personal

I am watching the NHL game between Anaheim Ducks and Detroit Red Wings. Rob Niedermayer together with Chris Pronger just hit Tomas Holmstrom together with their arms smashing his head against the board. Very low, very intentionally and very much disgraceful… (Robs brother Scott Niedermayer in the same manner crosschecked Peter “Foppa” Forsberg in the back into the board in the final in the 2004 World Championship.) Personally I hope this Niedermayer gets thrown out of the game for a long time. I certainly would like Chris Pronger to face the same faith. Intentionally blows/hits with the only intention of hurting a player should be “rewarded” with a permanent leave from the game. Ishockey is about playing, not hurting your oppponents.

Update: Tomas Holmstrom is back!
Update 2: Even better, now he assisted on another goal.

Today Linda Skugge decided to quit blogging. She got tired of all the negative and offensive comments. I decided to write a reflection on trolls.

… always get tougher when it is getting tough is the saying. I have thought about this recently and also saw “Remember the Titans” tonight. There are many great quotes in the film which I really think encapsulate leadership, team work and how to deal with “uphills”. The first one is very football oriented – “I don’t want them to gain another yard. You blitz all night!! If they cross the scrimmage… I’m gonna take every last one of you out! I want you to make sure… they remember… forever… the night the played the Titans?”. You stand your ground and never ever yield. So true, so true. You work as a team together always. One of the best reflections on leadership I’ve heard outside the forces is: “Attitude reflects leadership!”.

… should definitely read the New York Times’s article from today. A friend sent me an article about a puck crazy town in the northern parts of Sweden. I have only been there once, when I was driving back with my oldest brother eating burgers, but just being there for such a short while I too felt the hockey religion there. What about the burger? Yes that too was great.

For you who have missed it you can find the article here – A Puck-Crazy Town in Sweden Churns Out N.H.L. Stars.