Happy Festivus! Fans of one of the greatest sitcoms of all time recognize December 23 as Frank Costanza’s made up holiday from Seinfeld. It’s a great episode, though not as great as “The Face Painter” like we remind you all every year.
One of the main parts of Festivus is the annual airing of the grievances. Every year, it’s a fun practice to air grievances associated with the New Jersey Devils. There’s less grievances this year, after all a 13-game win streak will do that too. However, that six-game losing streak the team just broke against the Florida Panthers did bring some of them back.
Still we have a few things to complain about so let’s get starts. In the immortal words of Jerry Stiller: “I got a a lot of problems with you people!”
Whoever Orders Supplies At Prudential Center
The Chico and Nico bobblehead was one the greatest giveaways the team has done in recent years. Unfortunately, they were only given out to the first 7,000 fans. Fans like me who had to stay at work, drive to Newark, and sit in Friday rush-hour traffic unfortunately got to the Rock after the last of the bobble heads were given away. Yes, we know teams that do promotions usually do it for “the first certain amount of people” or whatever, but let’s leave that in the past. Everyone deserves a bobble head!
Order 15,000 so everyone at the Rock can get one! Or at least save me one whenever there’s a cool one. May we suggest a “Marty Brodeur smoking a victory cigar in the Stanley Cup post game conference” bobble head?
The NHL Situation Room
Remember when we said we had less grievances this year because of that 13-game winning streak? Well it didn’t get rid of all of them. Specifically what would have been that 14th game when the Toronto Maple Leafs came into town on Thanksgiving Eve.
That game saw not one, not two, but three goals overturned by the video people in Toronto. We do not condone throwing things on the ice at all. Though, the crowd’s anger that night was readily apparent.
Those Digital Board Ads
There was a time when our parents and grandparents would watch hockey with no advertisements on the pristine white boards. Now that sounds as far gone as televisioms with antennas, horse drawn carriages, and affordable seats at Madison Square Garden. We grew up with ads on the boards, so we can’t really complain, but we can complain about the new digital ads.
They always change, they’re distracting, and half the time they don’t show up right. Has technology gone too far?
Late Goals
Goals in the last minute of a period have become a problem for the Devils. That was especially true in that six-game losing streak. More times than not it happens in games that become a loss. Do they really have to play the 20th minute? Can they all just had to the dressing rooms a little early after 19 minutes of play?
The Hockey Hall Of Fame
You guys had one job. Actually, you guys have several, but one of them should have been electing the franchise-leader in points, Patrik Elias, to your hallowed halls! Elias was recently elected to the Czech Hockey Hall Of Fame, but I guess the one in Toronto is too good for him? Czech yourself before you wreck yourself, hall of fame (see what we did there?).