addresses the issue in his blog: Check out DTP's article on the issue.

Are Profanity Laced Cheers Protected Under the First Amendment?
One question seems to come up all the time. Are profanity laced cheers protected under the first amendment? Do students have the right to say what ever they want during sporting events. The answer is no. The United States Supreme Court ruled against the students in such a case.

In more recent Supreme Court cases (Bethel School District v. Fraser in 1986 and Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier in 1988), the majority ruled that in the case of obscene speech, school authorities may discipline the perpetrator because the school has a right to control the manner of the speech if not the political content. Furthermore, in Hazelwood, the Court ruled that in curricular-based productions like an official school newspaper, school authorities have the right to regulate content in "any reasonable manner," taking into account the maturity of the audience and the reasonable desire to proscribe any student speech advocating use of drugs or alcohol, irresponsible sex, or improper conduct. Thus, school officials are given considerable discretion over the content of school-sponsored publications and performances.

This isn’t an isolated issue, its happening all over the place. It’s also was an issue in Michigan few years back. Here is a link to the Albion student newspaper.
Another Example

A similar issue arose at Albion last year during the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) men’s basketball tournament. A group of Albion students chanted “F---Hope, F--- Calvin,” as fans from the two schools left Kresge Gymnasium after their semifinal game. Just like Williams, President Peter Mitchell addressed the crowd before the championship game against Hope a few days later, apologizing to the Hope crowd. Mitchell also sent an email to the entire student body, stating: “I expect the highest standard of conduct from our fans.”

Do fans have an unlimited right of speech, or is it an administration’s responsibility to limit what can and cannot be said?

Bruce Weaver, professor of speech communication, has taught a free speech class for the past 12 years and feels that free speech in general, let alone at sporting events, is never absolute.

“To assume that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want, is ridiculous,” Weaver said. “Keep in mind that free speech is speech in the public domain. If you are attending a public event, part of attending is to keep in mind that you will be held within some sort of behavioral norm

Stay tuned this issue will not go away and its only going to grow as football, hockey and basketball season begin around the nation.

Goon’s Perspective on Profanity at Sporting Events

I am not going to take the high road on this as say that all profanity is bad, but I would not condone using F’bombs in cheers at sporting events where children where hear it, and they have in the past at the REA. Minor profanity such as the S’bombs may have a place sporting events, but they just may just barely skirt the line of unacceptable behavior.

As you know I think the officiating in the WCHA is horrible and most of the officials in this league don’t deserve the paychecks they get for the officiating they do. I personally don’t object to the fans giving the refs like Don Adam the bullshit cheer when he screws up yet another game. I do however think cheers (linked up above) like the F’em up B.C. sucks cheer is a vile and vulgar, plus it has no place in a hockey arena. To the morons like Kendall Lyons that say their right are being trampled on by their school’s administration need to get a clue, obscenities are not protected under the first amendment Lastly students like Lyons need to grow up and join the adult world. Just because you are a college student doesn’t give you the right to act like a dolt. You also sound like an idiot when you say things like that. Your also bringing unneeded focus to your university.

The Goon's Pre-Season WCHA predictions.

Updated Version II

Projected Final League Standing
1. Minnesota
2. North Dakota
3. Denver
4. Wisconsin
5. Colorado College
6. Minnesota-Duluth
6. St. Cloud
8. Minnesota State
9. Michigan Tech
10. Alaska-Anchorage

Explaining The Goon’s Picks
These are the Goon's pre-season favorites for the WCHA. Here is my reasoning for picking the Golden Gophers for the number one position.

You might as well hand the Gophers the McNaughten Cup. Yes, I am very well aware of the fact that Kellen Briggs and Jeff Frazee are the goaltenders for the University of Minnesota, it’s obvious that these two mediocre goaltenders come no where near the level of all world goaltenders Brian Elliot and Bobby Goepfert, nor in my opinion are they as good as much maligned Sioux goal tender Phil Lamoureux. However, I digress. I still think the Gophers can be a number one team based on their offensive capabilities alone. Minnesota has many weapons at their disposal. This is not a team that you are going to want to take penalties against. If you take stupid penalties the Gophers are going to bury you.

Finally, Kyle Okposo and Erik Johnson are awesome, and much coveted hockey players, lets make no mistake about it. You would be kidding yourself if you thought otherwise. Even though it kills me I have to give Donny Lucia props for recruiting these guys. Okposo (nick name KO) and Johnson are world-class players. E.J. was wooed by St Louis to sign a pro contract and probably could have played for the Blues in the NHL this season. In fact I am sure there were many of us were hoping this was going to be the case, I know I was. Of course it didn’t happen and now the rest of the league is going to fear his wrath. The hockey pundits on NHL Home Ice said he would never play for the University of Minnesota.

Lastly, Erik Johnson is a freak of nature (that is a good thing) a man among boys and will be crushing opposition players as they approach the University of Minnesota Net. WCHA fans will be cheering his departure after this season, I know I will be for sure. Eric Johnson has been referred to as the next Chris Pronger. So no doubt these guys are great players. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that we will probably be seeing these two guys in the NHL very soon, if not next season.

Kessel Factor
Due to the fact that UND fans have been said to have Kessel obsession, much like the Gophers fans had Parise obsession a few years back. I can’t close this article out without at least talking about Phil the thrill for just a little bit. There has been much debate whether or not Phil Kessel was a cancer in the Gopher locker room, I am thinking he might have been., Who cares right? I have had an unnamed source tell me that in fact Phil was a disruptive force in the locker room last season. Now that Kessel has left the Golden Gophers we can all move on. I think the Gophers are actually are a better team without Phil. I am also glad that the Boston Bruins will now get better with Phil the Thrill in the line up, Yes I am a rabid Bruins fan, its pretty well documented.

Now that the B’s have signed Phil Kessel to a professional contract, Phil Kessel is being projected by many in the print media as a potential second line forward for the Boston Bruins. Seriously I think they are right. In my opinion Kessel has all the tools to be a top players and I think he would really look good next to Marc Savage and Glen Murray. Talk about a line that could scoot. I can only dream of the number of goals this potential line could score this season. Should we say I am thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of about 120 goals on that line. Don’t worry about Phil Kessel being a cancer or not being very media savvy, the Bruins management will get him on the right track. Let hope Phil Kessel says all of the right things. If he does not the Boston Media will eat him alive. This preseason Kessel will be wearing number 81. I wonder if they will be a big seller in Minneapolis.

The Huskies
Listen Up Huskie fan. Contrary to some of your fans: Your SCSU Huskies will not finish in the top three in the WCHA standing., You can mark it down some where. Lets give credit where credit is due, your incoming recruiting class looks awesome, there is no doubt about it. However, the WCHA is an upper classmen league and frankly your cupboard is bare. The SCSU Huskies are still two years away from making noise in this league. Bob Motzko is a great coach but there still isn’t enough talent on this team to make a run at the top spot. I think there is a chance your makes the playoffs I think the WCHA can put 5-6 teams in the big dance this season.

Hammy from the Gopher Hockey Blog Sums it up Best
Hammy's Blog

I think you tend to play the underdog/no respect card way too much. First of all, it really doesn't matter what people on this board say in terms of giving respect or where they rate your team. The people on this board don't suit up against SCSU so the lack of respect card that you use in referring to how people on here rate them is way overplayed. (btw, my early (and worthless) prognostication has them at #3)

Second, I think SCSU earned enough respect last year that teams won't take them lightly this year. SCSU may not have as high a talent level as half of the teams in the league but teams know SCSU has a good goalie that can keep them in games (and a solid defense returning) so SCSU opponents are unlikely to take a lackluster attitude against them. SCSU had somewhat of a luxury last year of being taken more lightly and flying under the radar for much of the year because of their multi year slump under Dahl. But I highly doubt that is going to happen this year. You seem to gloss over the fact that the competition is probably going to ratchet it up a notch too because they know SCSU won't be a pushover.

The other factor I would point out is your overly simplistic commentary on "chemistry". Team chemistry is not a given just because you had it the prior year. Every team has changed and even the teams with the fewest changes have to deal with new personalities, players shifting to new roles, guys having to face higher expectations, etc.

If chemistry was simply about returning key guys who played well together as a team the prior year, the Gophers would have won three titles in a row by default.... and the team that beat them in the NCAAs that year (UMD) wouldn't have flopped the next year. Both of those teams had a lot of returning talent that played well together the prior season. There are plenty of historical examples where teams simply don't pull together as well as they did the year prior even if the vast majority of the team stays the same. You seem to take it as a given. But it isn't.

Every team in the league is trying to build a new team chemistry over the summer and in captain's practices. It is something that is built again. It isn't something you save up from the past year and plug in as if it is simply a given to be there like the previous year.

In Conclusion
SCSU will not finish in the Top three like some are predicting, however, they will make some noise. Frankly, SCSU does not have the talent that Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Denver or Duluth have.

Goon's Ramblings 09-02-06: Mark Dobmeier on a role

Mark Dobmeier
Local sprint car driver Mark Dobmeier has been on a roll all season. During the 2006 season Mark has won an unprecedented 19 feature races. That is good on any racing circuit. With picking up the win this past Sunday night at Husets Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota, Dobmeier now has 8 features during his career at the famed Huset’s speedway. Husets Speedway is known as one of the top dirt tracks in North America. With the win on Sunday night that puts Mark Dobmeier 2 wins ahead of current Huset’s point leader Jake Peters who has won 6 times during his career at Husets Speedway.

River Cities Speedway

Mark Dobmeier on Winning 19 races this season:

“Going into the year, our goal was to beat what we did last year. We won 14 features last season. We're sitting at 19 now and we have two chances to get 20.”

I guess we can say mission accomplished. Goon’s World predicts win 20 will come on Friday night at River Cities Speedway. Here is what the Argus Leader had to say on Dobmeier’s win Sunday night.
Argus Leader Story

BRANDON - Mark Dobmeier kept his title hopes alive with a dominating win in the outlaw sprint car feature Sunday night at Huset's Speedway.

The Grand Forks, N.D., driver entered the evening's action nine points back of leader Jake Peters of Sioux Falls, and his win unofficially kept him the same distance behind at the end of the night.

"We've had some bad luck lately, but that's all behind us now and we're moving forward," said a hopeful Dobmeier. "We're just going to do our best next week."Dobmeier started on the front row of the 25-lap event and was never challenged during the race. Dusty Zomer of Brandon moved to second early in the event but was unable to pressure Dobmeier and finished second. Peters moved through the field to take third ahead of Gary DeWall of Jackson, Minn., John Lambertz of Sioux Falls, Gregg Bakker of Sioux Falls and Micah Schliemann of Baltic.

Goon's Ramblings 9-02-06.

Minnesota is Being Invaded
While Camping at Itasca State Park this past June I saw a camper parked in the camp ground that caught my eye. Of course my evil and demented mind thought of many things. Here is my conclusion. Minnesota is being invaded. Look closer the liscense plate is from Florida. Does that make them a Red Neck Badger?

The New Fighting Sue

The New Fighting Sue
I purchased this shirt on line. These shirts are from a Sioux fan that is also a little tweaked, miffed, flabbergasted and pissed off at the NCAA Nazis and their ridiculous stand against the Fighting Sioux name. I think UND should wear the Fighting Sue logo to the NCAA hockey playoffs next spring. I would love to see Miles Brand’s response to that.

Here is the problem, while it would be ok to wear a Central Michigan University Chippewa jersey or for the Florida State University Seminole's Mascot (a white guy) to ride a horse into the Alerus Center and throw a flaming spear into the turf at mid field. The NCAA has also deemed that the Fighting Sioux logo not welcome at NCAA playoff events. Where is the logic? That’s liberal education to the nth degree. Back to the shirt my wife hates this shirt, I guess she doesn’t see the humor in it. Also, for the other blogger’s out there, I suppose that this article could be construed as objectionable, I am sure it will offend someone. Personally I hope it does. Objectionable-I am offended by the NCAA stand on the Fighting Sioux name.
Web Link To Fighting Sue Web Page
Shirt