As many of you know, I’m calling it a career shortly after this hockey season. Forty-eight years - all at the Post-Dispatch - have gone by quick. It has rarely felt like work. Extremely thankful for all the great people I’ve met along the way.
Pat Maroon can't wait till Saturday: "You got the Cards-Cubs and the Blues playoff game. So there's gonna be over 100,000 people in downtown St. Louis. It's a city that needs this, a city that's been, I feel like, down. This is what we needed just to amp the city back up again."
Barbashev, on seeing Yadier Molina wear his jersey as a sign of support during suspension: "Yes, that's actually amazing. Just support from the city that I got after suspension. Just great. I was really excited to see it."
Barbashev says he plans to buy a Molina jersey.
On Monday when Ryan O'Reilly dined in Buffalo with former Sabres teammates, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen _ who just happened to be at the same establishment _ ended up picking up the tab.
I’m literally standing in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with one of tonight’s inductees. I never get my picture taken with pro athletes, that’s not how I operate. But had to make an exception for this one, on this day.
Binnington said he drove around downtown St. Louis after he signed his contract, past Enterprise Center and over to Busch Stadium, just thinking about the journey to led him to his new contract.
So I'm guessing those of you watching on TV heard Binnington say this after his save streak win: "You know, haven't skated in a couple days, uh, had a few drinks and uh, you know I'm happy with the outcome."
Ivan Barbashev's parents and brother are back in town from Russia. The last time they were here (in late March, he scored his first career hat trick (March 21 vs. Detroit).
#expectations
Despite the tremendous disappointment over Isaac Bruce and Hall of Fame vote, St. Louisans should take joy in Walter Payton Award winner Chris Long. What a quality individual, a man who represented himself and St. Louis with class and distinction during some dark days of football
Gunnarsson, retired and living in Sweden, is visiting St. Louis and taking in a couple of Blues game this week. He said every time he takes a leak he thinks of Berube.
#urinalgame
Been told Isaac Bruce did not make the Hall of Fame. He finished his career 2nd only to Jerry Rice in receiving yards. Averaged 14.9 yards per catch _ more than any receiver in NFL history with 1,000 or more catches. Caught a dramatic game-winning TD in Super Bowl XXXIV,.
Vegas has a large banner on the concourse of T-Mobile that fans are signing for Jay Bouwmeester. They just had an announcement on the video board encouraging fans "regardless of what jersey you're wearing" to go sign the banner and wish Bouwmeester well.
After a long 5 weeks with the COVID, I'm back on duty today and feeling pretty good. My heartfelt thanks to all who reached out during this time. And special thanks to
@tomtimm
for so ably minding the fort during my absence. Did I miss anything?
So on my way to Anaheim for Blues hockey Tuesday, thought I’d make a pit stop in Dallas to cover the inaugural game of the StL Battlehawks for the Post-Dispatch and .
On summer days, I can hear the Oakville HS band practicing from my front yard. They sounded especially good today, although that one guy looks a little old for high school.
Blues fans leaving Enterprise. Be sure to pick up your stadium edition copy of the Post-Dispatch as you leave the building. You might want to hang onto this commemorative edition.
Avalanche have skill, depth, tenacity. But they didn't play Vezina finalist Saros in Nashville series; Kadri collision knocked out Binnington - a Cup winner playing as well as any goalie in playoffs; then they faced 40-yr-old Mike Smith. Now, they face best goalie in the world.
Blues chairman/governor Tom Stillman has arrived in the Edmonton bubble, driving up yesterday from his place in Montana. He will be here for the duration of the Blues in the postseason; the man loves his hockey team.
You may not have heard this, but San Jose's Joe Thornton isn't the only longtime NHL veteran trying to win his 1st Cup. Introducing the Blues' Jay Bouwmeester, who didn't even play in one playoff game _ not one _ for the first 10 years of his career. . .
Edmundson had dinner w/about half the Blues team last night. In the same Clayton restaurant, Justin Faulk was dining with some of his former Carolina teammates.
Lindenwood has just won its first ever Div. 1 hockey game, rallying from 6-2 deficit to defeat Air Force 7-6. I was just here as a spectator. It was a good time:
Oh my gosh. Scwwartz from Bozak with 15 seconds left in regulation. 3-2 Blues. If this holds, this will be a game talked about for years in Blues lore.
After more than 40 years covering sports for the Post-Dispatch, including several years covering college basketball all over the place, I’ve finally made it to Madison Square Garden.
Things I'm hearing about XFL:
1. Team nicknames and logos will be announced in a couple weeks. Very surprised if the StL team is not the Battlehawks.
2. Training camp starts Jan. 9 (in Dallas area).
3. Interest in tickets in StL far outweighs other XFL cities at this point.
Back in the US after our 5th trip to Canada this season covering Blues hockey. Proud of our company’s commitment to covering the team every game, every practice.
Every day.
This is the 7th Game 7 at home for the Blues in franchise history. It's May 7,. Game starts at 7 p.m. (OK, about 7:10 actually.) And it's Pat Maroon Rally Towel night (Jersey
#7
). What does it all mean?
So proud of my brother Bernie, inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame this afternoon at the Chase. He’s one of the greatest in the history of St. Louis sports journalism.
According to
@betonline_ag
, Blues are now the Stanley Cup favorites:
Blues 5/1
Capitals 6/1
Blue Jackets, Islanders 7/1
Golden Knights 8/1
Avalanche, Sharks 9/1
Bruins, Stars, Maple Leafs 10/1
Nashville 25/1
Hurricanes 40/1
According to TickPick, average ticket prices for Sunday's BattleHawks home game are $93.63, the most expensive ticket in the XFL so far on the secondary market. On Dec. 17, 2015, for the last St. Louis Rams home game (against Tampa Bay), the average ticket price was $62.21.
Cheers. Been a hell of a journey. Eleven years and I can honestly say I put my soul into every minute of it. Highs and lows. I’ve seen them both and I appreciate the perspective. Gratitude and love to those who lifted me up.
Two shifts into his return game, Vince Dunn took a high stick to his mouth (other side), leaving a cut and some blood. He was so excited to play in his first Stanley Cup Final, he said he was still shaking after the game.
NBCSN is picking up Blues-Blackhawks exhibition game as well as Blues-Avalanche round-robin opener. But in St. Louis, those games will be blacked out on NBCSN, giving way to Fox Sports Midwest in the local market.
Check out this group at the Blues’ alumni luncheon: (from left) Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Guy Carbonneau, Al MacInnis, Chris Pronger, Peter Stastny, Bernie Federko. All Hall of Famers, over 3,200 goals, 9,200 points between them.