Some Programming Notes

For those of you who are keeping track of such things, we are less than a week away from actual professional hockey players skating around on the ice surface of the Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The ending of the summer doldrums is also going to provide me with an opportunity to finally get back on track with this here blog.

I've planned my vacation time at work to coincide, more or less, with the opening of rookie camp (as well as the opening of my latest play) and last through the first weekend of training camp. Which means you can expect the KHFC to be transformed from a sparingly updated blog lacking in any real substance, to a frequently updated blog lacking in any real substance. But at least I can promise you daily updates (And pictures, too! Probably!) from KCI. In fact, there are even plans in the works for a journey up to New Jersey to see the kids take on Philadelphia's own obviously inferior group of rookies.

So stay tuned, because everything is about to get a whole lot more interesting around these parts.

Islanders Bloggers Sent to the Box

There are two reasons I never applied for a press pass to a Capitals game like many of my fellow bloggers. The first, and most important, reason was that my blog isn't all that good or regularly updated or anything like that.

But the MAIN reason was that I would never, ever, be able to comply with the "No Cheering" policy. My brain is hard wired to make me jump in the air and start yelling any time a puck crosses a red line between two red pipes, whether I be yelling in jubilation or yelling a string of profanities. So I think this is a brilliant idea, and I'm kind of disappointed in Ted for not thinking of it first.

EDIT: Be sure to check out the Venerable Off Wing Opinion's take on the whole thing. Obviously.

Caps-Thrashers Viewing "Party" Update

Okay, looks like everything is set to go. Word on the street is that we will have to settle for ESPNZone (11th & E St, NW, near Metro Center or Gallery Place metro stops). It goes without saying that I probably could have planned this out a little better, but this is what we get the first time around. (Hey, it would have been a lot worse if not for all the work CapsChick has also put into it. In fact, should you decide to show up, I would highly recommend buying her a beer.) I will try to show up around 6:45 (faceoff is 7:30). Wondering how you'll find us? Look for the red-white-and-blue baseball cap with the old-school Caps logo on it. The one with Craig Laughlin's autograph on it. That will be me.

Any questions, comments or complaints should be directed towards kevinhatcherfanclub (at) gmail (dot) com.

I realize, based on the comments under the original announcement, that many people wont' be able to make it due to the incredibly well-thought-out combination of last-minute notice and holiday-related obligations, and I promised that I would make sure this happens again sometime soon. I'd like to make this a monthly thing, if possible, and with that in mind, I've got a tentative schedule for future Caps Blogger Get Togethers:

Tuesday, Jan. 16 - vs. Ottawa @ 7:30
Tuesday, Feb. 20 - vs. Montreal @ 7:30
Monday, March 12 - vs. Atlanta @ 7:00
Wednesday, April 4 - vs. Atlanta @ 7:00

Obviously, this is all very tentative. Especially the February one. The Caps play the Penguins twice in February, and both are weekend day games that, as near as I can tell, won't be competing with any other big sporting events. So I might try to put something really big together for one or both of those games. Also, one of those dates might get replaced by a Blogger Get Together night at Verizon Center for a home game.

Caps-Thrashers Viewing Party

It is a true testament to my disorganized ineptitude that, in spite of the fact that this was my idea and I have been largely involved in trying to get it organized (with much help from CapsChick), Eric over at Off Wing Opinion still managed to beat me to it. I hope everyone else finds that as hilarious as I do. Moving on...

I am a big fan of meeting other bloggers. I've done it before on a few occasions, and it has never resulted in anything other than unending hilarity. And drunkeness. Bloggers like to drink, apparently.

So it is with that in mind that I extend this formal invitation to any of you Caps bloggers who would care to join me this Friday to watch the Capitals on the road against their heated rivals the Atlanta Thrashers. As of the writing of this entry, the actual location of such a gathering is still somewhat up in the air. I have a place in mind but there might be a band playing during the game, which is problematic. I'm shooting for a bar somewhere around U Street or Chinatown. But rest assured I will come up with something soon. Just, you know, make sure you're schedule is clear Friday night. And check back here. (Also, if you have any suggestions as far as a particular place you think might be a nice place to meet, send them along to the newly minted kevinhatcherfanclub (at) gmail (dot) com)

Allow Me to Explain

Back in April, I entered, with much trepidation, into the scary world known as The Blogosphere. My ambitions were decidedly small. All I wanted to do was bitch and moan about how much I hate Peter Angelos, and make some crude jokes about various sports-related topics. The only rule I had for myself was that I wanted to try and keep my blog neutral, rather than turn it into a blog devoted to any specific team. To that end, I did everything I could not to spend every single entry rambling on about the Washington Capitals, to little avail.

It was right around the time that Donald Brashear's fists were opening up Vitaly Vishnevski's face that I came to realize that if I wanted to keep the Opossum-Palooza relatively free of my obsession with all things Capitals, I would need an outlet through which to channel my over-active opinioning. Thusly, "The Kevin Hatcher Fan Club" was born, regardless of the fact that there are some twenty other Capitals blogs clogging up the series of tubes known as the Interweb. Not to be confused with an actual fan club, this is simply an irreverently-named blog devoted to the neurotic ramblings of a lifelong Caps fan living in Northwest DC.

So, to those of you familiar with my "work" over at the O-P, thanks for stopping by. I promise it'll keep going at its usual torrid pace. To those of you not familiar with the O-P, head on over there, then come on back here for what will probably eventually be reduced to a series of bodily function jokes and quasi-plagiaristic recaps culled from AP reports.

Enjoy.