Let's go Jackets!!

Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap...Us CBJ fans have doubtlessly done this numerous time over the last few years. What I am about to say may seem a little blasphemous, but hear me out:

I am sick and tired of hearing it.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the team and will be following along as we go through another season. And I will be screaming it out with other Jackets fans during the highs and lows. But let's be honest...this chant is tired and stale. We are a one-trick pony. This is all we have to cheer our team on. One chant that, for some reason, each section of the arena feels the need to all do at different intervals, so it ends up feeling like some half-assed kindergarten sing-along.

For me, this contributes to the downfall of the arena atmosphere. Not a large part mind you, but still a contributor. Fans get bored with the same old thing. It is all about "what have you done for me lately", and well, that ain't doin' it no mo.

The ACA (Arch City Army for you newbies) has tried gallantly to breath some life in the crowd and our participation. I commend you fine men and women for the effort, but so far it hasn't had the desired effect. The rest of the arena has not picked up on the effort yet. Maybe with some more opportunities this season, they can make a dent and get something new to catch on. It needs to be hockey oriented though, I don't think soccer chants will work for our crowd. I have to admit, I am a fan of the 'Get some Clit-some" chant, although that has very limited use. We need something bigger, more team oriented.

So the conclusion to my blabbering is that I believe we need a new chant, something that will carry this team into the playoffs. That's right, it is our support, and more specifically the creation of a new chant, that will put our Bluejackets into the playoffs. Forget the team on the ice, this is about us!

This is going to take some creativity on our part, and some coordination. Two guys in section 217 can't do it by themselves. That is unless Rimer hears us from the booth and starts doing the chant over the air repeatedly instead of doing the play by play! That would be epic, but alas, unlikely. No, I say we recruit everybody. The ACA, the RBar regulars, the ushers, everyone. Hell, have the ticket scalpers hand out chant sheets with the half-price tickets. We could even reach out to game-ops if we come up with something good enough.

But we have to come up with something first. This is the hard part. I throw out these suggestions as a conversation starter, but don't think they would stick. I am not smart enough to come up with something on my own. I prefer something short that can be chanted without the clapping, so in that spirit:

1. Let's go Blue (non-starter due to OSU factor)
2. Let's go Jacks (kind of lame)
3. March on Blue (Civil war theme)
4. Go Jackets (like Go-Jack-ets)
5. C-B-J! (this is too easily fodder for opposing fans, as in "Are they chanting Free BJ?". Would be cool if we could get each side of the arena to do one letter, ala O-H-I-O)
6. Dammit Brass shoot the f---ing puck! (Too long?)

Your turn. Suggestions?

Football...yea?

I really should be happy. The NFL lockout is over, and we will have football on Sundays. But I just can't get too excited. This means that I will once again waste a boatload of time on fantasy football. It means many Sundays spent getting almost nothing accomplished. And it means looking for reasons to continue watching the Browns and the Dolphins when they are out of the playoffs. Long-suffering Browns fans understand this sentiment like almost no one else can. The end of the season turns into a depressing mantra of "wait till next year"...

But I really am glad they got everything worked out and a deal made. The fall wouldn't be the same without the NFL. Now can they figure out a way to get the Browns into the playoffs?

Your 2011-2012 Columbus Bluejackets

So now that the dust seems to have settled, I figured I would throw my projected lines out for critique, or since no one is reading this, for my own critique.

Prospal-Carter-Nash
Umberger-Brassard-Calvert
Kubalik-Johanson-Vermette
Boll-Paulson-Dorsett
Mackenzie
Mayorov

Tyutin-Wiz
Methot-Martinik
Holden-Clitsome
Russell

Mason
Dekanich

PP:
Umberger-Carter-Nash
Tyutin-Wiz

Calvert-Johansen-Prospal
Brassard-Clitsome

PK:
Paulson-Mayorov
Umberger-Vermette
Nash-Carter

Methot-Martinik
Holden-Tyutin


This is about as close to 3 scoring lines as we can get without giving up too much on the defensive side. I was tempted to put Cam Atkinson on the roster, but I think they will let him get a little more experience in the AHL. If he does impress enough to make the team out of camp, I see it being at Calvert's expense, and slotting onto that second line as the finisher. He will see time this season. If Johanson makes the team (I believe he will), they would be smart to put him on a line with either Umberger or Vermette to cover for him. Those two would be interchangeable since both are playing wing. I would think you might see Dorsett spot up into that third scoring line as well. When Juice returns I think you see Kubalik sent back to Springfield. Even if Cam makes the team, Mayorov may make it anyways because of the need to have more gritty PK-type forwards.

On the bright side, this is the first year I could ever say that we have too many centers. Good problem to have, we are stacked with people who can play the pivot. We should score a lot more this year, or at least finish on more opportunities. Probably the best offensive group we have ever had.

On defense, I think this is the way they start out. However, they will juggle within about 10 games, moving Methot to the top line and Tyutin paired with Martinik when he has his inevitable early season brain fart. Goloubef and Savard are the first call-ups from Springfield. Moore is given another full season to improve his game.

The D is still a critical player away from being a good group. We need some of our internal players to step up. Meth has to keep building on last year. Tyutin has to be "mid-season Tyutin" more than he is "turnover-machine" Tyutin. This is Russell's last chance, if he doesn't show more this year I think he is dealt sometime during the season. Lots of potential, but he just never seems to break out. I am looking for one of the prospects to really push for time this season (probably Savard), and eventually take over a low pairing spot. If everyone improves, and Wiz and Martinik earn their money, this could be a decent group. Not a Cup-contending group, but decent. Lots of growth potential from within as well.

As many have already said, the key to this season is Mason. The defense in front of him is not going to lead the league in GAA, so he is going to get more consistent. He doesn't have to lead the league in shutouts or save percentage, just be a decent, middle tier goalie. 2.5 GAA and around a .910 SVG would be enough. I am in wait and see mode with Dekanich. I like what I have heard, but we will have to see how he does with the big boys. Goal tending is probably the biggest question mark heading into the season.

I think this is a playoff team. If the goal tending is good I think they are a team that can make some noise in the playoffs. The defense isn't championship caliber yet. I see us finishing in the lower half of the playoff brackets (5-8). Injuries could change that, especially on the defensive side. I just don't see the NHL depth to cover for any extended absences from our D core.

I could keep going, but I have to pace myself. Still have about 7 weeks until training camp opens!

Who is ready for September?

I will admit. I can't wait for September to get here. This has nothing to do with the heat right now, although that will be a welcome side effect of getting to the fall season. And yes, the kids will be back in school, but that is an afterthought. No, there is one big reason I am looking forward to September, and maybe one more that is close behind. CBJ hockey will be upon us, and we will finally have a chance to put all the Buckeye drama away and let the battle on the field commence.

This off season has been different from many others for the CBJ faithful. The moves made by GM Scott Howson have been monumental for the franchise. Whether you agree or disagree with who was picked up, you cannot deny that this team will be much different in its makeup next season. Casual fans I have talked to are even somewhat excited, and I have heard many say they were going to invest in 6-game packs just because of the acquisitions. There is a buzz around the Bluejackets right now, and I for one am looking forward to Nationwide being more like the early seasons, or more specifically, like 2009 when we were racing to the playoffs. Let's hope the coaching staff and players can fulfill the potential. Game Ops for that matter as well. I am amped for this season, more so than I have ever been.

The OSU chronicles are well established. It appears with the report released on Friday that we may have seen the worse of the NCAA punishment. Or at least some light at the end of the tunnel. My belief is once these boys hit the field for that first game, a lot will be forgotten. Sportscasters will keep bringing it up, especially when the 4 suspended players come back for the sixth game. But by game eight or nine, I firmly believe the Buckeyes will be in the middle of a battle for the Big Ten title, and the spotlight will shift. And I thoroughly hope so for Luke Fickell's sake. One of my favorite all time Buckeyes, I feel bad for him that his tenure starts out clouded by the situation we are in. But I think he is going to prove a lot of people wrong, and carry this team to a successful season. Can't wait for that first game on September 3rd.

So, are you ready to trade your summer to be cut short for hockey and football in the capital city?

Tech jobs in Central Ohio

Interesting article in the fishwrap today on the Tech sector and the lack of talent in Central Ohio to meet the demands. If you haven't read it, here is the link to the Dispatch article. This is a stark contrast to a couple of years ago when I know people who couldn't find a job to save thier life. And I would have to agree somewhat. Candidates that are out there are not the higer quality I saw 2-3 years ago, when there were people with 10-15 years experience looking for basic System Administrator jobs.

However, the media tends to paint the "Technology" sector with such a broad stroke that it can be decieving. When I look, I see a lot of software development, BA jobs, and other highly specialized areas. Infrastructure folks are still left out in the cold. Very few job openings exist on the Infrastructure side, and people tend to hold onto those jobs. And I don't see this trend declining. With the push towards the cloud, and shared infrastructure, I think the Infrastructure side of IT will see shrinking numbers in the next few years, or at least a shift from the customer to solution providors. I myself have considered a shift away from Infrastructure to a PM/BA type of role, because I see the writing on the wall.

How about my fellow geeks? Any thoughts of moving away from Infrastructure to a different specialty?

Papa has a brand new bag...

Well, after years of keeping my mouth shut, I have decided on the spur of the moment to start a blog and see how it goes. Maybe no one will read it, maybe I will gather a mass cult following...okay, more than likely I will have like 2 people read this blog and shut it down in a month. But it is better to have blogged and lost than to never have blogged at all. So, what am I going to talk about? I may post about various things, but I figure sooner or later I will settle on one main topic. Until then:

Sports: Expect to see lots of hockey talk. I am a big Bluejackets fan, my kids play, and I am absolutely addicted to the sport. I follow OSU football and basketball. I follow the NFL, and golf to some extent.

Politics: I hate politics, and I work in the public sector. Apparently, I am a masochist. It does give me an interesting perspective into government life though.

Local events: I have lived and loved Columbus, OH for all my life. This is one the best places to live in the country, but it has it's ups and downs.

Technology: I am a geek. Not a nerd, but a geek. It is a term of endearment. I love my gadgets, love working in the IT industry.

Till next time...