The Dark Ranger: The Garden Says Stay Home

Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More fourteen years ago, this site emerged as a means (or an outlet) to tell some truth'isms about the game post-lockout, rather than the crud fed to us through knuckleheads like Jimmy Dolan and his lemmings universe. Today, there are a hundred Rangers sites and is thankful and grateful to all those that have come after him, but honorable thanks go to his fellow Dark-writers, Graying Mantis and J_Undisputed. And "Let's Go Rangers!"

Bio of General Ganz

General Ganz is a cynical yet well-informed student of the human spirit. He's a professional of sorts, with a post-graduate education, some experience working in real companies, and some limited athletic ability. The total small package. He got picked on a fair bit as a kid, and he experienced his first human-non-relation kiss in his teens. He also grew up on the other side of the tracks, thereby helping to cultivate a healthy contempt for dreamers and optimists whose rosy upbringing gave them something to smile about, even when "life produced lemons." Like it or not, his only mission is to point out the potholes you're lucky enough to miss on your drive to work. To find the blemish on your daughter's carefully-stitched (and not-yet-paid-for) wedding dress. To take that little smidgen of hope that your favorite hockey teams fill you with, and pour orange paint on it. Oh, and he is a Blueshirts fan, and takes most of his fashion direction from Ron Duguay (whose name he dropped as a way to close the deal on that first kiss).

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Garden Says Stay Home

Ah..the Olympic Break and a break from all Rangers coverage for you, the readers, and us bloggers. With the New York Rangers coming off a stunning two wins, one against the defending Stanley Cup champions and the other a surging Tampa Bay Lightning -- NY management decided it was time to recognize the season-ticket holders and send a reminding gift that the playoffs and renewals are soon coming, an expression that The Garden treats us well and takes care of it's own.

So today I received a NYR glass popcorn maker. We couldn't make this shit up.

I actually received this today dear readers of DARK (along with another 12,000 people today), accompanied with a Ranger bag of popcorn to go along with it. This was an odd choice. (also because it strangely looks like a Blueshirt Bong -- see picture). In other words, the message I received today was...

STAY HOME AND WATCH HOCKEY FROM YOUR TV EATING POPCORN.

News flash to the MSG marketing department: I always appreciate the free stuff, but perhaps a New York Rangers special jersey, hat, t-shirt, a commemorative Olympic program showcasing the Blueshirt talent would have been more appropriate at this point in the season, or even better, something I can bring to the Garden to show my support and show my friends and family as I further exploit your brand?

Folks in Garden Blue, popcorn takes extreme heat to pop, so maybe this is perhaps symbolic of John Tortorella and a non-popping team? Maybe you are sending us unedible kernels? This is a perfect parallel to how the fanbase feels about the team this year as we continue to shell out economy-shaken-hard-earned-dollars for a gesture created by young MSG marketing interns posing "everyone has a hat...! so why not a Blueshirt diaper bag? a Blueshirt battery charger? HEY a popcorn maker!!!!!" Think about what these expensive novelties have to do with the fan. Come on. Be smarter.

We are looking for value as season-ticket holders. Save the cute expensive gifts as we are ultimately paying for them. If you really want to think about your fans, lower the ticket prices.

tdr

3 comments:

J_UndisputedThursday, February 18, 2010 4:43:00 PM
" This was an odd choice. (also because it strangely looks like a Blueshirt Bong ..."

MSG probably figured hell, season ticket holders must have been on something to have watched this team for the majority of a season and still be this sedated... and you guys would have to really get baked out of your skulls to pay for or even envision a post season this year.

Either that or perhaps Dolan bought a stake in overstock.com and needed to clean out a warehouse to make room for all the 4th line players/aging enforcers/wannabe toughguys/ once upon a time D-men, etc.
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Graying MantisFriday, February 19, 2010 12:23:00 PM
Hmmm. I did not get one of these beauties. Yet. Instead, I got a gym bag with a Rangers logo. I may have made out like the proverbial bandit . . . unless you got one as well.

How about the Olympics -- the USA has taken care of business better than Canada and Russia. Wow. Hiller was magnificent for the Swiss. Looking forward to Sunday night's showdown -- Canada v. USA.
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UnknownFriday, February 19, 2010 4:26:00 PM
I got the duffel bag too. Is that the difference between the "lifer" plan, and the ...other one? Is it family or something?
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