The Anti-Eklund

So, Where's The Article?

2005-02-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

Well, its been over a week and we're still waiting for that vaunted piece of literary genius from our dear fraud Eklund. I suppose he's hoping that by claiming a North American wide conspiracy to shut him up, that his lemmings will forget about it.

In other news, apparently the NHL and NHLPA have been meeting non-stop for 2 weeks. Of course as each day passes Eklund alters his predictions to best fit the current state of negotiations. At this rate he'll be claiming that the NHL will become a summer league.

Let's be prefectly honest here, if he really had the sources that he does, and all the inside info, then why isn't he writing these stories for his newspaper? I find it very difficult to beleive that a guy living in Philly has more access to the NHL head office then the guys who live in either New York of Toronto. Regardless of whether or not they've worked in those offices. And he he does happen to know anyone on those offices they're obviously the janitor because they have yet to be correct. Further, they're info that every meeting ends with a round of high fives seems rather absurd considering that they haven't yet agreed on the substantive issue. Unfortunately, there seems to be a rather deluded (thats right Ek, its deluded, not diluted) bunch of youngsters who want to feel that they know someone in the know.

Finally, the only media guys he admits to converse with are guys that run half-ass websites, and also live in their parents basement. I guess misery really does love company.

No no, Today IS The Day

2005-02-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, all the other talk about the deal being done last week, and then the weekend, and then monday.....well they were all wrong. But our fearless fibber is convinced that today is the day we'll learn if they're for real or not. To that I say great! It clears up one last thing, afterall we knew long ago that Eklund wasn't for real.

On another note, our esteemed media mogul is ready to finally submit his "article". It must be nice to have the luxury of not working with a deadline. He must have some very understanding newspapers at his disposal. I know from my experience that editors tend to get mighty upset when you commit to an article and fail to provide it for print. He must have forgot that they set a section of the paper aside for it to fit into.

Alas, this whole fiasco should come to an end soon enough. Even good ole Eklund must realise that. His postings are more and more lacking the bravado from a week ago. Although he's still trying to convince us that he really does have connections.

Ah well, I guess we'll have to wait with breathless anticipation to see what develops today in the world according to Eklund.

Talks Break For The Day

2005-02-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

Well, talks have broekn off for the day despite Eklund claiming that it was going to be a late evening, at least according to his sources. Does anyone else find it passing strange that he claims that the NHL and the PA have blocked all leaks to the media, yet he apparently is getting all these juciy scoops?

If he were actually a writer, and had all this insider info, would his editor not be absolutely fuming at the fact that he's writing it in a web blog, and not for his newspaper?

It's also rather funny that his sources always come out with their info shortly after TSN and Sportsnet have updated their sites.

Good job Eklund!

Way to surf that net.

He Knew It Was NJ All Along

2005-02-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

Mr. Eklund must have known all along that the meeting was actually in New Jersey, right? Afterall, his sources are so close to the meetings that they can recount the high fives that apparently are common place after a meeting concludes. Yet, he talks about "going up to New York" to follow the meetings.

Lets recap todays "stunning" developments, as recounted by Eklund.

-Sides have been negotiating in New York for four days. (Truth is they haven't, and the meetings today are in New Jersey)

-Players have already voted in favour of accepting proposal. (Funny thing is its illegal to vote on a proposal that hasn't been presented. Further, the players just rejected the NHL's latest proposal)

-His "article" is almost ready to be published. (Thats odd, he's been saying that for four days now)

-Bobby Clark is contacting free agents such as Paul Kariya. (Apart from being a recycled rumour from about 6 months ago, it would be very surprising to have GM Clark pursue any free agents considering his owner is one of the "Hawks" who protects Gary Bettman's position)

With every passing day Eklunds stories become more fanciful. Stay tuned and see what our fearless rumour mongor will come up with next.

A Source Who Can't Write?

2005-02-02T07:19:00.000-08:00

Well folks the latest source is the doozy of all doozies. According to Eklund the NHLPA has already voted on a proposal that they have yet to receive. Now thats some kind of clairvoyance.

Obviously Mr. Eklunds "source" has not concept of how contract negotiations work, or how a vote takes place. It is illegal for a Union to hold a vote on a contract unless it is a formal proposal and has been signed off on by both sides. If, as Eklund suggests, the deal to be presented today is a great deal, then how could they have already voted on it? Further, if this deal has already been agreed to, why would players such as Chris Chelios start playing on the UHL and risk injury?

Mr. Eklund will never answer these questions because he hasn't considered them before publishing his reports.

A little advice, before you report a rumour (or make it up) try to ensure that there are few errors of fact in it. Otherwise you end up with egg on your face. Better get a towel.

Just The Facts???

2005-02-02T05:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I just received word from an unnamed source that Eklund has really stepped in it this time. Apart from still not having his story published, and another flawed rumour about 4 days of continuous meetings, he has made an even bigger fool of himself.

When you first go to a blog you always like to check the profile of the blogger. I am no different. Thus I was surprised to see that Mr. Eklund claimed to have worked for 2 NHL teams in the past. However, reading his "article" yesterday he mentions that he has only worked for 1 team. You'd think that he wouldn't forget something like that. I guess the lies are starting to catch up with him.

Anyone else find it passing strange that on monday he claimed that the two sides would get together on tuesday or wednesday, and then yesterady he claims that they'ev been meeting "solid" for four days? My guess is that when TSN announced that the two sides were meeting on wednesday, he had to try and trump their story. This, my friends, is the calling card of a liar. Once they feel their credibility slipping they have to try and one-up everyone else in an attempt to maintain their popularity. Afterall, this is nothing more then an attempt to gain acceptance and notoriety.

Make no mistake, the only "meeting" the two sides have had since last week is via e-mail. You know something, I'm beginning to think that Eklund is actually author Dan Brown...

No Really, He's Writing An Article

2005-02-01T04:57:00.000-08:00

Ah yes the great day we've all been anticipating has come to pass and of course the revered Mr. Eklund has not published his article. Now, if this were an ordinary joe like you or I, then it would be perfectly understandable. Afterall, we have jobs and families to worry about. However, for a seasoned writer such as Mr. Eklund banging out a feel good article about the fans should have been a cakewalk. Lets face it seasoned journalists can write an article in between periods. However, Mr Eklund was dedicating a whole day to writing this gem and still can't get it done. Now if it were a busy scoop day then perhaps he could be excused for his tardiness. But we all know that the silence was deafening.

Apart from this obvious display of incompetence, he is also now resorting to simply copying and pasting poorly worded posts from other sites. Gone are the days of secret IM's, and clandestine meetings. Now, for someone who claims to be so intimately connected, why did he have to wait and hear it from some poster after the fact. You'd think that an email to Brian Burke would have made it to the email of Mr. Eklund. Of course that's predicated on him actually having insider status.

Well, who knows what today will bring. I'm sure there will be another round of high fives after some imaginary meeting. And, of course, the usual "scoop" about the players ready to sign whatever's put in front of them. Well we learned one thing for sure, he has no clue that Sportscentre has a segment called "The Insiders" and thinks that in between hosting the morning show on the FAN590, and being on the Hockey Central panel for Sportsnet, that Gord Stellick has the time to write a rumours Blog.

Maybe on their call-in segment between 9:00 and 10:00 this morning I'll phone and ask him about it.....

Hyperbole Run Wild

2005-01-31T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well well well, it would appear that after spending the last week letting his imagination run wild, our dear friend Eklund is finally starting to deflect attention away from his "deal in principle" headline.

Now, rather then continue to try and delude himself anymore, he is turning his attention collecting stories from folks who have been affected by the lockout. Of course apparently he can't publish their names because Mr. Bettman has a media blackout on the fans thoughts. What is even more amusing is that he truly thinks that the knowledgeable fans actually beleive what he is writing. If he were preddling the truth then we would have had an agreement announced yesterday. Afterall, he promised it wouldn't go past this weekend, and according to his sources every meeting between the NHL and the PA ends in a round of high fives.

This leads one to the inescapable conclusion that either Mr. Eklund is fabricating his stories, or his sources are about as reliable as a telephone repairman. Either way it kills what credibility he claims to have.

If, as he claims, he is such an accomplished writer and insider, you'd think he'd pay far more attention to facts, or at the very least grammar.

Do I claim to know anything more about what is to take place over the next few days? No, but that doesn't mean that I'm going to prey on the well meaning fans who will cling to any shred of hope. As long as Mr. Eklund continues carry on is his non-sensical way, I'll be here to call him on it.