Tony’s Takes will be a reoccurring segment or article. This will mostly have to do with the hockey world and maybe some Philadelphia comings and goings. This is going to have a Joycian stream of consciousness feel with some written rants. There will also be pop culture, food, etc.
Jersey Jerseys
Congrats to Martin Brodeur on finally dethroning his top sin of unfaithfulness with his design of the new New Jersey Devils’ third jersey. It is beyond bad even with the jersey’s self-actualizing “Jersey”. Go back to the Christmas Devils jerseys. They are good and fun and most importantly; the Devils were bad when they had them.
Trashville Sweaters and Outdoor Magic
Speaking of bad jerseys, the “Smashville” Stadium Series jerseys look like the font from a kidnapping letter. Go back to the sabretooth tiger head and lean into the colors. We know Nashville is known for country music; you don’t have to put a guitar pick on the jersey. In no way does the guitar pick equal anything to do with the mascot, Predators. Tampa Bay’s jerseys are fine but uninspiring.
Speaking of outdoor gimmick games, the NHL needs a new angle. Play these once a year and get the novelty back. I understand the NHL wants to highlight nontraditional markets and teams that do not get much national play when they aren’t elite teams, but it needs to be a rivalry game. I can’t imagine much of Canada, or the Northeastern part of America are tuning in to see an interconference game between Nashville and Tampa Bay. Also, Nashville was in a Winter Classic versus Dallas back in 2020, and no one cared.
Multiple Canadian Olympic Squads?
The Olympics are coming up and it would be cool if they allowed Canada to send two teams. It would be better than watching Kazakhstan let up 40 goals in 4 games. Would both teams be in the gold medal game? If they sent three teams, could they sweep the medal round? Probably not, because Sweden or Finland would win a semifinal against Canada 2–1 with the Swedish or Finnish goalie stopping 47 of 48 shots.
Philly Sports Are Cursed
This is a dark time for Philly sports. The Flyers are bad. The Eagles are better than we thought but still not good. The Phillies had the MVP and should’ve had the Cy Young winner and still had barely broken .500 in a bad division. The Sixers hold the best chance at success, but are coming off a Greek tragedy of a playoff collapse versus Atlanta and has started the new season with long COVID absences from Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, not to mention the soap opera with Ben Simmons. I cannot think of a time in the last 30 years where all 4 main teams were for lack of a better word, hopeless.
Speaking about hopeless, it’s a shame that MLS (Major League Soccer) is a second rate league. One of the top markets loses most of their team to COVID protocol, so why not postpone the game? Nope let them play with backups and third string players. Bush league stuff.
Food For Thought
People who go to Chickie’s and Pete’s before or after games are fine people. But please let the record state that there are at least three better places in spitting distance. Philadium has great pub fare, an underrated tap list and a good Philly Cheesesteak. Celebre’s has my favorite pizza, get the Pizzazz with sausage and VIP Stromboli. In between Celebre’s and Chickie’s is Pastaficio. A great sandwich shop with all the Italian accoutrements. I go for the prosciutto special with roasted red peppers and mozzarella. If Jesus was a cold cut, he would be prosciutto.
Succession’s Season
This season of Succession has been absolute fire. Great television. Rare show where everyone is the bad guy, yet you cannot help but want to root for them.
