(Get) A Sporting Life

Usually, my unreasoned rants against the Post-Dispatch come after I read the St. Louis paper of record. But, apparently, my dislike for the paper is so zen, that I’m denouncing articles before they’re even printed. A week ago, I complained bitterly in these pages about the atmosphere at the Feb. 17 Blues game. Well, at least now I know who to blame : The Blues' in-game entertainment owes much of its new look to Mark Tamar, the team's first vice president of entertainment and event marketing. They lured Tamar from Washington, D.C., where the NHL honored the Capitals last year for best fan experience. A puff piece is a puff piece is a puff piece, but a film major bringing in a Blue bear named “Louie” has put fans back into the seats? If so, shame on the fans. (Although, even I recognize the naked appeal of the Seinfeld look-alike and “kiss” cams). I’ve got no problem with the team paying attention to the “fan experience,” but I sincerely hope that attendance is up because o...

I don't care if you read editors notes or not, you are going to get a little foreshadowing. I got this in my email the other day: I saw the Blues trounce the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday. This is the team struggling for a playoff spot? They played with speed, power, intelligence, and an indefinable zest for life. The passing was crisp, with defensemen looking to get the play quickly up ice all night. The power play generated a number of quality chances. There were a few boneheaded plays, such as the shorthanded goal. (Although, I was at the game, and I still have no idea where that Blue Jacket came from. Was he standing by the Blues' blue line the whole PowerPlay? It was like he appeared there via some tear in the space-time continuum. So, given that the Blues defense (I'm guessing) lack a working knowledge of theoretical physics, I'm gonna give 'em a pass on that one. Especially since they were unaffected, and simply continued to dominate as they had ...