Hockey is Back

I'm really happy that hockey is back! One of my favourite teams, the Blackhawks, are doing really well. The hometown team is getting in some marvelous fights with the Flyers (and winning now and again, too!) And, best of all, we'll have something to watch other than college basketball when the 'March Madness' stuff begins!

I wish the Islanders would return to their Stanley Cup winning ways.

I remember watching some excellent Islander teams when I was younger. Players like Potvin, Bossy, Turgeon and Trottier come to mind. The best game I saw was around the mid eighties when the Caps (I lived in D.C. at the time) and the Islanders went at it for 4 OT's and LaFontaine won it for the Islanders. By the end of that game, the players were hanging on each other they were so exhausted.

They're talking about the playoffs so soon?? Oh, that's right. The idiots went on strike!

NCAA Hockey finals-Yale vs. Quinnipiac. Hell, the college games are more entertaining than the professional ones! It's hard for me to pick a favourite. Yale has always served good booze and snacks when I've been there, but 'Quinnipiac' is a funny name, they have a better colour scheme for their uniforms and Bobcats is a better nickname than Bulldogs. Decisions, decisions...

You Pennsylvanians are as bad as the Canadians when it comes to hockey. My Nephew (lives near Spittsburgh)has his 5 year old playing ice hockey already...looks like a midget with skates...(No political correctness in Basherville).

Midgets on skates! Now there's a reality show for ya! 5 isn't too young for skating! My Dad first took me out on skates when I was 3 at the skating rink in Squaw Valley, California. By 5 I was happily swatting hockey pucks at him! What sport did you do when you were a little tyke?

Well, he was probably about three when he started to learn to skate...now he's aiming for Pro Hockey.

I liked horse racing when I was an 11 year old tyke.

There's some good money in pro hockey if you can get in it! The same goes for horse racing if you know about horses, odds and all that stuff. I like the horse races for the fun of the event. It's even more fun if there's a casino nearby!

We can beat that! Our Thistledown Racetrack just opened up their casino at the track...forget about 'nearby' it's right there and opened 24/7!



ThistleDown Racino opens in North Randall

NORTH RANDALL — The $88 million makeover of the thoroughbred racing track formerly known as Thistledown culminated Tuesday with the grand opening of ThistleDown Racino.

Owned by Rock Ohio Caesars and operated by Caesars Entertainment, ThistleDown Racino features 1,100 video lottery terminals functioning as slot machines.

After a VIP reception at 3 p.m. Tuesday, the public opening of ThistleDown Racino was scheduled for 5 p.m.

However, when he went to the main entrance facing Emery Road at 4:30 p.m., ThistleDown Vice President and General Manager Rick Skinner was taken aback by the number of prospective patrons already there.

Skinner said he decided on the spot to scrap the plan.

"It's showtime. Let's open the doors," Skinner said.

By 7 p.m., the 2,400-space parking lot was filling and an estimated 1,800 patrons were playing VLTs charging anywhere from 1 cent to $25 per play.

"We're off to a great start. It's been an exciting day," Skinner said.

Colleen Martynowski was one of the opening day patrons. The 55-year-old resident of North Olmsted described herself as an "enthusiastic" player of slot machines.

Sticking to penny slots exclusively with a self-imposed $100 daily limit, Martynowski said she has tested her luck in gambling establishments in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Las Vegas and elsewhere.

"My first impression (of ThistleDown Racino) is positive, but it's hard to get to a machine (Tuesday) because it's so crowded," Martynowski said. "For sure, I'll be back when there are fewer people here.''

With the racino open 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round, Martynowski and other like-minded gamblers won't lack for opportunities to do just that.

Parking is free at the racino. Shuttle buses run throughout the day, carrying patrons from their cars to the casino's front entrance and back again.

There are four restaurants and two bars in the gaming area.

Recording artist and former "American Idol" winner Taylor Hicks headlined two shows Tuesday at ThistleDown Racino.

The first was for VIPs in the afternoon, the second in the evening for members of Caesar's Total Rewards customer loyalty program.

A 122-day schedule of thoroughbred racing at ThistleDown begins April 19.

Simulcasts of races from tracks across the country are offered at ThistleDown year-round. Parimutuel wagering windows are on the third floor.

ThistleDown is the second of seven Ohio racetracks taking advantage of new Ohio laws allowing for the installation of VLTs. The first was Scioto Downs harness track in Columbus.

Not far from ThistleDown, a similar transformation is taking place at Northfield Park, a harness track.

By law, racinos must set aside anywhere from 9 percent to 11 percent of gross revenue for the augmenting of purses for thoroughbred or harness races.

As recently as three years ago, there was no legalized casino or racino gambling in Ohio. Now, in addition to the two racinos, there are four full-service casinos including the Horseshoe Cleveland.

"I definitely think there will be a niche for us," Skinner said when asked about the increasingly competitive landscape of legalized gambling in Ohio.

Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert also owns Rock Ohio Caesars.


http://www.news-herald.com/video/?va_id=4011768&pl_id=&ref=synd

'Racino'. I like that term! Looks like a good place to drop a few bucks and have some fun!

About one week left and the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs will begin!

Hydekelso, looks like your Islanders have made it into the playoffs!

Penguins 5, Islanders 0 in game one of their series.
Hydekelso's not gonna like that!

Penguins took the Isles 5-4 in OT. Chicago lost to Minnesota 2-1 in OT. The Caps are up by 2-0 to the Rangers... No picks yet, but I'm thinkin'..

Hockey Smockey!!!

Hey, hockey is a good, all-American sport! (We do own Canada, right?)

And the Washington Capitals, as they've done for their entire 46 year history, choked in the first round of the playoffs again getting their sorry butts kicked by the NY Rangers 5-0 in game 7.

The field narrows! There are no Canadian teams left in the playoffs now that Pittsburgh defeated Ottawa. The Boston Bruins look like tey'll take the Rangers, Detroit has Chicago on the ropes and LA and San Jose are at 2-2 for their series.

AlainM3C wrote:The field narrows! There are no Canadian teams left in the playoffs now that Pittsburgh defeated Ottawa. The Boston Bruins look like tey'll take the Rangers, Detroit has Chicago on the ropes and LA and San Jose are at 2-2 for their series.

The Penguins are really on fire. I think the LAKings will finish the Sharks in six.

I'll have to cheer on whatever team plays against the Penguins.

I think you're right, Hydekelso. If Jonathan Quick guards the goal as well as he did Thursday, San Jose isn't going to a game 7. DB, you just became a Boston Bruins fan! They're the ones playing the Pens next.

Can't say the same for the Boston Red Sox after today's game!

At least 6-5 isn't a blowout and you'll never have to worry about the Bruins playing the Indians!

GO KINGS!!!!!