Follow @james_tanner123 I hope y'all had a great Christmas and that 2017 treats you well.
Things are good for me, but I'm a rich white guy who lives in Canada - so I hope they're also going well for you. Also, I'm only rich if we're speaking relatively. Don't get the idea that your boy JT is some kind of fat-cat.
I've always been a huge hockey fan, but honestly, nothing compares to the kid getting into it.
Another highlight, not really Christmas related, but still hilarious, was when, during a dinner-time version of whatever Sportsnet calls their main highlight show, Steve Dangle came on and my wife just went berserk. "Who is this guy? Why is he screaming at me? Is someone going to help him?" Classic!
So, anyways, after a ridiculously long layoff, the NHL is back. As we resume the second half, you can expect to see the Wild, Blackhawks, Rangers and Canadiens fall (at least slightly) in the standings and to see the Leafs, Blues, Pens and Panthers rise.
I hope zombies become real and that Prince, Michael Jackson and George Michael all put out an undead team-up record. I hope Griffin Reinhart becomes a late blooming superstar, Steve Downie replaces Gary Bettman as commissioner, and that Greg Millen becomes even grumpier and more annoying.
Realistically, I'd settle for Auston Matthews finishing in the top-ten in league scoring, the Leafs making the Playoffs, the Coyotes making any progress, and for the league's television broadcasts to start talking about shot-attempts more than they talk about faceoffs or +/-.
I hope since there is so much discrimination and unfairness in the world that we start discriminating against stupid people before it's too late.
On a personal note, I hope to finally publish my debut novel We've Seen Televised Murder, but They Still Censor Nips, and to finish my new one, The New New Testament.
I'd like to acknowledge my team at the Buzz (Eklund, EO, Adam, Todd, John, Peter) as well as all the commentors and everyone who makes this a worthwhile gig.
I don't want to get religious on all of y'all but I should also acknowledge my own personal religious triumvirate of Don Delillo, Michael Stipe and Jack Bauer. Maybe 2017 will bring a new 24 where Jack has to come out of retirement to stop the incoming President from completing a coup. Or maybe the show goes the comedy route and Jack hears of a threat to the new president but decides to go work on his memoirs instead.
A boy can dream, right?
I'm still trying to quit smoking, approaching six weeks and it's getting easier, though I dream of nicotine; always. Seriously though, if they can genetically engineer mutant foods, why can't they make a healthy Big Mac? I bring this up because if you're going to bother quitting smoking, you also have to start eating better or there's really no point - right?
Anyways, this is your game preview: Dallas visits Arizona who will try not to lose their fifth game in a row. If you're in the mood for some comedy, keep in mind that it's almost January and the Coyotes are yet to win back-to-back games in regulation, but somehow the NHL tracks the standings in such a way this team is not in last place.
With love, Tanner.