C.J.'s head games

[GROWL99]

While reflecting on why my team lost 3 out of 4 on all star weekend, I realized that C.J. Yoder might just be the smartest player I ever played against. I pride myself in knowing the tendencies of my opponents, and hope that they don't know what I'm thinking on the rink. In looking back like a Monday morning quarterback, I now see that C.J. not only was in my head, but also in Yings and Sauces head, all at the same time. It happened while we were on the powerplay, me on the shooting side for a lefty, Sauce on the opposite side, and Ying, down around the goal line, on my side. I could almost see C.J. smile when I took two steps toward behind their net to do a patented Houdini pass that always has the goalie looking on the wrong side of the net, while the weak side forward is celebrating, so I had to scratch that idea. Next up was to hit Sauce across for one timers that are a certainty when that kid shoots them, the only problem was C.J. was putting his stick in the passing lane every time I wanted to zip one over. His stick looked like a toll on a bridge, and I had no E-Z pass,literally. Every time "Sauce" tried to find a new passing lane for me, C.J. seemed to look over at him with a face that said "good thinking kid, I would've done the same thing", and have been for a lot longer than you. Poor "Sauce" had nothing to do over on that side, and I felt even worse when he had the puck, trying to get it to me, knowing the mind torture that he would have to go through. Finally there was Steve Yingling, who has probably had to go through this every weekend for over 20 years. Steve, the best down low player in the league, a player who you want to have the puck, in a phone booth type situation, with he and the goalie, was handiling the puck as if he was expecting to be robbed. His reason on the bench, C.J. knew what he was trying to do when I gave him the puck. Amazingly, all of these situations happened in less than one minute of power play time, but continued throughout the course of the game for me, at least. Always thinking to myself if C.J. is getting a read on me, I felt like a poker player that was forced to go all in with a 7,2 offsuit against pocket aces every time I attempted a pass in his neighborhood. That's what separates him from other great players. He has not only great tools to work with, but an equally great mind to read every situation. That's one good poker player. I fold C.J..

[extremes55]

i wish i was a great hockey player like JV, sully, or CJ

i just thank god that i'm a great poker player

[yokes]

Here ya go Jimmy. Now what happened when a unnamed goalie had Flynn call a timeout and restructure our powerplay?? I know it wasnt easy for him to tell Flynn you wouldnt be out there for it but a change was needed and worked. I wont go into the play because there is a team out there that has and will use it to success to change things up. Just thinking that this player should get some coaching dues on this one ;)

"Only God saves more than Yokes"

[GROWL99]

Geez Yokes, I hope Ying wasn't out there either, because it was his failure down low that was most troublesome to our futile production on the powerplay.(not that I would ever point a finger at Ying) LOL. One other thing Yokes, where the heck was that unamed player when we should've pulled our goalie in that 10-4 loss. I'm trying to remember who was in net for us that game...hmmm

[33]

the whole power play had to slow down to wait for you to get down the rink. thanks for not pointing your finger. i will let you guess which finger i'm pointing right now.

[yokes]

I believe he was in net and looking for a number for shock therapy, along with another number which i found and is 333-3673. If you cant figure it out look at your phone and spell. He wasnt saying that our pp was futile just that a coaching suggestion turned in immediate results, and Ying was out there for it. I think that goal should have read 12 from 27...

"Only God saves more than Yokes"

[GROWL]

settle down yokes, you're certainly no todd wiley... while i think switching to a box did help, i think it was getting TJ on the rink that was the key. He had a hot stick over the weekend and the long shots seemed to work against the colorado guys. The Growl guys will keep that in mind, for future use :o)

[CoachClipboard]

?????? Pardon Me???
ohhh I get it. I coach, kinda. Lost me there. Isn't hard to do.
When you lose say little. When you win say less.<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by CoachClipboard on 04/13/06 06:42 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

[CoachClipboard]

for the record Yokes, I punched that number into the phone? (yeah, cuz as Jay says Im gullible) And some little old lady in Tucca Arizona answered the phone and started screamin something at me about her pizza delivery being late. Thanks man.

When you lose say little. When you win say less.

[Hystyk28]

"I could almost see C.J. smile ..."

My guess is that the smile may be more related to their ONLY being only 151 more days to kickoff.

[Icedogs8]

You must have had nightmare's all week Jimmy...

I'm older and slower!

JT8

[yokes]

TJ please chime in anytime with the words i told you all weekend...

"Only God saves more than Yokes"

[GROWL99]

LOLOLOLOL, great response Ying, I walked right into that one. Good for you.