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SCUBA
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
584 Posts |
 Posted - 01/08/2009 : 1:09:50 PM
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IMPORTANT VERY LONG IN A SORT OF "JERRY MAGUIRE LETTER" TYPE OF WAY......After recent posts, I wanted to find out how in the hell we have gotten to this point? I keep hearing folks accusing many of us as being Cyclone fans, loyal to a name and logo....I say why the hell not?
I fell in love with the Cyclones in 1993, my then girlfriend, now wife took me to my first Cyclones game and since then I was hooked. I professed that if the Cyclones decided to skate at the Clifton YMCA then at the beginning of that season I would be in line for tickets, I never went to a Ducks game, had no interest, had several radio personalities offer free tickets, but I felt that the cyclones were my team, never meant the Ducks harm, simply no interest. I would suppose that if the Muskies were to end their participation in basketball I would figure that the xavier fans wouldn't go running to watch the Bearcats.
One of the single most decisive events occured when our arch enemy, the Cincinnati enquirer published their article entitled "HOCKEY WARS" you know the one with Kirchofer and Robinson with their porspective goaltenders, for me that completly ended any future interest I would ever have in the Ducks......simply NO ONE has ever mentioned anywhere on these boards or others about the nearly 3 page article drawing a line between fans of hockey in the city.
I felt somewhat betrayed as a casual observer of hockey at the number of what I called then ship jumpers, the folks that after the Clones left to the now USBA that folks "BLINDLY" accepted the "DUCKS" as a new team to watch.....I saw them as competetion especially after the Hockey wars article...I still have the paper! had that paper published an article how both teams would cooperate with one another and hold out a hand of friendship, compete on an annual cross town faceoff during preseason and try to schedule away and home games where folks could attend, then my friends, I feel that both teams would still be here and prospering! But no, many of you in the know, which I clearly haven't been, were influenced by folks who might have been on the inside, I hear folks that were close to the orginizations claim that the Ducks were to blame for the rumors after the move, and I have heard Duck insiders claim that it was the Clones, the truth of the matter was that neither side liked one another.....The coffin was closed then.
As for the USBA VS Gardens thing, If the Clones played there today then I would tolerate it......but since they don't I prefer USBA simple. I never went to the bathrooms at the Gardens and today I still cannot fathom why the bathroom were they way that they were? other sites laugh at this, but lets face it the gardens WAS run down! It had atmosphere sure, but still not my most favorite place to watch a Hockey game.
Lastly, am I a hockey fan? or a Cyclone fan? i'll let some of you decide.....can I watch a Islanders/Hurricanes game on TV from the beginning to end, absolutlely NOT, can I be happy watching a Steam game..NO, Do I enjoy myself at a Bluejackets game, sure it's not bad...but it's not my team....do I walk out of the arena after they lose sad and mad like I do when the Clones lose...no. I hear alot of Anti-Clones accuse me of being a Clone fan and Not a Hockey fan. I say your probably right....And I say who the hell cares. There is nothing worse in sports fandom to be a fan of a team that plays in...lets say Denver or Anaheim. Completly out of the loop, Oh i'm sure that folks would contend that they are fine however it's not like living in the City of the team you root for. I would love to hear some of your views, or this post might just sit here in webpage pergatory...i felt I needed to get it off my chest.....Scuba |
Edited by - SCUBA on 01/08/2009 1:37:32 PM |
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SCUBA
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
584 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 1:11:13 PM
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| Damn tab button didn't work I see, sorry it was so hard to read...scuba |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 2:47:11 PM
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Solid post. I respect your thoughts and opinons.
There is a long list of fabricated information the Cyclones passed along to their fans about the Gardens, Ducks and Robinsons, in part created to help their fans accept their decision to move the team downtown. An example of another fabrication is when a Cyclones VP told several Cyclones fans I had been begging them and other teams for a job but had to settle for an opportunity with the Ducks because no other team wanted me. The Cyclones fans told me of the tale the Cyclones were telling and I showed them the offer sheet the Cyclones had faxed to me while I was in Greensboro that I rejected. They were prepared to fire someone they had in place had I accepted their overatures. The fans didn't appreciate being lied to by a key member of the Cyclones organization and lost trust in the organization, and they became Ducks season ticket holders. The Cyclones, as the result of lying and misleading fans, became one of the best season ticket reps the Ducks had. There wouldn't have been as many fans jumping ship from the Cyclones to the Ducks had the Cyclones been upfront and honest with their fans.
I'm a hockey fan, and I don't need for there to be a team in Cincinnati to enjoy the sport. I enjoyed watching four NHL games in Florida between Dec. 26 and Jan. 3 as much as I did the Swords, Stingers, Tigers, Cyclones and Ducks. The Lightning vs. Canadiens game on Dec. 30 was a terrific game, one of the best I've seen in years.
PS ... no doubt hrc666 & his pals will dispute my comments about the Cyclones sending me an offer sheet and the offer being rejected because in my situation I wouldn't have passed on such a glorious opportunity with nothing else going on blah-blah-blah, but that's the way those guys roll.
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www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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somebeach
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1224 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 5:31:09 PM
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Those are both solid posts. I have to agree with scuba on the so-called hockey wars being started by the enquirer. But storys will differ on how people get their information. I have been friends with DonnieHockey since before there was a Cyclones or Ducks teams here. My information was given to me by DonnieHockey straight from him, so I trust his word more than others. When we had two teams here, my family and I supported both, either by season tickets or attending when we had the chance. Anybody who knows me or my wife and son know that we love hockey. Even when there were no teams here, we had half-season tickets for the Bummers (worst hockey I ever saw-they were really, really bad then). We wre season ticket holdres for the Ducks for 6 years and even put our money down on the Railraiders during their campaign. We have been Cyclones season ticket holders for the past 2 seasons and God willing, we will be back next season. We also attend at least 2 or more NHL games each year (this season we will do just 1 because money is tight right now). The point being, we love hockey. Even if no team were here, we would still love the game. Fortunately, we have the Cyclones (hell, I have never missed opening night- been to them all) and we will be supporting them for a long time,as long as they are here.
BTW, Don, did you get that email I sent you? Kevin found that on youtube. |
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
ZINGER!!!!! |
Edited by - somebeach on 01/08/2009 5:52:26 PM |
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richcrich
(Finally Got A Star!)
USA
90 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 6:59:52 PM
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| i put all the blame on those pinheads known as the Robinsons. They wasnt happy with ticket prices when the Clones was sellin out the hockey barn of bedlam, ran off the voice and one man publicity machine Terry Ficorelli. Ive never been back to the gardens, I dont even drive by it cause of the Robinsons greed, well they got an empty building for years now. hip hip hooray hip hip hooray gooooooooooooo cyclones. |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 7:39:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by somebeach
BTW, Don, did you get that email I sent you? Kevin found that on youtube.
No, I did not receive your e-mail.
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www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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somebeach
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1224 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 7:49:05 PM
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC-HHq6xbDI
I sent via this board, but here it is anyway. |
What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
ZINGER!!!!! |
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SCUBA
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
584 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2009 : 8:55:31 PM
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| I can appreciate the fact that the Cyclones back in the day of the move had quite alot of bad things to say about the ducks, however I certainly find it impossible to believe that deep inside the ducks front office that the administration was hard at work planning the next Cyclones/Ducks front office picnic. No one from the ducks front office suggested that later that night after the move that the Clones and the Ducks front office get close at a fire and roast marshmellows and sing songs. Remember, that my family and my decision to not attend a Ducks game was not because of ANY rumor I heard, I was never within any inner circle, My decision was based on that Enquirer article. Mistakes were made on both sides |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 12:07:46 AM
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| The Ducks approached the Cyclones about playing each other in an exhibition game during training camp with the proceeds from ticket sales going to charity. The Cyclones declined. When the IHL Cyclones folded and the dormant Miami Matadors relocated to Cincinnati and took on the Cyclones name, David Lefebvre had an interest in playing a game but the ECHL started training camp about the time the AHL season started. The Ducks couldn't play an exhibition game once the regular season started. People with the ECHL Cyclones and Ducks met several times and had lots of discussions with each other on ways to drive the growth and awareness of hockey in Cincinnati. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 12:48:45 AM
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Great post, Scuba.
At the end of the day, hockey is merely entertainment. Whether one is exclusively a Cyclones fan or a hockey fan in general matters little. If the game/event/team/arena brings enjoyment for whatever reason, it's mission accomplished in my book.
I'm a general hockey fan whose team is now the Cyclones. Last season was the singularly most enjoyable season that I've ever experienced as a fan. By far. From watching a very talented and well coached team go undefeated for 17 games to travelling to Charleston, SC and LV to watch them in the playoffs, the entire year provided me with a lifetime worth of memories.
I lived and died with the Swords and WHA Stingers. The loss of the Stingers was a jolt to me. I've always had an affinity for The Coliseum because it's where I watched the Stingers and where I got to play hockey when I was in high school.
In the absence of hockey during the 80's, I travelled to Indianapolis to watch the Ice and Checkers and went to Ft. Wayne to take in Komet games. I went to far more games in Indy and FTW than ECHL Cyclone games then.
The ECHL original Cyclones did very little for me. I thought that the quality of play was a joke. But, I had become accustomed to the WHA and NHL (lived in Philly for a number of years). I couldn't believe the attendance for what I regarded as a pitiful product. The move to the IHL, while not a good business decision, provided a much higher level of entertainment. I attended a fair number of games, but not near as many as I do now due to various commitments I had during that time.
When the Robinson "backdoored" the Cyclones after the move downtown, I attended both Ducks and Cyclone games. Probably went to more Cylcone games just because the Ducks were pretty bad their first two years.
I never got into the hockey wars. Until recently. LOL. I just enjoyed going to the games.
When the IHL went down, I didn't go to more than a few games until Cameron coached the team. At that point, I probably split games between the AHL and ECHL. The ECHL was a much improved product overall from its earlier years though not as good, obviously, as the AHL. I just enjoyed both teams and both venues.
When the Clones suspended after 03-04, I probably went to 30 Duck games their final season.
I've had a chance to experience a ton of good hockey in Cincinnati. And from my perspective, anything since the CHL Tigers folded is a bonus. I never thought that hockey would return to Cincinnati again after their demise. I never thought that there would have been 4 teams in 3 different leagues with two teams competing head-to-head for 7 years.
I only hope that I can continue to enjoy some brand at some level of Professional hockey for years to come. The "basketheads" (college hockey) have never been my cup of tea, and unless an OHL team would come here, then junior hockey wouldn't cut it for me. In the absence of pro hockey, I'd go to other games, but certainly not in the volume that I do now.
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"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 01/09/2009 12:51:26 AM |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 01:55:12 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by hrc666
In the absence of hockey during the 80's, I travelled to Indianapolis to watch the Ice and Checkers and went to Ft. Wayne to take in Komet games. I went to far more games in Indy and FTW than ECHL Cyclone games then.
I went to about 10 Ice and Checkers games a year in the 1980's. Let me guess ... Everett Sanipass was your favorite player.
The Robinson's never backdoored the Cyclones. They were upfront with the Cyclones, letting them know if they moved downtown they would respect their business decision but they'd be bringing in another hockey team. The Cyclones thought they were bluffing. The Cyclones were informed 14 months before they signed the papers to purchase the Coliseum what the Robinsons planned to do if they left. I was involved with the Cyclones at the time and the Gardens made it clear that was their intent if the Cyclones left. The Cyclones didn't take them seriously. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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Donnie Hockey
(Loves To Post!)
USA
1514 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 02:11:15 AM
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| The Tigers had everything but a goaltender. They connected on 39 percent of their power play chances. Thirty-nine percent! Bruce Boudreau, Reg Thomas and Rick Blight would have been a decent third line with a lot of NHL teams but the Leafs were deep at forward. Those guys with veteran NHLers Dave Shand and Greg Hotham manning the points were incredible as a power play unit. Benoit Laporte, Bill McCreary, Bryan McCaffrey, Ron Zanussi, Frank Nigro, Norm Aubin, Slava Duris, Gary Yaremchuk, Ernie Godden ... it's too bad nobody went to see that team play. Toronto gave the city a good team. |
www.twitter.com/donhelbig |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2009 : 02:33:59 AM
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I use the term "backdoored" in the context of surprised the Cyclones. I was unaware of the communications that you would have been privvy to, but I can't blame Doug K. for not taking the threat of another team at The Gardens seriously. I know I wouldn't have.
In any case, the Robinsons had every right in the world to bring the Ducks to The Gardens.
I was out of town when The Tigers played. I saw them play one game. They had a great record-I knew that-but 39% is an absolutely insane PP efficiency figure. If that PP unit had a chance to play vs. The 08-09 Cyclones PK, they probably would have connected at 50%. At least.
Favorite Ice/Checkers player was Ron Handy. Absolutely incredible playmaker. Also had a great shot. I saw him play a game in the NHL with the Blues and he just wasn't quick enough to work his magic in the show. Byron Lomow was one the grittiest player that I've ever seen. He gave 100% on every shift, scored regularly and wouldn't back down from anyone.
The Championship Ice team featured two players who had NHL experience and would go back to the NHL and have long and productive careets as checkers/penalty killers. Bob Bassen and Mike Eagles. I think that your impression of Desharnais is that he would probably have to develop into this prototype to have a shot in the NHL. Eagles looked like an offensive force in the IHL. He was on average about a 20 point per year scorer during his long NHL career.
Saw the Ice win the 1990 Turner Cup. In the worst venue ever for hockey. The Indiana State Fairgrounds. It was built for cattle shows. It has the worst sightlines of any 8000 seat building in the world. It still had its charms, though. I guess I like old dumps |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Hockey Traveller
(The Next Level!)
134 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 12:32:43 AM
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| I agree...TERRIBLE building for hockey, I went several times to see the Cyclones vs. Ice back in "the day". I remember seeing a playoff game there in '99, when Sarjeant was in goal for Indy. Game two of best of 3 series, Clones had already beaten Sarjeant in Game 1 here. Ice went up 3-0 after one period, but 'Clones came back to tie it up with 3 goals in 3:47 in the 2nd period, got Geoff pulled from the game. I picked a bad time to go to the restroom, heard the crowd ROAR, thought the Ice had scored again, came back and saw that it was the Cyclones that had scored...boy we had a HUGE Cincy contingent there that night, and we were louder than the Ice fans. Unfortunately, Indy got the last laugh, when Marc Lamothe came on to shutout the 'Clones the rest of the series, as Indy won 4-3 in OT that night, and 1-0 the next game at Firstar Center. Lamothe always seemed to play well against the Cyclones. |
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KRLPhotos
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
607 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2009 : 7:15:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by somebeach
Those are both solid posts. I have to agree with scuba on the so-called hockey wars being started by the enquirer. But storys will differ on how people get their information. I have been friends with DonnieHockey since before there was a Cyclones or Ducks teams here. My information was given to me by DonnieHockey straight from him, so I trust his word more than others. When we had two teams here, my family and I supported both, either by season tickets or attending when we had the chance. Anybody who knows me or my wife and son know that we love hockey. Even when there were no teams here, we had half-season tickets for the Bummers (worst hockey I ever saw-they were really, really bad then). We wre season ticket holdres for the Ducks for 6 years and even put our money down on the Railraiders during their campaign. We have been Cyclones season ticket holders for the past 2 seasons and God willing, we will be back next season. We also attend at least 2 or more NHL games each year (this season we will do just 1 because money is tight right now). The point being, we love hockey. Even if no team were here, we would still love the game. Fortunately, we have the Cyclones (hell, I have never missed opening night- been to them all) and we will be supporting them for a long time,as long as they are here.
BTW, Don, did you get that email I sent you? Kevin found that on youtube.
i have to agree with somebeach, i have been a hockey fan since i was in my mother...somebeach tells me every time the goal horn went off i started kicking. i was born a hockey fan, i live as a hockey fan, and i will die as a hockey fan. going to hockey games has been the greatest thing i have done with my life (besides touching the stanley and kelly cup) |
The "Choco Taco" The Official Treat of The Cycward Chat room
"You miss 100% of the shots you never take."
~Wayne Gretzky
"Put the kids in with a few old pappy guys who still like to win and the combination is unbeatable."
~Conn Smythe |
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Cyclonesdiehard
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 01/14/2009 : 12:04:58 AM
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| I am a Cyclones, Reds, Bengals, and Bearcats fan through it all. I don't care what the name on the back of the jerseys says. I wouldn't care if they played at SportsPlus, Lakota East or Meijer's parking lot. I only care what the front of the jersey says. Cincinnati. I am from Cincinnati, and I plan on dying in Cincinnati. The Cyclones are Cincinnati's team. Embrace them. |
http://cyclonesopinionpage.blogspot.com/ |
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