I watched the Devils score 3 late goals last night to welcome in Ilya Kovalchuk and stun the hapless Toronto Maple Leafs (keep trading away Toronto, it will never make a difference!) and I ended up speaking to a native New Jerseyan this morning (Nicholas) about all things Devils.  We reminisced about Scott Stevens, and it instantly made me think of something.  The Devils played the Leafs last night . . . Stevens was brought up this morning . . . ahh . . . my memory took me back to the 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs when Tie Domi was a member of one of the dirtiest NHL teams – in fact – Domi should’ve been captain of that team just to symbolize how dirty they actually were.  Here’s the clip:

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I was a good hockey player, back in the day!

I’m not an idiot (most of the time), so it’s not like I ever thought sitting around on my bum would ever help me stay physically fit, but today I skated and shot the puck around for the first time in who knows how long – and I must say – the realization of exactly how unfit I am hit me harder than a Scott Stevens’ body-check.  Now I know how Eric Lindros feels . . . .

I’ll put it to you this way . . . I had trouble standing up on my skates.  That’s right.  I’m quite embarrassed to admit that, but I need to express my embarrassment.  I feel admitting and accepting  it will help me start on a healthier path.  For Gods Sake I even started a “Lifestyle” category on this blog a long time ago because I knew I always wanted to write about it.  I knew I wasn’t living the way I should have been living.  I was merely surviving.  I still am, but at least today was a start.  At least I finally was able to get up on my skates . . . .

Then the fun began!  Actually trying to move around the rink and skate and shoot!  (ouch!  I still hurt just thinking about it!) – I could barely move.  To say after five minutes I was “pooped” would be generous.  Maybe three minutes?  I’m not sure, but it felt like forever out there.  Now, I never used to be Sergei Fedorov, or even Ted Donato, but I used to be a pretty decent player.  Of course, I could skate all day and all night when I was 18 years old.  I had minimal body fat and not playing roller hockey with my friends was never a choice.  It was just something we always did – even into the wee hours of the morning in the Target Parking lot because they had the best lighting!  It was tons of fun, and I was always in shape.  But now, even the thought of driving to Target is exhausting to me!  Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but you get my point.

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I mean hey, if Kanye West can make outrageous claims about the President hating black people, then why can’t I make such a statement about Colin Campbell, the NHL’s main disciplinarian?  Clearly, to make such a bold accusation is silly and foolish, but I’m obviously having some fun with a bit of news that bothers me.  I’m not going to lie, I’ve never heard of Pascal Morency, the Islanders prospect (is he even considered a prospect?  Who is this kid?!)  who jumped from the bench to stand up to Dion Phaneuf after Phaneuf’s monstrous hit on Kyle

Okposo – but should Morency have been suspended?  Does Colin Campbell treat “no-name” players on last place teams differently than he would treat a star “big name” player on a better team?  No to the first question, and a big YES to the second question.

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