Log in & Sign up
You are not logged in.
About Mike Boone
Full Name
Mike Boone
Web site
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/columnists/mike_boone.html
About
I grew up in Park Extension, within walking distance of Dickie Moore's Dairy Queen on Jean Talon. Moore had a place on L'Acadie Blvd., and we used to see him driving around in his convertible with a Samoyed and a very dishy wife.
While "studying" at McGill University during the 1960s, I used to attend games at the old Montreal Forum. My fellow undergraduate reprobates and I would scramble up the stairs to get centre-ice spots in the top standing room section, where aged ushers didn't know or care what we were smoking.
I stood out in the cold for six hours to get tickets to the 1975 New Year's Eve game between the Canadiens and Central Red Army. With the exception of the birth of my daughter, the 3-3 tie was the greatest event I've ever seen in my life.
The Canada-U.S. Gold medal game comes close .... but I wasn't there.
I've been a professional journalist since 1974, when I joined the Montreal Star sports department. I've covered the 1976 Olympic Games, the 1979 Expos, pop music and MSO tours of Europe and Asia (classical musicians are WAY more fun to drink with than athletes). I wrote a TV & Radio column for 20 years and, since 2000, have written a City column for The Gazette.
The best part of being a Habs Inside/Out contributor is attending games at the Bell Centre. I think it's a great building: noisy, raucous and packed to the rafters with Montrealers and visitors who live for hockey.
And I still get goosebumps every time Michel Lacroix booms out "Accueillons nos Canadiens ..."
Having seen the Boston Red Sox win two World Series and the Pittsburgh Steelers add a couple Super Bowl titles, I suppose I can die happy ... but not before another Stanley Cup parade. And I'd really like my daughter to see a historic New Year's Eve game.
I like all the players. Covering baseball gives me a profound appreciation of pro athletes who aren't jerks.
My weltanschauung was summarized by the late great Bill Hicks when he said "all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves."
Have a nice day.
Boone's Online Eeee-mail
Share the agony and ecstasy of Habs fandom and read live blogs from every game with Gazette columnist Mike Boone.
The Puckcast
Weekly commentary and inside info about the Canadiens straight from the Gazette's experts.
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Follow Habs Inside/Out on Twitter, featuring live updates from Gazette feature writer Dave Stubbs.The Other Wing
The Other Wing features regular Habs commentary by some bloggers we like.
The Rules
Habs Inside/Out encourages lively debate, but there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding racism, profanity and behaviour that we deem to be offensive. We will, without warning, ban those who do not abide by this simple rule, so as to maximize the enjoyment of readers and participants of both sexes and all ages.
Habs Inside/Out main RSS feed
Mike Boone's RSS feed
PuckCast RSS feed
Other Wing RSS feed
Site concept and design by User Generation
Most Commented
Most commented posts from the last 7 days:
Resources
Player info: League info:Habs Inside/Out: Absolutely everything about the Montreal Canadiens For editorial inquiries, contact Gazette sports editor Stu Cowan (scowan@thegazette.canwest.com). For advertising inquiries, please contact your Gazette sales representative (gazadv@thegazette.canwest.com). ©2008 The Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Terms and Conditions Privacy Statement
Is it possible that the Habs might signed Patrick Lalime? Anybody have any inside scoop on what might have taken place here?
Habs did NOT speak to Lalime, the headline is wrong.
The article talks about Lalime talking to Buffalo, but mentioned what was said a few weeks before July 1st.
When Lalime was at a Golf Tournament and had said, he would gladly backup Price in Montreal and had always dreamed of wearing the CH.
Habs never contacted Lalime.
Thanks
im not too clear on the tax exemption?? why would governments let the league or whoever not get taxed? how is it that millionaires always seem to be the ones that get tax exemptions....
the habs should have a no tax game. 1 game with no tax on anything. give the fans an exemption :p
I'm guessing that the theory would go something like this: The "association" or league office doesn't actually make money, only the teams make money or profits. All the money the league makes is either spent on expenses like officiating or oragnizing the schedule/draft/waiver wire/cap stuff or administering the league such as dealing with the NHLPA. Any money the league office makes thru the team fees or TV revenues (LOL) or the NHL store above expenses would either go into a reserve to cover future debt (a deferred expense in accounting parlayance) or is redistributed to the teams. Hence the "association" is non-profit.
The teams (and the players) are the ones who make the money and therefore should be taxed, so the theory goes.
BLACKHAWKS SAY THEY'LL MATCH SHARKS' OFFER FOR HJALMARSSON
- TSN
What the hell are the Blackhawks doing - they have no cap space left now! they just made cap space by trading Versteeg, Byfuglien and Ladd and now they are going to add cap again?! What the heck?
I imagine this is the same kind of empty statement as the "I'm very happy here" from trade-bound players.
Until the Hawks match the offer, it's just talk.
---Hope Springs Eternal---
So will Sharks use that money and put one in for Price?
Haha, no way Habs would match that kind of offer.
And then we'd be left with Auld and Desjardins. Habs would get a 1st and 3rd in return and would have the cap space to maybe sign Frolov, or at least a player like Torres.
But Sharks wouldn't do that, Price's value is very low at the moment.
Sharks have a real good team but no goalie! All they signed after Nabokov left is Nittymaki. It would make sense they would offer that same deal to Price now that the money is not used. Which if made will screw up Gainey/Gauthier's cap even more than they did on their own.
It would make more sense if they made up an offer sheet for Neimi. Having pushed the Hawks up against the wall on Hjarrs-whatever, they can push the Hawks over by forcing them to match for Neimi. Montreal is sitting with 4 or 5 million in cap space and only Price and Laps left to sign. Offer for Price? Sure...and goodbye Max, hello Brock Trotter (or MAxPac or David Desharais or Ryan White...
hjalmarsson is too good to be let go. he was going to command around that money even without the offersheet.
Well if that is the case, there will definitely be more trades coming out of Chicago. I would assume Campbell is on the move, but who'd take his ridiculous contract.
I think that Huet will be put on waivers, they don't need him. But apparently Niemi has a huge demand as well, according to ESPN he wants 3-4 million.
If that's true, Hawks are in trouble.
Niemi is a human rebound machine...no way he is worth $3-4 million!
XXIV...and counting
sorry but in no way is niemi worth 3-4 million. the hawks would probably put in an offersheet for carey price before signing niemi to that money.
i think the hawks would rather roll the dice with huet or sign theodore to a cheap contract than pay niemi that money!
campbell and huet pretty much have to go from the hawks roster!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/players/stats?playerId=3937 His stats are better than halak's, better winning percentage, better GAA and save percentage of .912 which isn't much worse than Halak. Difference is though one guy won a Stanley Cup ......given Halak's contract Niemi shoud easily command that money based on that. I know he only has one year experience but he won a cup and his numbers are more than adequate.
his numbers are adequate, but the hawks defensive corps was tops in the league...
I don't really disagree...but I am sure his agent will and rightfully so based on what Halak got.
I would just put both of them on waivers hehe, kidding that would be a bit disrespectful towards Campbell, so I guess the Hawks are stuck with him..for now.
Campbell has a no-trade clause, not a no-movement clause. I'm guessing that if worse came to worst they could try to bury that contract in the minors. Same thing goes with Huet, who doesn't have a no-trade or no-movement clause.
Welcome back, er, I mean aboard.
Are you allowed to trade a player you matched? If so, maybe they got a call from someone else offering more or taking additional salary (Huet).
I remember reading somewhere that if you match an offersheet then you cannot trade that player for 1 calendar year. Don't quote me on that though!
Possibly, but I don't see any teams taking Huet's contract. Especially when Thomas and Turco are on the market.
According to CapGeek if the Hawks match on Hjalmarsson they will have 15 players signed and 113,000 left in cap space.
ROFL.... what a disaster.
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
And when they won the Cup, everyone was droning on about how much the Hawks should thank Dale Tallon for being such a genius...
XXIV...and counting
Could you imagine if they HADN'T won the Cup? They still be in this cap-hell scenario, but with nothing to show for it!
I guess it depends on how much you value a Stanley Cup.
The Hawks saw an opportunity and blew it all on the chance.
It was either worth it because they did win the Cup or a fail because they had to tear down the team the next season.
I consider it a win because they accomplished the ultimate goal after all, and they still have a very good core.
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
I agree that the ends justify the means, but its a marketing disaster for the coming season...
XXIV...and counting
Sadly I think this will be the norm in the NHL, although hopefully not to this extreme.
Stanley Cup champs will face the fact that the players who fill the bottom of the rosters will want big pay increases. And with the need to lock up the core players there is just not enough cap space to make them happy.
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
They're just as FUBAR'd for the following year; maybe even more so: only 10 players under contract, and just under $12 million in cap space.
Iguess if I was the Hawks GM, I wouldn't match. Take the points, trade whoever else I need to maybe packaged with Huet to try and free up enough to get thru the year.
Never mind, looks like they will not take my advice.
c/p off a New York Giants blog today
David G.
July 12, 2010 1:58 PM
Bob Sheppard performed a menial task well for so many years that he became part of Yankees' and Giants' tradition. It's a credit to him to have succeeded, in his humble role, which he discharged with modesty and class, in earning the appreciation of so many.
The evidence of that appreciation prompts my thoughts to turn to the late Roger Doucet, who performed the Canadian and U.S. national anthems prior to televised games of the Montreal Canadiens, Alouettes, and Expos. To say Doucet was superb in his less menial and more challenging role would be an understatement. At both anthems, he was simply the best I've ever heard.
Let's not be so parochial as to confine our appreciation to those who do their work in our city.
Ahjeez...
Does this mean that we'll have to listen to Mike harp on about AK all season, demanding he be benched, have his minutes cut, placed on the 4th line...?
Great. ;)
---Hope Springs Eternal---
Nope, I'm not worried about that lol..
He'll end up on the 4th line on his own!
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 64.5 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
I am stunned! Read it and weep, Gary Bettman's salary:
http://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/article/66196
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
well you don't run a league for nothing!
compared to his comparables, bettman ain't doing so well! but let's not go there.
Yeah, but I wonder what "running a league" entails.
A bloody pile of nothing, I imagine. He's got lackeys to do everything for him; he just has to rubber-stamp things and figure out what he's going to spend his next paycheque on.
---Hope Springs Eternal---
And people complain about Gomez's salary.
Oy Oy Oy!
------------------------------------------------------------------------ After admiring the Stanley Cup: "This is the only thing that has seen more parties than us." - Steven Tyler (Aerosmith's lead singer)
Alright Triple X and Tom, so the lines are set.
65 pts for AK, and I got the under with both of ya.
Winner gets?...Lets decide on the winnings now.
Go ahead with your suggestions, lol.....
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
I'll take your bet, under the conditions that
a) he plays at least 75 games
b) he plays them in Montreal
Winners get to brag, losers never EVER post here again. Sound fair?
Sorry T-REX, I have to refuse for a few reasons.....
1- too many conditions with the 75 games and MTL...
2- I can't stop posting here. If I lose, I have to come back and tell 5% of the night out Tom and I will have at an undisclosed location, on an undisclosed date, etc...
3- I'm taking way too many "friendly" bets here lol...My signature's gonna be 3 lines long.
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 64.5 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
Understood. But who are the takers for far for over 64.5? As a betting man I'd imagine only a fanboy/girl would take the over without conditions.
Pretty egotistical to mention a dislike for someone's opinions when you're trying to make a bet of your own.
I'm fairly certain that Mike probably doesn't care what your opinion of me is and probably thinks it's irrelevant to any bet he might make with you.
But thanks for dragging me into your conversation.
Have a nice day.
Eh, he bucked on the conditions, just thought I'd explain myself. I think it's generally gutless to set 64.5 and take the under, double gutless to not have any real stakes when you've taken the much more winnable side with no conditions. From some guys who are not big AK fans, either.
There's not a bookmaker in the land who would give you 64.5. 55 maybe, 50.5 most likely.
Still wondering, who's taking the over on that bet?
Perhaps you should look at Mike's signature ?
"I got AK at under 64.5 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle."
65 points for AK?
a bit of a stretch. i'd be happy with a 25/25 season from him.
65 points for AK46 eh? So I guess you're predicting a 30-30 (give or take) season for him then?
Interesting pick and, quite honestly, IF he does anything approaching those numbers, the Habs will have one hell of a good season.
If, at the same time, Pouliot could pot 25+ goals, this team could become something of a force.
Just imagine that Price finds his form AND Eller tosses in 15+ goals? Wow.
That being said, that is A LOT of IF's. My fingers are crossed, but IF these IF's don't pan out, this coming season will be no different from last year, imo.
---
Follow Kamal on HabsAddict.com, Facebook and Twitter
I'm feeling confident with the under, lol..
I'm predicting a 25-28 goal season for AK if all goes well..Add 30-35 assists, and that's what I see possible.
Time will tell!
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
It's a win/win for you, Mike, because if you win you get the spoils, but if you lose it means the team is better than you thought!
Yes, it is a win win for me!
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 64.5 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
You do realize that it's a no loss scenario for me too right?
I mean, if I lose, I get to leave my dull life to venture up to Montreal for a weekend and act like I'm 20 again. I get to do it if I win too, it's just more expensive if I lose.
Beautiful!
What a great wager we got goin on...
But can you act like ur 22 again, otherwise I'll have to be the responsable one...
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 64.5 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
Yeah, my body will punish me for the following week though.
Hey Hey..
Don't think too far ahead,....you might not make it back.
Ever see The Hangover? lol
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 64.5 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
Yeah I have but I don't anticipate stealing any tigers.
That's assuming that Andrei plays for the Habs for the entire regular season!
Good point, and there's no guarantee there.
Honestly, IF this team goes off the cliff, I expect a lot of people to be traded leading up to the trade deadline: Hamrlik, Spacek, Gill, AK46, even Markov is not outside the realm of possible moves.
I can't see AK getting 30 assists, since he's more of a shooter than a passer, but if he starts shooting and more and stays consistent I could very easily see him breaking the 30 goal mark.
This sick thing about this guys is that he has the hands to pot 40, but lacks the mental fortitude....at least so far.
So what do you guys think Pouliot will do this year? 20? 25? 30???
---
Follow Kamal on HabsAddict.com, Facebook and Twitter
I think you can throw Spacek and Gill out the window. They aren't going anywhere.
I expect Markov to be signed to an extension prior to the deadline so I would rule him out too.
Pouliot should be good for 20-25.
I can see AK getting 30 assists on goals scored by Plekanec and Cammalleri off of AK's rebounds.
Subban will add quite a bit of offense to the group. We'll be spending more time in the offensive zone because of his full time arrival.
All season Iheard about Gill's ability during the playoffs. I didn't understand it until I saw him. I wouldn't throw him out just yet.
And I'm not advocating getting rid of Gill either, I'm just saying that IF this thing goes off the rails, I think there will be few players who are untouchables come the trade deadline.
---
Follow Kamal on HabsAddict.com, Facebook and Twitter
Loser picks up a tab at an adult establishment which shall remain nameless.
Does it begin with Chez? ;)
------------------------------------------------------------------------ After admiring the Stanley Cup: "This is the only thing that has seen more parties than us." - Steven Tyler (Aerosmith's lead singer)
Deal, deal, deal...
Man, you're gonna either make me love AK or hate him forever lol...
But don't you live in Ontario? The adult est must be in MTL, that's what this bet is based on you know...
Plus, the fancy MTL ladies are always worth the price.
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
I come up there at least a half dozen times each year and for at least two playoff games each season regardless of how many rounds the team plays. I will only visit one place by the way, I'm sure you can guess which one it is.
I'm sure it will be fine.
Hey Tommy, and Triple X for that matter, I just realized we can't have the line at 65 pts. If he ends up with 65, we all just wasted our time and I'll feel really used.
How does 65.5 points sound?
And if Tom wins, I'll make sure you get one of those fancy unbrella's in all of your drinks at the establishment.
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
65.5? Sorry to sound ignorant but what does that mean?
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
How does 64.5 sound?
I don't drink that crap on your avatar by the way. I grew out of enjoying gut rot a long time ago.
I hope you're ready to make it rain.
Deal, 64.5.....
I'm gonna make it thunder.
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
OH I GET IT....hahaha
Yes, I think 64.5 is fair.
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
Hey I only get an allowance guys and it ALL goes for gas and the GF.
Give a dude a break! xD
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
Alright, don't worry our bet only includes me and you. Tom's is seperate...
Mine and yours can put a 12 pack on the line, sound good?
You live in MTL?
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
Ok cool, I can PayPal you the money IF I lose.
ps DOMESTIC xP
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
K here's a better idea...
Our bet can be for a Habs item on EBAY instead of a case of 12. Maximum value of 15$ US, shipping included.
Sound good?
"These head movies make my eyes rain" -Simple Jack
I got AK at under 65 pts, with Triple X and Tom Nickle.
Sure, hope you like bobbleheads. LOL
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
You're a teenager in Alberta and you don't have a job? Seriously?
I was thinking the samething. I see he is going to the U of C god help us all. :)
Taking courses at the U of C then going with the rents to the cottage for August. Yeah life is tough.
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
I guess Alberta is a bit different since the recession, but when I was in grade 12 I was working full time the whole year. Money is so easy to get in that province.
Even the bums on the streets making a good living asking for money in Alberta.
From what I've seen, bums on the street in Montreal do pretty damn well too. There's one guy by Concordia who was studied for a week and he made over 30 bucks an hour.
This one guy in Calgary used a wheelchair as a panhandler to get over 3000.00 a month here in Calgary.
The whole year you had a full time job? Don't know how you managed that.
Did you keep your schoolwork up?
Alberta is actually falling behind the rest of Canada in job creation lately. Even after so many years it is still basically a one industry province.
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
Alberta is a one industry province that is very funny. I guess your forgot about Alberta's Agriculture ie Alberta beef.
Do you just like to refute everything I say?
If you live in Alberta you must realize that ONE syncrude project is worth MULTIPLE BILLIONS beyond the spin off jobs it creates throughout the province.
Alberta beef is but a drop in the bucket.
Are you really employed in the stock market? Oy oy oy!
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
I just give you the facts. I guess the fact Alberta is the 2nd largest exporter of natural gas went a little above your head? Alberta is not just about oil. Im guessing your taking cooking at the U of C, And as me living in Alberta I do in the upper mount royal part of Calgary. What is this Oy oy oy thing you sound like the waterboy for the U of C football team.
Fact 1. gas and oil are usually considered the same thing as far as classification on Industries go...I am sure you ARE aware of that
just as Beef is part of Agriculture or Agrifood
Fact 2. in terms of multiplier effect with respect to jobs and the overall economy the Oil aspect outstrips the Gas even though the value of Gas exports exceeds the value of Oil exports.
Fact 3. Bragging about what kind of 3D television you own or the neighborhood you live in is immature and a sign of someone lacking self confidence
And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
1. The day you come on here with any true facts let me know
2. I have tons of self confidence that is why Im where I am today in life.
3. Someone on here knows I have a 3D tv and asked if I liked wearing the glasses.
4. Don't you have some studying to do? Your lack of facts on the topics you post are coming up very short.
5. How do you think your Leafs will do this year?
I come on HIO for the same reasons most people do, a love for the Habs and it is an enjoyable way to engage other fans.
What is not enjoyable and is more frequent now for some reason, is individuals like yourself with a need to make veiled insults about me and or needlessly refute every single posting.
I have no idea what possible reason a wealthy, self confident professional has to harass a high school student, but whatever rocks your boat dude.
ps you have failed as usual to in any way intelligently refute what I stated as fact
"And I am really looking forward to watching Michael Cammalleri in the NHL. He had an awesome year in the AHL." PIERRE McGUIRE
Post new comment