Their socks, you guys.

I don’t know where this came from, but I saw it in five places and decided that equals public domain.  They are so damned cute, I don’t think they’d care!  Everything is making me happy right now: Mr. Pants & I bought a house yesterday, Mike Green is both married and actually smiling, everyone’s a grown up and this season  is going to be fantastic.  Bring on the hockey.

Happy Monday.

Love, Optimism

Mike Green scored two goals last night, including the OT game-winner. Including me jumping off the couch, from under a pile of blankets, which is the equivalent of true love when it’s 4 degrees outside.  Dust off the “Game Over” nickname!

I mean it. Can this please be a thing again?

Mike’s goals were the 100th [video] and 101st [video] of his NHL career. Thanks to the folks at Japer’s Rink, this Elias/ESPN stat: Mike hit 100 goals in 483 games. Only Sergei Gonchar took fewer games among active defensemen (461) and Shea Weber’s the only other d-man to reach 100 G in under 500 games (495).  Maybe Mike should have outpaced Gonch – Remember when MG had 31 goals in a season?  Gonch had 26 as a Cap in ’01-’02. – but beggars, losing teams and Pants can’t be choosers.  Hey, Mike had as many goals as Ovi last night!

(Love the Japer’s Rink HTML file name: wednesday-caps-clips-mike-green-is-such-a-friggin-badass.)

The Caps had previously lost two shootouts to the Sabres this season. Feels good to get a win – only the Caps’ fourth in 13 games – even against the worst team in the NHL. Who are the only team below us in the Metro.  Again, I digress.  We’ll take the good – and the goals – where we can get them!

I noticed Buffalo’s Ville Leino rocking an impressive beard, and wondered if he wanted to get the growth in now since the Sabres won’t be making the playoffs. Then I realized Mike has been lightly bearded almost all season too… hypothesis deleted. No thought can be so handsome and depressing at the same time.

Back to post-game happy face [video]:

Gah, I missed that!

There has been little to write on Mondays this season, but any day can still belong to Mike.  Please let it be for goals and wins and not losing streaks. Or neck tattoos. Or all this talk about trading him [Washington Post] and keeping him [RMNB, Capitals Outsider, Japers Rink].

I’m firmly in the KEEP MIKE camp, and not just for selfish reasons of hair excellence.  The Caps have problems.  Mike is not the biggest one.  Nor is he any longer a top-2 defenseman, which maybe eases the burden of pressure that has plagued his game in recent seasons.  Overpaid for a top-4 guy, yes.  But he QBs the powerplay, still shows that offensive glitter on occasion and has already been on the ice for more of this season (50 games) than the previous two full NHL schedules (49 in ’10-’11, 32 in ’11-’12).

The Caps have hung their hopes and hats of Mike for a long time – maybe too long – but now is not the time to jump ship.  Or create more problems.  Finally healthy and potentially confident, Mike Green may be the one Capitals problem that could actually solve itself.

Mike is not used to sharing this MG stuff with anyone.

Say what?

Mike did have two assists vs. Chicago, plus another two since then and he’s quarterbacking a heck of a power play.  The Caps were the NHL’s best power play last season and currently have a league-leading 4 PPG, converting on 44.4% of advantages.

Mike also leads all NHL players in ice time with 84:54 so far this season.

Mike: Guys, what do I have to do here?
Erat: I don’t know, I’m on the 4th line now.

Annie S was at the Caps/Hawks game and took these great pictures for us.  She (and I) suggest Mike get back to work because:

– It’s almost our collective birthday (Friday/Saturday).
– They’re playing the Canes on Thursday and Intern Jeff Skinner was first star last night. The competition around this office is fierce.
– @jfrancesw, @thekitchenette and I will be at Saturday’s game vs. Colorado and Gabe is back in the lineup.  Don’t let your hair get upstaged.
– Lastly the Oilers come to town on Monday.  One week away and I feel like I’ve had a pile of Pixie Stix and a giant Coke.

Okay, I’m focused.

The Caps are 1-2 right now, with their next 3 match-ups vs. teams they should beat.  The schedule doesn’t stay easy for long, boys.  Take advantage.

And by your face, I mean Mike Green’s.

The Capitals Convention was this weekend, so Mike’s friends are along to make your Monday better.  I had a hot date with Deb (@DLF1021) and Pam (@sunnyinNJ) who packed their high-powered cameras.  Every picture here is used with their permission – please don’t steal them!

There was a player ping pong tournament in which Nicky B looked adorable:

He got in trouble for cursing at a later panel.  Piglet dropping f-bombs.

And Troy Brouwer wore these shorts:

Photographing the screen was the only way to get all that, but here’s a money shot from RussianMachineNeverBreaks.com.

The competition was (not at all) serious.

While Deb & Pam watched shorts run around on stage, my randomly selected autograph session ticket ended up being for Mike Green.  I personally vouch for his hair being 1000% and I even managed not to fall off the stage.

Just when I thought the highlight of the day had happened, Mike participated in a cooking competition.  Making grilled cheese sandwiches.

Did I write this script or what?  While the PA played Bieber and Britney, Mike and his fan-assistants won all three rounds of the contest.  He looked pretty pleased with himself and relieved not to have set the place on fire.

All this *and* I can boil water.

While we all have a weakness for sandwiches, the best panel of the day was Locker Room Stories hosted by @wyshynski.

Brooks Laich, Eric Fehr and Aaron Volpatti told lots of redacted stories about pranks and superstitions that had us cracking up and other players’ ears ringing, even on their new teams.

We also decided that Brooks Laich should run for President.  He’s diplomatic and sensible all while being ridiculously charming and having great legs.  It’s a combination so powerful the law should overlook the fact he wasn’t born in the USA.

It wasn’t me.

Deb and Pam capped off their weekend with Caps practice yesterday, which I sadly missed.  Perhaps it was for the best, considering this happened:

Yup, I’ll just stay over.  Behind the glass.  Sitting on my hands.

Welcome back, Monday.

Mike is still in DC, Tweeting about car shows and country concerts (ah, summer).  He recently shot a commercial for local Michael & Son plumbing and heating service.  The Caps have had some fantastically awkward TV spots in the past, here’s hoping this one takes the cake.

From http://www.michaelandson.com/

Confirmation: Still no neck tattoos.  Yes.

These two pics from Mike’s website

Speaking of Mike’s website – it’s very new and shiny: mikegreen52.com.  We love the idea, the layout, and especially the plethora of cool shirt designs in the online store.  

Note to other players: Do your own shirts!  Please.  Make them different, put things on the back, price them at $25.  We can only stand to own so many t-shirts that look the same.  Everything about this is great, including the way they’re arriving in cute packaging with autographs.

from twitter.com/greenkid52

It feels like a hundred years since the Caps’ season ended, doesn’t it?  At least we know (so far) Mike is making good use of his off season!

]]> http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/06/24/mikey-monday-doing-it-right/feed/ 1 http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/05/13/mikey-monday-game-seven/ http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/05/13/mikey-monday-game-seven/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 15:56:12 +0000 http://wuys.wpengine.com/?p=16418 It’s Game 7 time.  Heart in mouth, prayer in mind, lucky clothes on body time.  Every superstition, every trick, every measure of defiance will be in use tonight like it’s the Battle for Hogwarts all over again.

Whether you’re watching Rangers/Caps or Leafs/Bruins, I defy you to make it through the post with your blood pressure intact.

Play this song:

Then play this song:

Then play them again.  I can hardly sit still.

Mr. Pants is gonna have to hold me down.

Before the Caps Game 5 win, Mike posted this photo.  Are you still standing?  LIAR.  Here’s hoping it works again.

Pets and cuddling and selfies?  Lookout, Landeskog.

See you tonight, hockey fans.

Is there anything to say or think or even feel that that isn’t breathlessly captured in these photos by clydeorama from Jasper’s Rink?

Anything else you want to hug?  How about a giant adorable dog?

from Mike’s Instagram

How about Mike’s NHL Network CISCO Arena Cam interview?

Or perhaps the most exuberant Tweet of my entire life (so far)?

It was Mike’s 18th career GWG, including 8 in OT.  That’s why he’s GAME OVER Green.

Somebody make sure I’m okay before tonight’s game.

And don’t tell me this just happens when you take off your helmet….

Post-Game Video – April 18

I have 108% faith in the Capitals right now.  This hot streak, this hair and even that captain are going to make it happen.  Now, how to get out of visiting family dinner tomorrow night to go to the game vs. Winnipeg?

For my real job, I do entertainment PR and was lucky enough to work with Joel Ward and the Caps on a special screening of the new movie 42.  Joel wears number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, and hosted our event on Wednesday.

A handful of other Caps also attended: Erskine, Fehr, Laich, Wolski and my new favorite, Steve Olesky.  All the players and staff were great!  The event was a huge success that generated tons of publicity and made me look really, really good on paper.

Additional Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Word.

I mean this kind of paper::

And I did okay on TV too.

Here’s the video, feature starts at 1:04

Turns out it’s much more weird to hear myself than see myself.  We’d rather see Guerin, she is stunnnnnnning.

This feature played on the Jumbotron during the game vs. Tampa Bay on Saturday.  Thank goodness I wasn’t there – that’s too much!  Also the Caps blew a 5-1 lead and I having a meltdown.  But Mike saved the day – he scored the OT game winner because he wasn’t about to let my game go out like that.

Thanks Fidget, this now doubles as Mikey Monday!

Hugs for everyone!

More thanks to @raedanda for seeing this video first, and @jlrpuck for catching it in the arena.  It was great to meet @rockinredbirdie and see @chelskiDC too!

Polish Connection: Wolski, @raedanda and Olesky

How I looked Saturday night, only with a scream of joy.

On Saturday, after hitting the post earlier in the game, Mike banked one in behind Jhonas Enroth to tie the game with 42 seconds left in the third period.

The Caps later won the game on a shootout goal from Ovi that caused Matty Perreault to have the greatest celebration in history:

Closer?

close up .gifs by cadetsandkings.tumblr.com

 More?

I could/will/have watch(ed) that a thousand times.

Here’s Mike on the post-game… if he were blond, I would be shipping a Dread Pirate Roberts Halloween costume so hard right now.

Mike even got a little sassy on Twitter post-game, calling out someone who called out his early-game play.  While I’m not generally a fan of revenge chirping, it had to feel SO good.  And it earned the rest of us this:

Love you too, Mikey.  But don’t scroll back through my Twitter feed, ‘kay?

Sunday the Caps played again, this time vs. the Flyers.  I might have driven up for the game, but I couldn’t behind my steering wheel after Easter lunch.  Just as well, I would’ve fainted when this happened:

As it was, I launched off the couch for the kicking equivalent of a Matty P Party. Mr. Pants was both alarmed and impressed by my sudden outburst of energy.  Alas, the Caps got back into the game just to let it get away.  They scored 2 more (In 26 seconds! Both on the PP!) early in the 3rd, then gave up 2 and went to OT.

Damn Flyers won it in extra innings.

Someone on Twitter called it an “unacceptable loss” and I have to agree.  With this state of the union, they can’t be letting leads get away and momentum die a terrible death.

The promising news is, the Caps are tied with Carolina.  The two teams play tomorrow in Raleigh.  Please, please, please let the Caps bring their A game.  They need to hopscotch over the Canes then worry about NYI and NYR for that 8th spot, all while setting their sights on the Jets for 1st in the Southeast. The only way in is to win, a lot, from here on out.

What do you think?  Here’s the Caps’ schedule for the rest of the season.  Can they pull it off?

I don’t think “I miss hedgehog, fidgety, Jersey Shore-style Mike Green but at least this guy has a manicure. *P  #CapsNYR” is what they were after.

They could have gone with #CutYourHair or #DontYouMissWhenIWasHot or… I’ll stop.  Mike did have a goal in Friday’s rout of Winnipeg – an old fashioned slapshot from the point reminiscent of his “Game Over” days (at the 2:57 mark).  Remember those?  Aren’t they gorgeous enough?

More please and you can keep the hair!  Too late for this, though:

From Ovi’s Twitter:

I love these dorks, though I don’t understand what they’re so happy about (this was before Boston/Carolina, so forgiveness may be granted.).

Other news – these pictures.  Decide for yourself if it’s good or bad because I am in hysterics.  Can I have NO opinion and EVERY opinion all that the same time?

Is this real life?

I presume these are from Mike’s recently-made-public Instagram.  I’d look for more but I’m so afraid of what I’ll find.  It makes me question everything, like what is life?  What is conditioner?  Do you think he uses that WEN dry shampoo from the infomercials?

I flat-out screamed.  Explaining why to my coworkers was on the awkward side of impossible.

I need to coin a phrase for how all this make me feel.  Flail-safe?  It’s somewhere between “fail-safe”  (as in impossible to mess up) and “I spazzed out and tossed my laptop in the sink?”

I need a moment.  It’s so good to see them together though!  Ovi’s really helping out Mikey Monday with his Tweets about Carolina man-dates.

Cardigan.  I have to stop.

 Soundtrack to this post: Flight of the Conchords, “Most Beautiful Girl in the Room.”  Depending on the street, would he definitely be in the top three?

See?  Pouty.

The Bing homepage knew, and reached out to me.

Are you kidding me?  Pouty no more.

Mike skated the other day.  That’s hopeful, if you’re the kind of person who thinks that twice a year is often enough to buy Girl Scout Cookies.

Somewhere these two are just trying to get back to us, but their human forms just won’t cooperate.  It’s like The Little Mermaid.  They just want to be part of our world.

]]> http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/03/11/mikey-monday-still-here/feed/ 6 http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/03/04/mikey-monday-try-try-try/ http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/03/04/mikey-monday-try-try-try/#comments Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:03:58 +0000 http://wuys.wpengine.com/?p=15162 Mike’s hurt again.  Or he was never really better.

He missed three games in late February after aggravating last season’s groin injury, then came back for two matches.  All was not well – he did not practice Friday or make the weekend trip to Winnipeg for the Caps’ 3-0 win on Saturday.

Perhaps afraid this look would not pass airport security.

What else is there to say?

There is currently no timetable for Mike’s return.  My depression is multiplied by the fact that everyone knew this would happen – and only 30 minutes into the movie season.

What?  Too dramatic?  (Insert haircut joke here.)

After losing 6 of their first 7 games, the Caps are mounting a little comeback. They’ve won 6 of 10 – 5 of those against Southeast Division opponents.  It doesn’t hurt that the Southeast is still the worst division in the NHL.  The Caps play Boston and Florida at home this week, then spend the weekend against the Islanders and Rangers.

At this point, it’s not a question of “Can the Caps win without Mike?”  It’s a matter of figuring out a reliable, practiced backup plan for replacing him whenever he’s out.  One that (please) is not Jeff Schultz.  Increasing the role of rookie D Thomas Kundratek [link] and workload of Tom Poti are fine stopgaps, but not solutions.  Just as Ovi seems to find his mojo and teams above them get hot (Winnipeg won 5 of 7, Carolina won 4 of 5), the Caps can’t afford to lose a big on offense or defense.

But hey, we’re winning some games, right?  On the subject of Caps D, let’s love on iCarly for a minute.  After an abysmal start to the season, John’s got 8 points including 1 G/1A last week vs. Carolina – a game in which he had 6 shots.  See what happens when you cut your hair?!  And help a kid?

So maybe it’s not that bad.  For the sake of optimism, enjoy Bleacher Report’s Washington Capitals: 3 Bold Predictions for the Final 2 Months of the Season, including:

• Ribero will finish in the Top 5 in points
• Ovi will reach the 20 goal mark
• The Caps will win the Southeast Division

I’m trying to keep my Capitals glass half-full… of beer.

I’m the one person who hates ‘Groundhog Day.’

Mike Green is hurt.  A “lower body injury” kept him out of last night’s 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers.  It likely happened late in the Valentine’s Day victory over the Tampa Bay.

By then I’d already eaten all the chocolate and drank all the wine I would’ve used to drown my feelings.

Be honest, 14 games was a long time for Mike to play without getting hurt.

The Caps next game isn’t until Thursday, at home vs. NJ, and Coach Oates has said he hopes Mike will be back in that lineup.  They won’t comment on the nature of the injury.  It’s extra-scary because of the groin problem that plagued Mike last year and resulted in sports hernia surgery.

Mike’s having a solid season – 2G/5A and 7th overall in the NHL for ice time, averaging 26:33/game.  He’s been one of the Caps best players… which isn’t saying much, mind.  The least brown banana.  But desperate times call for desperately clinging to shreds of formerly glorious hopes.

The Caps had won 3 straight prior to last night – scoring 15 goals in the process and leaving us all shouting, “Wings! Pizza!  Don’t use them all up now!”

They managed to climb out of last in the NHL rankings.  A little hot streak now could distance them from some of these teams and really get them moving up the standings.

It’s worth nothing the Southeast Division has the League’s lowest win totals.  Carolina leads with 17 points.  That can/will help the Caps as their play hopefully continues to improve.  NJ is the most frustrating team in hockey to play (or watch someone play) against, so Thursday will be a real test.

You don’t want to see this. David Clarkson has 10 G in 15 games.

Let’s hope it includes Mike back on the blueline.

]]> http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/02/18/mikey-monday-this-again-2/feed/ 3 http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/01/21/mikey-monday-whip-my-hair/ http://whatsupyasieve.com/2013/01/21/mikey-monday-whip-my-hair/#comments Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:40:06 +0000 http://wuys.wpengine.com/?p=14288 The bad news is the Caps lost their season opener vs. Tampa Bay.

The worse news is they lost 6-3 and got dominated by some old(er) guys (Brewer, Lecavalier, St. Louis) and a kid fresh off the AHL bus (Conacher).

But the worst news is this:

Mike Green used to style his hair with a mascara wand.  He once tossed his helmet before a fight just to show it off [video, never gets old].  Now he looks like a broke backpacker who woke up on the Jaipur train platform just in time for that 20 hour ride to Mumbai.

Old Mike Green would never have allowed this.

Post game interview video.

Mike did play nearly 27 minutes, a good sign for early-season conditioning and proof that he is, in fact, finally healthy.  He had two shots and ended up -1.

The Caps home opener is tomorrow night vs. Winnipeg.  I’ll be there, and this hair will be too.  It’s going to take some great MG52 on-ice performances for me to stop missing the last time he was nominated for the Norris…

Baby Mike, circa 2010

(Apparently it was too optimistic to expect the Caps to give me something to talk about after only one game.)

1.12 Post-practice video

Only kidding.  He shaved his neck beard to show he cares.  (Clearly he read our Puck Daddy playoff beard coverage.)

It wouldn’t work anyway.  If we liked this Mike Green:

And this Mike Green:

Then Cat Stevens here is just another phase.  Look at that smile!

I’m so glad to have him back right now I don’t care what he looks like. (Hahaha, RIGHT.)  Too bad for anyone who does – the Caps took roster photos Saturday so even if Mike goes back to this tomorrow:

pleasepleaseplease

You’ll be looking at the Grizzly Adams beard all season.  Sorry.

Far, far worse than the grooming situation – Mike missed two days of optional practice last week to have Lasik.  That means no more of the shriek heard ’round the Tumblr world over this:

Does this signal the end of Emo Green?  Or is a beard & shag the new glasses-and-a-VW Bus combination?

UGH.  I’m all for Mike not getting a puck to the head every other game, but let’s not pretend that was due to his eyesight.  In his first practice back, Mike crashed into Neuvy and went ass over tea kettle into the net (as documented on RussianMachineNeverBreaks.com).  Some things never change.

I have NO idea what you mean. – 1.13 Post-practice video

Side note: There’s almost real hockey to talk about.  I’m so relieved.

Alas, I’m stuck in this crappy version of hockey-challenged reality.  At least Tumblr wouldn’t leave us alone on a dreary Monday that promises to drag on all week until holiday vacation time.

Tumblr presents – An ode to Mike’s hair:

And one to his tattoos, which I still don’t like.  Apparently that doesn’t matter as much as I once would have thought.

Alterna-Mike has completed his transformation.  Once upon a time, we’d have testified in court that he styled his hair with a mascara wand.  Now this hat is the new hairdo.  It makes my eyebrows feel really inferior.

And this shirt makes all other shirts jealous.

The event featured a bar crawl poker tournament (cool idea, read about it here) and Mike Green.  What more does a girl need?

THIS HAIR.

Photo by Kevin MacDonald via Russian Machine Never Breaks

I don’t know what to say.  It’s somewhere between “I think I love it” and “I had this haircut once, in a tragically ill-advised attempt at a pixie cut.”  Either way I could never get away with that shirt he’s wearing.

There are a few more pictures over at RMNB, who also report that Mike picked up the entire bar tab.  He kinda had to after offering:

Bravo to him, good work by everyone and let’s get this damned lockout ended tomorrow because Mike needs to make some of his money back.

Listen, Bettman.  I need hockey.  Not just for the skating, shooting, scoring and screaming.  I need a pre-game skate at the Verizon Center bumping “I Get a Good Feeling” and this man with no helmet on while I cling to a Dunkin’ Donuts ice tea and try not to faint into someone’s expensive rinkside seat.

I cannot even even wait till Monday.  Mike Green has honest-to-God hockey hair and I need to see it IRL.

Honestly, Mike could not be less my type of guy (except for the Canadian and hockey parts).  Tattos and long hair and hipsters?  Bring ’em on!  This Dorothy will never surrender.  If he wants to live in these woods with no iron for his shirt, that’s fine. I hate ironing.  Also skinny jeans have EXTRA small pockets, an excellent showcase for hand tattoos.

This holiday season, I’m thankful for Foxy Fridays, and friends who send me the same MG52 photo within minutes of each other in the middle of the freaking night.  Amanda & Deb, I hope Santa is good to you this year.