Jim Bob's Diary

[jRuutu 2,464]

 

I walk when others run. When they want me to stay quiet, I sing a song. I shoot when most expect a pass. I take a penalty just to get on the scoresheet. I hit and fight anybody who has two skates, especially rollerbladers.  That is me - I'm Jim Bob.

 

Good evening and day, welcome to the latest entry of my blog - Jim Bob's Diary. I'm writing this while waiting for game three of the S77 finals to start. Seattle started the finals as well as you potentially can, at least when it comes down to wins - we are up 2-0! That is a cool place to be when entering game three. We can focus on defending and counter-attacking. Meanwhile, Helsinki has to open their game at some point as they need to win game three in order to avoid a terrible 3-0 position in the series. 

 

We, of course, want to win game three as well, but the pressure to win is on Helsinki, and as mentioned, we can wait for them to make a move and react to that. Having said that, I'm expecting an intense battle. Neither team wants to make any silly mistakes. If a costly penalty or individual error happens, that can dramatically change the flow of the game. If we make a couple of mistakes early and Helsinki scores a couple of goals, then it will be us who has to open up and at some point while Helsinki defends and waits for our mistakes.

 

Thinking too much about stuff like that is pointless, but it just goes on to show that the margins are small. Every decision needs to be just right. I'm confident in our ability to keep the good momentum going. We have played on a high level during the playoffs and managed to turn tight games into our victory. Hopefully, the same continues today and we take one more step towards the championship!

 

 

While we wait for game three. I want to share a quick story that just happened. I'm sitting here in the Bears locker room and just writing away on my laptop. Who walks in? General Zod.

 

I said ''hello'' and asked whether he plans on taking any penalties today.  He did not say anything, so I answered my own question by telling him that I might drop the gloves couple times just to get bigger lead in the penalty minute race. Zod did not appreciate that. He is known as bit of a tough guy on the ice. He already has 54 penalty minutes in 12 games, which is not bad as a defender. I said that to him as I suspected he thought I was mocking his record.

 

Zod finally opened his mouth: Oh yea, without those three fights in one game you would not be anywhere near 50 penalty minutes.

 

I thought that was funny. I put my laptop on the floor and stood up.

''That sounds like something a silver medal winner says. I'm going to win gold in this race''.

 

Zod walked right in front of me and looked me into the eyes.
''You? You are sitting here without any pants and you dare to trash talk? Jesus Christ, put some pants on and get me a cup of coffee''.

 

I put my pants on and went to get him a cup of coffee. When I got back he was nowhere to be seen. Can you believe that? Who asks for coffee and refuses to wait 5 minutes while I go get it?

 

 

Anyways, I and Zod are cool. Not unusual to have little competition with your teammates. We both want to entertain and play the game hard. Sometimes you get penalties and sometimes you don't. That is the way it goes.

Just in case any younger players are reading this. You obviously want to avoid taking penalty minutes if you can.  I don't want to make it sound like I, for example, like taking penalty minutes. 

 

In my opinion, taking penalty minutes is like going out for a run when the weather is terrible. Nothing about the process feels that good, you are cold and maybe tired, but once you get back home and take a hot shower, oh man it feels great. You are so glad the run is over. You are so glad that you got up and went for the run, even if you had a perfectly valid reason to do something else. It's the same with penalty minutes.

 

When I see someone's numbers against the boards. I could just go in easy and avoid contact, or I could go in hard and run straight into the numbers. If I go in easy, the player might somehow escape with the puck. Five seconds later as you look at the other team celebrating, you can only think what could have happened if you just went for it. That is why I go for it whenever an opportunity comes. The same goes for other situations on the ice. I use my stick like a sword or a shovel. I want to have the puck. I want my team to have the puck. When you get on the bench after a successful play, you feel great. 

 

Sometimes you get a penalty or 20, but the main thing to remember is that you play the same way every single time you step on the ice - hard. Your goal and your end of the ice are like a castle that the other team wants to destroy. Do you let them just walk in? No. You need to fight and do whatever it takes to defend your castle. Avoid penalty minutes is like avoiding the rain.

 

Game three should hopefully start soon. I need to perhaps start getting ready. The older you get, the more important it gets to prepare for each game and practice well. If I just sit here and do the minimum, there is a good chance I will have a bad game. Get in a good sweat and get the motor running before hitting the ice increases the chances for a solid game.

 

Okey, now I need to get going. Thanks for reading and remember to watch the game! Should be a good one.

 

(1030)

 

3.5 - 9.5

10.5 - 16.5

 

[jRuutu 2,464]

10.5 - 16.5