An annoying loss tonight in OT to the Rangers, 3-2. I wanted TWO points, boys, not ONE. This is no way to run a railroad. It's like the last week of school when the teacher has the nerve to give a test, and nobody wants to PAY ATTENTION. Hey, you have WORK to do here still, before you can go on vacation. Sharpen your pencils and buckle down, dammit!

I'm guessing that Vladi and Natalia Malkin will be in Vancouver to see their boy play for РОССИЯ. I'm still having Big Taste Dilemmas over the whole hockey thing. Wanting Geno and Noodles to do well, but not wanting the Gra8pe to come away from Vancouver with anything but a souvenir lapel pin. Not wanting to root against Free Candy (oh go look it up, geez, do I have to do all your work for you?) and the Yoo-Ess-Of-Ay, but also wanting Sidney to take the Olympic puck and run with it right to the tippy-top of the medal podium, so that all the Crosby Suxers will have to STFU from now until forever and ever. (Dream on, Leeeny. Sid could get a personal gold medal from God Almighty Himself and that wouldn't shut those douchebags up.) What to do, what to do.

So as I try not to overlook the Pens-Predators game on Sunday, and while I wait for Tuesday when the men's hockey and all the curling begins (oh I think you'll see a Curling Post or three before we reach the end of the month, just a guess). . . what I REALLY want to know is, will Мать и Отец Малкина be coming to the Burgh after the Olympics are over? PLEASE COME VISIT YOUR OTHER STEEL CITY HOMETOWN! Your son could use some of Dad's Words Of Wisdom and Mama's TLC, and heaven knows hot soup is always welcome, especially with the weather we've been having.

Changing the subject: How did I miss this song last year, when I was posting all sorts of music for the football and hockey playoffs? What a maroon. Well, here it is now, better late than never, as a shout-out to Natalia. We miss you, we love you, we love your boy too, and we want you back on our TV screens as soon as possible.