So it’s a cross-blog war he wants?

First, I also have huge respect for Meltdown; there are very few people in the world that I enjoy talking hockey with more.

Now, the players & owners left us hanging for a year, spit in our faces and then settled for a worse deal than they could have had 15 months earlier! I still love the game, but the Wing’s didn’t even offer a rollback on prices.

The shootout is fun to watch, but it doesn’t make any sence. I know it’s here to say, but it still is a lousy way to decide a game.

Melts also forgets (of course he’s not from here) that Yzerman was very much like Zetterburgh when he became captain. There were many veterans “in line” in front of him, but making him captain played a role in how he developed. Zetterburgh has the best chance of all the current players of being the cornerstone of the wings for the next 15 years.

If the Wings go with Nick or Draper as the next captain, none of us would have a problem with that, but they would just end up turning over the “C” to Henrik eventually anyway so let’s skip the middle man.

Did Mr. Meltdown really say “how about fighting. the fans love that." let's get rid of it”. What the *$$#*! Let’s see, keep the silly shootout because the fans love it….but no fighting? Yea, the fans hate that! That is such a non hockey thought, it’s not worthy of a reply.

I know, Meltdown is the professional player on the staff, but I’m the only one on the staff that was a professional hockey analyst during my time at WDFN.

I do wish I could still play, but time and too many injuries have ended that portion of my life. A smart guy knows when to move on.

It's very early into the new era of the N.H.L. but there are 10 players on pace to score 80+ goals this season, and 5 on pace to score 150+ points.

Scoring is up, no question and so is the entertainment value. The shoot-out still sucks, but it's here to stay.

The bottom line here in Detroit is that the Wing's look pretty good. Zetterburgh (my pick for the next Captian) looks great, Draper and Maltby haven't lost a step. The D. looks good and there is a good chance this team could contend for the cup.

For the record, I'm happy hockey is back but I won't be buying any tickets this year. I know all the other fans have forgiven owners and players and moved on, but I think I'll wait a year before I'll buy a ticket. They took the sport away from us (without a good reason) for a year, so a 1 year ban seems fair to me.

I will still follow the league in the news, TV and on the radio. How can I resist, I was rasied on hockey, it's in my blood!

Go Wings

Black out.

¶ 1:52 PM


Zakk Wylde, BLS collection

Zakk Wylde is one of the best of the best guitarist alive! Zakk has one solo CD, one Pride & Glory CD and six Black Label Society CDs. So if you're just starting to dig Zakk's solo stuff where do you start?

How about a best of collection? The new BLS is an overview of all Zakk's non Ozzy releases and it's worth the time and money.

B.L.S. will be at the State Theatre on November 9th, be prepared.

Black out.

¶ 8:53 AM

Tuesday, October 11, 2005
FFootbal Week # 5

5 weeks into the WRIF listener league and I'm in 7th place with a 2-3 record, which really sucks when you factor in my 2-0 start.

I lost this week to the Jugs, who get their first win of the season. The Roy Williams injury killed me, and I lost by 5 points.

Tiny is still in first afetr a loss. He is 4-1 with 2 other teams.

In the Friends and Family league, give full props to Arthur P. who wins again and is now 5-0. Impressive win with 3 players on a bye week!

I'm in 2nd place at 4-1 after defeating my wife Sabrina who drops to 4th place at 3-2.

Mike Staff is also 3-2 and in 6th; Sparky is in 8th at 2-3; Mark Pennington and Ken are in 11th and 12 place at 1-4!

Art should move to 6-0 next week as he plays Mike Staff who has Farve on a bye week and just lost Duce MacAlister for the season.

Black out.

¶ 4:33 PM

Sunday, October 09, 2005
Foo Fighters


Outstanding Foo Fighters show on Friday.

I loved the part when all the WRIF balloons made it to the main floor and Dave worked the big "’RIF ROCKS" into the song.

I did get to interview Dave and Nate before the show, the guys stuck arround to meet a few lucky WRIF listeners after the chat as well. Look for that audio on the "Audio" portion of the RIF website.

I’ll also have Dave Ghrol on the Chop Shop on Sunday, October 23rd 9am.

Black out.
¶ 10:06 AM

Tuesday, October 04, 2005
FFB week 4

Another win for "Shacktown" in the WRIF listener league. "Shacktown" (Tiny Tim) is the only undefeated team at 4-0. "The Blahas" had the highest score of the week (83.08) and are in 2nd place followed by "Dawg Pound" and "Wizzards" in 4th. I'm holding down 6th place, the final playoff spot.

In the WRIF friends & family league, Big Daddy, Arthur P. beat down my Wife Sabrina's team 101 to 78. Arthur is 4-0. My team won and improved to 3-1 with the most total points in the league, I'm in 2nd. Marti and Sabrina(the only wemon in the league) are also 3-1 and that rounds out the top 4.

Mike Staff is 2-2 and in 7th place, Ken (promotins at 'RIF) had a huge come from behind victory and is in 10th at 1-3. Mark Pennington (WRIF and 'RIF2) is 11th, and Sparky (WRIF & Emerald Theatre) is still last at 1-3.

Sabrina and I go head to head this week in a big grudge match. I knocked her out of 1st place last year in the final week of the season, and cost her the first place prize....sorry.

¶ 11:58 AM

Monday, October 03, 2005
Jimmy Page is elected
Thanks to everone for voting last month. You have collectivly voted Jimmy Page into the Chop Shop Hall of Fame, the only guitar player Hall of Fame.

Jimmy Page is the 3rd to be elected and joins Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen.

Here are a few coments from Jimmy's peers:

"Amazing, the early days of Zeppelin were amazing! He was doing stuff that was incomprehensible. I was going how the heck does he do that stuff?" - Mick Mars of Motley Crue.

"I've always admired Jimmy and thought he was amazing for, more so than anything, how creative he is" - Slash

"Amazing guitar player, amazing writer, he set the tone for everything. He's one of the best guitar players ever." - Pat Calahan of Seether.

The new poll is now up, and in honnor of October, your choices are all Ozzy related. Brad Gillis, Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Tony Iommi or Zakk Wylde. www.chopshopradio.com to vote.

¶ 9:19 AM

Saturday, October 01, 2005
Ultimate Bass Player
As the host of the nation's only syndicated guitar show, the Chop Shop (Sunday's at 9am on WRIF) I get lots of guitar oriented email, but I got an email from one of my listeners in Huntington, West Virgina this week asking me who my favorite bass player is?

In truth, I haven't put allot of thought into it but just for fun, here is a pretty accurate top ten list:

10) Tim Commerford of Audioslave and Rage Against The Machine (so solid and underrated)

9) Geddy Lee of Rush (unique and precise)

8) John Myoung of Dream Theater (the perfect player for the world's best prog rock band)

7) Chris Squire of Yes (without Yes there wouldn't be any prog rock bands)

6) Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (simply brilliant)

5) Billy Sheehan of Talas, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth and Steve Vai (I've always loved his sound and playing, but seeing him now with the Steve Vai band moved him into my top 5!)

4) John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin (the perfect player for the world's best 4 piece rock band!)

3) Stu Hamm of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, solo artist (his 2 hand tapping took bass to uncharted territory)

2) Steve Harris of Iron Maiden (I listen back to the old Iron Maiden songs and EVERY song is a masterpiece)

1) Les Claypool of Primus, the Frog Brigade and Cornel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains (strange and beautiful. possibly the most unique and adventuress bass player of them all)

¶ 12:14 AM