Hello NY and everywhere else…..it’s me, Bird. Some of you who read the boards over at the Rodent know he is on his way back east. We spoke recently and at that point he was fine and all was well. What you didn’t know is that I’m in the process of moving too. No, not back up north…..I’m leaving one town house for the one next door. Cheaper rent and nicer stuff….it was a no brainer. Well, my brain hurts from trying to move all our crap and I haven’t been following the pre-season. I hope to have everything sorted out in a few days. Until then, HDH should keep us in the know and you can visit some of the other sites to get the inside info. I hope all of you are well and I look forward to settling in and getting started with the new NHL season as soon as possible. Until then…… Wait, I almost forgot. R.I.P. Reggie Dunlop. —-}- Bird…

Good luck and all our prayers to those in the path of the hurricane. We know about these things as the video below was recorded by me during Wilma down here in Florida in 2005. A nasty storm that still effects my financial situation to this day. There’s another off the coast we’re watching as well. Hannah Montana or something. Uncle Larry makes the case for Shanny one last time….er, OK another time. “It’s possible that Sather is holding out as long as possible on Shanahan in order to retain No. 14 as an option to fill a hole if the Blueshirts shed a group of wingers that would include Petr Prucha in order to create cap space for free-agent center Sundin. Possible, but is that likely?” While that makes some sense…..I’m beginning to think that Sundin will not wear a Rangers sweater anytime soon if at all. The machinations of the cap space clearing seem too great to overcome. Why would Sather ruin a rebuild and gut his youth for one unlikely shot at the Cup? As I’ve said in the recent Hockeyrodent-Hockeybird radio shows, I’d love to see Matts at MSG. I just can’t see how it could happen given the roster, the cap and the future. Again, good luck to those facing Gustav. I’ll raise a beer with all of you in my thoughts. —-}- Bird…

One has to laugh as internet rumors are pretty much the only action hockey fans have right now. Sure, we watched the Summer Olympics and some of us kill time watching the conventions here in the U.S. but we are all looking forward to another NHL season. Over the last decade or so as sites like Hockeybird were created, more and more NHL fans from all over the world follow their favorite teams via the internet (instead of working). While here at Hockeybird we stick to opinions and commentary, rarely breaking or making news there are some sites that deal with rumors and speculation. One of these sites recently posted on a possible NY Ranger trade…..and it’s a doozy. Here’s where Larry Brooks of the NY Post and I agree. In the past I have been a little critical of “Uncle Larry” and his sources. While I’m sure that Larry has major contacts and gets excellent info, he can at times offer up some stuff that’s just BS. However, as bad as his record might be with some of his rumors….Eklund has evolved as the King of Crap. His recent “Gomez to Vancouver” has some people scratching their heads as to why they ever gave this guy a second look. Larry Brooks put the rumor to rest in his latest……so Larry and I completly agree on something. Full disclosure, I was contacted by Eklund and we did speak on the phone. This was sometime last year. We discussed writing for his site and I suggested he read some of the stuff I wrote about him before talking any further. He did, and we haven’t spoken since. I can’t imagine why he hasn’t called……. So there you have it……goofy internet rumors force Larry Brooks and Hockeybird to agree. Hardly big NHL news……but we’re still a few weeks away from what we crave, NHL hockey so this will have to do until it starts. Man I hate August. Ok, you really want to be entertained? How about reading Rocha. Yep, the same guy who used to do the report cards here now runs Rangerland.net and his latest is one of the reasons his site has become a must read. Of course, you could also re-listen to the latest Hockeyrodent Hockeybird radio show. Or…..you could shellout a few bucks and take a trip. I’m sure I read somewhere that Messier will be attending camp. No, not Mark but his son. Now I’ve always thought about Mark in a Gordie Howe sorta way….but you don’t think he’d…..no, I won’t say it. I just won’t. Beer me. —-}- Bird…

In my days at WLIR in NY I was lucky enough to have worked with some of the local talent including the Dancing Hoods. Their song, “pleasure” is featured in the opening of the latest Hockeyrodent Hockeybird Radio Show which can be found here. Listen to the lyric on the Dancing Hoods song, it contains one of my favorite lines. Well, two as I am tickled by the line, “I love you honey but not that much….” Oh, right….the Rodent and I discuss Shanny and Sundin. We also have a little tribute to Fasto & Fruitloops. Enjoy! Comments can be posted here on the boards. Beer Me! —-}- Bird…

Hello NY and everywhere else, it’s taken some time to get this together but the Rodent and I finally spit out a podcast. Don’t be alarmed, that is Joan Jett at the begining of the show. It’s OK, she’s a personal friend so we won’t get sued (I hope). Grab it here. Be warned, the 20 meg file size contains a pretty lenghty show totaling nearly two hours….most of which does deal with the Rangers. But hey, it’s not like anything is happening so take your time listening…..we have plenty of time before camp opens. Thanks to the readers of Hockeybird and Hockeyrodent as well as leaderboard.com I hope you enjoy it. —-}- Bird…

Way back in ‘04 during the lockout I was put in touch with the Rangers first round draft pick, Hugh Jessiman. He was kind enough to answer a few Qs for us and since he’s resigned with the Blueshirts I thought we’d go back and read it. Here ya go. He’ll need a good camp to make the team but we sure could use a guy with his size. I’m still rooting for the kid to blossom and this sure would be a great year for it to happen. Good luck Hugh…..and thanks again for talking to us! —-}- Bird…