(Ed. Note: Our series "Puck Daddy's Guilty Pleasures" features puckheads from all walks of life answering questions about their own hockey-related guilty pleasures. It will run daily during the month of August. Have a suggestion for a "Guilty Pleasures" guest blogger? Hit us on email. Enjoy!)
Today's Special Guest: Andrew Fox, a.k.a. bass player Fox Tard of the Canadian punk band The 3tards.
1. The Player You Most Love To Hate
Definitely Daniel Alfredsson!
From the hit on Tucker in the 2002 Eastern Conference Semifinals that knocked him out right before Alfie scored the winning goal to the Krusty the Klown hair he was rocking for a while to the (admittedly clever, but still...) fake stick toss after Sundin was suspended for tossing his into the crowd, I just loathe him. Plus, captain of the Sens is enough of a huge black mark.
I'd hate to see him go though. I'd miss ragging on him.
2. Other Than Your Own, The Team You Can't Help Rooting For
Have to say the Buffalo Sabres. Even though they're a division rival and HSBC is a dead zone for the Leafs, I grew up a Bills fan, and if any city could use a championship, it's Buffalo.
3. Favorite Fight or Brawl of All-Time
Easy. Wendel destroying McSorley in the '93 Western Conference Final after Marty nailed Dougie.
I have a bit of a Wendel Clark bias, he was my hero growing up, and there aren't a lot of guys left (if any) who can score 40 goals and still fight the toughest heavyweights in the league. If only he could have stayed healthy ...
4. The Hideous-Looking Hockey Jersey You Secretly Love The Most
The black '70s era Canucks jersey with the big V on the front. There's that famous picture of Tiger Williams riding his stick in one. My singer John Tard used to collect game worn enforcers' jerseys and at one point he actually owned the very jersey Tiger was wearing in that pic.
5. Your Favorite Hockey Cliché (terminology, traditions, announcer-speak, etc.)
Bob Cole, who's been doing HNIC broadcasts for just about ever, might have trouble identifying players these days, but he has this thing where he calls a great player or an amazing play a "real dandy" as in "look at Mogilny carry that puck up the ice, he's a real dandy." I always loved that, even if it was actually Stevie Thomas doing it. Joe Bowen's "Holy Mackinaw" after a great play or save is pretty badass too.
6. The Injury You Couldn't Stop Staring At (Non-Skate Lacerations Only)
Scott Stevens nailing Ron Francis in the 2001 playoffs, and watching Francis get up and fall down three times trying to get off before crawling onto the bench. Makes me giggle every time.
7. Your Favorite Cheesy Hockey Reference in Popular Culture
TIE: Joey Lauren Adams rocking the Felix Potvin jersey in "Chasing Amy", and Greg House saying Go Maple Leafs to try and placate his Canadian war vet neighbour last season.
7a. Your Favorite Terrible Hockey Card Or Hockey Action Figure.
The Jaromir Jagr Upper Deck draft card featuring the embryonic version of his soon to be epic mullet (or short-long/hockey hair as we used to call it)
8. Finally, What's The Thing You Secretly Respect Gary Bettman For The Most?
Oh man, that's a real tough one.
I guess it's that as much as Ron MacLean has to put up with sitting next to Grapes every week, it took Gary Bettman constantly touching his hand during an interview a few years ago to actually make Ron look uncomfortable. That's quite an accomplishment!