There were no Reekielaps today, except for the two netminders. I/O is unsure whether this is because (1) Reekie is gone; (2) Comcast was there; (3) Ron Wilson is cracking down; or (4) No one has the nerve to take it easy when Kono is working so incredibly hard. I/O prefers to speculate that it is the latter. The much missed Captain led the stretches today, and Jagr & Bondra appeared to be yucking it up over matching holes in their leggings, which they noticed while stretching. Shooting practice appeared to be the order of the day; wristers and snapshots were the shots being perfected by Si, Bonzai, Ulfie, Oates, Jagr, Niko and Zubie.
Witter and Pettinger both put moves on Biller and beat him, Witter with a very Jagr-esque deek and backhand. This caused Jazzy to re-evaluate her belief that Witt suffers from Delusions of Grandeur - maybe they aren't delusions after all. OR, maybe he spent too much time watching Gonchar last weekend. (Yikes!) Petter's move was more of a patience move, holding the puck until Biller committed himself, and then beating him where he left an opening. (Was Petter watching Kovalchuk on Friday night?) After these two shots, Biller left the net and had a conference with Witt and Kono, perhaps appealing his case to his Captains, because AC Tim Army skated by the little group, hooked Biller's pad with his stick, and yelled "Quit yer complainin!"
Jazzy was not the least bit surprised when Jagr left the ice early - figuring it was because he'd skated all weekend at the All Star Extravaganza, but she was very surprised when he reappeared on the ice about 10 minutes later. Perhaps he needed an equipment adjustment, or changed the holey leggings (since, as we all know, Jagirl IS a fashion plate!). As it turned out, Jagr was nearly the last to leave the ice today, spending a good 10 minutes alone with Biller, taking shots on goal. He was even abandoned by the hard working goalie in the end, and continued to work while Kono and company skated wind sprints at center ice.
Kono, Cote, Zettler and the ACs skated wind sprints while Pettinger, youngest of the youngsters, set up the nets for a half rink 3 on 3 session and gathered up the errant pucks strewn around the rink. Age hath it's privilege; youth, apparently, hath it's duty. Jazzy left for the "Arctic" knoll with the windsprinters and Matt playing 3 on 3, for Kono to get some much needed checking practice. Jazzy admits she was afraid to watch.
Jazzy had a few brave souls as company outside - a young man waiting for Jagr's autograph, a fire fighter with a goalie helmet to be signed, and Webhead Chilicat and her friend. As Jazz related a Piney story to the fire fighter, Chilicat looked up suddenly and asked "Are you Capsjazz?" Apparently, I/O's reputations proceed them, as she recognized the story from a previous I/O report. Olie came out, and nicely stopped to sign 2 Portland Pirates cards for Jazz, pointing out to her that one of the cards was a misprint, with his photo and stats on the back, but someone else's photo on front. (D'oh!) He posed for photos with Chilicat and her friend, but seemed pretty down, and Jazz was very glad she remembered to give him a heartfelt thanks for his time, and to wish him best of luck.
The poor fire fighter saw one of the equipment guys carrying out Biller's gear, and started to approach him for his autograph. Jazzy waylaid him and advised she would point out Biller when he came out. Chris Simon emerged, started to walk confidently to his right, and then stopped, looking confused. He grinned sheepishly at Jazzy and said, "I forgot where I parked my car!" Jazz was about to point it out to him (as it was right next to hers), when he spotted it himself. As he started walking toward it, Jazzy said, "I thought maybe you were waiting for Jagr's driver to bring it over to you!" Simon laughed and said, "That would be NICE!"
Jazzy had several treasures to have signed, in addition to the previously mentioned Olie cards. She obtained JF Fortin and Dainus Zubrus' Pee Wee cards, as well as a Billington Utica Devils card. FJ was the first "victim" to appear outside, and when presented with Jazzy's card (photo taken when JF was 12 years old!), he rolled his eyes and said "Oh, GOD!" He couldn't believe Jazz had it, and was embarrassed but pleased at the same time. Peat just laughed at it and at JF, causing Jazz to make a mental note to try to find a "baby" card of Peat.
When Biller came out, Jazzy said "Biller!" (rather loudly, for the benefit of the fire fighter), "I have a very cute card for you to sign, if you have a minute?" Biller looked at the card and said, "Oh, yeah...right..REAL cute." He was also curious about where Jazz found it. (eBay, but Jazzy didn't tell Biller that, since he seems to have an aversion to eBay). During this conversation, the fire fighter hadn't taken Jazzy's rather obvious clue, so she advised Biller that she thought the fire fighter wanted to get his autograph, but didn't recognize him. Biller started toward his truck, saying "Nah, he probably wants Jagr or Bondra or Olie...." (poor Biller!) But Jazzy put on the "cop taking charge of a scene" hat, and said, "No, he definitely wanted YOUR autograph - it's for a goalie helmet.", while waving the fire fighter over. He still looked clueless, so Jazzy said "This is Craig Billington!", at which point he scurried over with the goalie helmet, and explained to Biller that it had been signed by every Caps goalie since Jim Carey. At this, Biller seemed more impressed, and he shot Jazzy a grateful glance, like he was glad he hadn't dissed an actual goalie fan.
Frank Costello came out and thanked Jazzy for the "awesome" brownies, to which she replied that she was glad they'd lasted long enough this time for him to get one. Jazzy believes that Frank Costello is the most positive person associated with the team. Either that, or he is dipping into the team's medicine cabinet. He is ALWAYS smiling.
When Zubie saw the Pee Wee card Jazzy had for him to sign, he smiled, but didin't seem too surprised. Jazzy speculates that Zubie's female fans often have every picture of him known to man. He told Jazzy that he was 13 1/2 years old in the picture. (The card can be seen on this week's I/O Capitals Weekly page.)
As the equipment guys loaded the van, Jazzy spotted a shopping bag from a golf pro shop on top of the wheeled bin of gear. She did NOT consider this a positive omen. AC Tim Hunter came out, cordial as always. Jazz asked how things were going? "Oh, fine; as good as they can be when your team is losing." He said he hopes they can put together some wins and squeak into the playoffs, "so they don't have to trade the team away." He made the insightful comment that: "It doesn't matter how much they say they want it, they have to play like they want it." Jazzy dutifully asked about trade talk, as she realized that inquiring Webheads want to know. Unfortunately, Tim said the ACs are just a clueless as the rest of us, and that GM is VERY quiet about such things (even with them). He said any trade talk is pure speculation. Jazzy showed him the Pee Wee cards, and he was completely astounded. "They make TRADING CARDS of 12 year olds?!" He speculated that a 12 year old with a trading card might be a bit difficult to live with, teenaged boys' egos being what they are... Jazzy requested a win for her birthday, and Tim laughed and assured her they would try. She also assured Tim that the fans would be here for the duration, no matter what, and he gave a heartfelt thanks to everyone for their support.
As Bondra walked back to his car after yucking it up with the Czeckered Cab boys, Jazzy tried to salvage the situation. (Jazz is known to have an easily stimulated maternal instinct). "Why don't you get a photo with Bondra instead? He's nicer anyway." Pouncing on this suggestion as though Jazz had just invented lip gloss, the girls approached Peter. His initial, teasing response was "NO, no, I don't do pictures, I'm too shy!" but by the end of the sentence, he was smiling that 1 million watt Bondra smile. ("Awwww!") The two young lovelies entreated, "Oh, Pleeeease?" so Peter smiled and said resignedly, "Come on...." He posed with each girl in turn, though when they switched cameras, he said, "What, you two don't know each other? You can't use the same camera?" Chili's friend was still rather crestfallen after Bondra left, and Jazzy told her, "Don't feel bad, you're in good company. Jagr disses about 50% of the fans who come here on any given day." She also predicted that someday, they'd be happier with that photo, anyway.
Gonchar may have done some shopping on Rodeo Drive while he was in L.A. He wore fashionably tight designer jeans, a nice new leather jacket, and biker-ish boots, along with a scruffy, unshaved face. It was sort of Retro-Easy Rider. Hmmmm...he should've taken Jagr shopping with him. (Maybe they would have found some nice purses, too.)
HONORABLE MENTION: Tim Hunter, because the man always speaks his mind.
WHO'S SNOT: Jagr, as always, for his dissing of 2 star-struck fans.
HONORABLE MENTION: Jeff Halpern, just because.