Among Warlords, Drug Dealers and Hockey Fans

I just had a look at the info provided by Statcounter regarding the visitor on this little page. Apparently there are a few of you navigating yourself to these pathetic ramblings at one of the many dead ends of the interweb. The geographical spread is what I am most impressed by; I have visitors from as far afield as the Philippines and Taiwan, India, Afghanistan, Chile and Colombia. My personal favourite hits (I didn't really know I had any favourite hits until now) are from Kenya, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. That most of you end up here by mistake is a completely different matter. Failed contraception and 'accidents' is something best discussed with your parents...

There is so much useful information provided by statcounter I almost get overwhelmed. I am happy to see the majority using Firefox. I can apparently get information of your OS and screen resolution (1280x1024 seem to be the hip setting of today) among other things. It just stops short of giving me the phone number of your long lost cousin with the saggy boobs. In all fairness to statcounter, it should be mentioned that it is the free version I'm using. 

Honestly, there are much better places to be right now

I'm not telling [hint, hint, notch, notch. Say-no-more, say-no-more] where some people are coming from or going to afterwards. Lets just say I find it slightly disturbing that this page somehow brings up such associations. But hey, everyone to their own! Just glad to be of service(?).

If you're ever feeling down, put any page you find through a translation tool + language of your choice. It would cure the most severe of depressions. I am happy to see some of you using my page for this.

But finally, feel free to comment and leave feedback. I'll most likely not give a shit, but a slap in the face is better than a kick in the nuts as my dear father claims. I still don't know what the fuck he means, but it somehow seems appropriate to use now.

Now, back to the Olympic hockey bronze game - Go our-lovely-but-somewhat-peculiar-cousins from Finland!

AIK Denied Move

The Swedish Hockey Association has finally had their meeting to discuss AIK's motion for a move to KHL. As predicted, the Asssociation denied AIK this with the motivation that 'A united domestic ice hockey movement is in the best interest of Swedish hockey and its development'. They also point to the benefits of international collaborations and competitions but state that international cups would be the best way to achieve this.

The Trans-Siberian railway track will not be extended to Stockholm.

Would AIK make the move [they have stated they will not go against the decision of the Association, and IIHF would most likely not allow the Russians to take in a Swedish team without SHF approving it - so in effect this will not be happening], SHF states that the club would have to start from the bottom tier should they want to rejoin the Swedish league. This in combination that there was no proviso that this decision would possibly change would other teams come up with a similar plan, is a right kick in the nuts for Loob and the Nordic Trophy teams, who are looking into joining KHL/starting a 'Nordic' conference of the Russian league. Basically, the Swedish Association will not allow them. At long last, someone is standing up to the 'big five'.

Butt-shagged by the NHL - again.

Sweden has finally got an agreement with the NHL regarding the export of players from Swedish clubs. The clubs have long said the compensation for players has been insufficient - and rightly so.  Under the previous deal, clubs would get $200.000 for a player heading to the Dark Side.

Under this new deal, the Swedish clubs have now managed - following long and hard negotiations - to get an astonishing $225.000. Talk about pay-rise! And who said Swedish Hockey officials don't drive a hard bargain?

Malmö into the Wall

As we're into the final stretch of the ordinary season, the erratic results that have marked this season continues. Last week, Leksand embarrassed themselves losing at home against Björklöven and yesterday, as Malmö fell flat as the Skåne countryside at hosting Borås, losing 5-0, as they had the chance to move up on the same points as AIK in the chase for the last automatic qualification spot to Kvalserien.

Outmanned, outnumbered, outplayed!

With only seven games to go, someone need to develop a do-or-die mentality to avoid having to qualify through play offs. Four points separate Växjö, AIK and Malmö.

At the other end of the table, Sundsvall and Oskarshamn must be looking for divine intervention in order to avoid relegation. Miracles do happen, but very rarely in Oskarshamn.

How Not to do Marketing

The clubs in Allsvenskan were rewarded with a better TV deal than ever when they signed with Viasat before the start of this season. The clubs are rumoured to recieve something in the region of SEK 1-1.2 million for the rights to broadcast the games.

Viasat in turn has an agreement with the Schibstedt Concern, who among other publications owns Aftonbladet, the biggest tabloid in the country (the paper is also the most visited website in Sweden). Schibstedt has also a fairly new online pay-per-view sports channel in S24.se, the Viasat agreement allows S24 to broadcast a number of games from Allsvenskan on their portal. Viasat has their own PPV service with viasatondemand.se, this unlike S24 is however geographically resticted to Sweden (and possibly Finland - but I am unsure of this).

This has worked well, or at least as well as expected from live online TV broadcasting.

However, last week S24 announced that, due to the economical difficulties faced by AIK, they would donate SEK 10 per ticket bought by AIK fans to view the away game against Bofors IK (AIK won 5-2).

For a media company they do surprisingly not seem to understand the impact of this action - they probably thought they'd come across as nice and helpful with this token gesture. Bofors was of course incensed by this move. AIK supporters who might have come to watch the game are now told they will help the club economically by watching it on the web, hence Borfors losing money from the gate and sale of refreshments. Other clubs and fans are asking how a company supposed to cover the games unbiased are allowed to sponsor one team and not the others.

Supporters from Växjö has rallied around calling for a boycott of the channel, and as Växjö fans are apparently buying most tickets for the online games, this can have unwanted implications for S24.

A supposed representative for S24 has posted a message on different boards explaining their decision. The amusing thing is that some of the claims in the message do not add up.

1. This is part of an ongoing drive to help all individual clubs.
2. Other teams are occasionally given five free codes to offer fans.
3. Other teams has been offered this type of arrangement before, but none have as yet been inclined to accept.

Blahblahblah. Corporate bullshit at its worst! Let's look a bit closer. 

1. That sounds all good, but uncharacteristically  charitable for a profit making company. But hey, each to their own! 

2. It is a slightly different matter to give consumers a freebie than to pay money into the account of the club they support. The clubs provide S24 with a good channel in which to directly source customers. I can't see the clubs rejecting this (unless they are hosting the game and might lose money on people staying in) and it increases the awareness of the company as far as S24 would be concerned. This 'cost' would fall under marketing - this is a known and tried formula they use. Normal marketing - no problem. 

3. This is where it sounds odd. Are they asking people to believe any club would have turned down the prospect of getting free money? I can bet you both my balls and a bluberry pie that this has never happened. I make a good blueberry pie by the way.

The facts are very simple. S24 are not making money and need to sell more than they have so far. AIK has many fans (that few care about ice hockey is another issue) and as so few go to watch the games, S24 simply see this as an untapped part of the market that they want in on. The general idea was most likely that they would get some publicity through this move - at least Aftonbladet ran with it (surprise!) and AIK fans knowing the club is needing all the money they can get, might just start watching the games online - and hopefully more than just this once. I can't see that this move put more than a few hundred in the AIK coffers, why this is in practical terms means that S24 just shat in their own handbag for no good reason.

The clubs have sold the TV rights and should not be expecting any more money than they have already received. But maybe due to the ill thought out move by S24, they might be in line for a small additional contribution as they will be forced to do this for the other teams as well. Thank you!

Charity Starts at Home

Leif Strömberg and Leksand really has taken the old proverbial 'Charity starts at home' to heart. On evidence of last night, Chairty now starts in Ejendals.

It must feel good to be so good.

Cameras to be introduced in Kvalserien

As expected, goalmouth cameras will be installed and used by the referees in the upcoming Kvalserien. In Allsvenskan this is not the case and although voices are raised for cameras to be used throughout the season, I have concerns about this. Of course it would be preferred to be able to use them, a lot of people however seem to forget there is a considerable cost to do so. Installation of the equipment is by no means done for free and with several clubs stuggling to stay alive this will not help them. Then you have the running cost of extra referees. This again will not be too popular with some clubs having an attendance counted in the hundreds rather than thousands.

 Brought to you by Bauer

Some clubs would certainly not want to be promoted to Allsvenskan if they know it might mean the death of the club, due to this imposed investment. In Kvalserien however, I agree they should be used. One incorrectly allowed/disallowed goal could mean SEK 30 million in difference. Considering that any team who would be promoted would have to make the investment in a camera system anyway, this was an obvious decision.

They are also discussing to possibility of using the four referee system. The trial in the LIF-AIK game worked out in favour of it. But again, there is the cost of around SEK 30k-50k for the extra man on the ice. It sounds a lot, but apparently that is the cost of the extra zebra. The clubs are currently consulted about this.

What's in a Kiss?

What's in a kiss
Have you ever wondered just what it is
More perhaps than just a moment of bliss
Tell me what's in a kiss.
What's in a dream
Is it all the things you'd like to have been
All the places that you haven't yet seen
Tell me what's in a dream.
I know it's really rather stupid of me
But I honestly don't know
Every time I try to find a solution
I'm surprised at how quickly I become so slow.
What's in a kiss
Have you ever wondered just what it is
More perhaps than just one moment of bliss
Tell me what's in a kiss.

And any time you need a light refreshment
Baby you can count on me
I am your very own delicatessen
Well equipped to supply you with your every need.
Well what's in a kiss
Have you ever wondered just what it is
More perhaps than just one moment of bliss
Tell me what's in a kiss.

Gilbert O'Sullivan

Correct answer: 10 minutes in the cooling box

Lovebirds

Note: After Pelle Prestberg scored, he threw a kiss towards his old coach, Roger Melin, now in AIK. The referee(s) assumed it was aimed at the AIK bench and the forward was sent to rest for 10 minutes. Melin acknowledged after the game that there was part of ongoing banter between the two of them and that there was no malicious intent.

Cursing the... game...

Leksand beat AIK in a very tight game 6-5 in a highly anticipated battle between the two top teams of the second tier in Swedish ice hockey. None of the teams on display would, by the evidence of tonight's game, deserve a place in the top league (OK, the bottom is fairly crap in the Swedish Elite League, Elitserien, but would still be having a good time against these two sides).

Ok, your teams are worse than my outfit. So, shut up.

[The section below has been rewritten the morning after the game. Must learn not to drink and blog]

There has been talk of the Curse of AIK with Leksand only beating their counterparts twice over the last couple of seasons. Despite the win, it would be stretching it to say the ghost was completely exorcised - but at least for the time being the bragging rights are held at the southern shores of lake Siljan.

Notable is that seven of the eleven goals came in powerplay (5 for LIF, 2 for AIK). A lethal powerplay is today very important to win games, but equally important is to have a solid boxplay - take note Melin! On the other hand, there is now just over a month for LIF coach Strömberg to get the 5-on-5 play working, starting with play in defensive zone and how to pass a puck. Both outfits will indeed have their next few practice sessions planned out.

There were however some very good individual displays yesterday. On his evidence of his performance, Christian Sandberg, should be able to walk into any team - at least you're welcome back to Dalarna on a more permanent basis. Tony Virta/Jussi Pesonen has started showing why they were brought in and should prove valuable for the team in the coming two months..

You're Rubbish Referees!

With Leksand having an average of 16.76 penalty minutes and AIK even worse off with a staggering 18.72 minutes per game, I doubt we'll see much 5-on5 tonight. Especially as the Swedish Association has decided to give it a try with four referees tonight. I expect that both men will be as efficient as their predecessors and I therefore predict a total of (16.76 + 18.72) x 2 = 70.96 minutes of exhilarating 5-on-4, 4-on-5, 5-on-3, 3-on-5, 4-on-4, 4-on3, 3-on-4, 3-on-3 for tonight. Woohoo!

You've blown the whistle three time in a row - next time it's my turn!

On the Solna Sunset

The demise of AIK is continuing, now more apparent on the rink as well as through the news coming from the boardroom. Leksand is hosting the club tonight and it is not unlikely we will see them cash in their third consecutive loss. The recent results mean they find themselves dragged into the battle to avoid the play off games to qualify for Kvalserien. With Malmö showing superb form - 8 straight wins recorded - and both Växjö Lakers and Almtuna breathing down their necks, AIK will have to regain their composure to ensure an automatic qualification spot.

False advertising - it's always cloudy in Solna

Personally I think they will struggle. It must be hard to play in the environment created by the off-ice issues at the club. When the board states the club is unlikely to survive unless they are allowed to play in KHL next season, there are more then a few implications for the players. If you're not even good enough to play in the Swedish top league, how could you cut it in KHL? If the club is denied the move, you're most likely either having you pay cut and/or having to find yourself a new club. Talk about job-satisfaction being on an all-time high!

On top of this, you have the continuing problem of empty seats at their home games. Over the last few games, the average attendance has dropped to under 2000. This is of course not only adding to the already severe economical problems, but obviously unhelpful for the players. Are the fans already looking east, or have they just given up? This is a major problem for the club, and has been for some years. With people going to the games, sponsors would be happy to splash the money and AIK would arguably not be in the position they find themselves today. 

It is truly a sad statement made by the fans [sic.] as you see their football team playing a pre-pre season friendly in front of almost 4000. Outside. In early February. Winter. This, while the hockey section is struggling for survival.

Fuck me!

Leaves about to drop?

There is a major crisis at Björklöven; the team has only managed to take six points from their last 13 games and are now facing a real battle to stay in Allsvenskan. Many fans will be happy to learn that sporting director Arto Sirviö has decided to leave the Umeå outfit at the end of the season, but is the timing to announce this the best? Well, maybe for him as the risk of him being marched out of his house and hung from the nearest tree has been apparent for some time. We will undoubtedly find out in the next few weeks.

Hand over the mike, dude.

While Björklöven is dropping like a rock, Troja/Ljungby has got a bit of wind under their sails and has claimed some impressive scalps recently - Leksand, Bofors and Borås, to mention a few. Sundsvall  is also quietly maintaining their points harvest. With ten games to go, the battle to stay up looks more uncertain than the battles at the top end of the table.

Hockey wants to be Free!

Tonight I am taking another - hopefully the final - step in my long and hard search to bring viasatondemand to my computer. Due to rights issues there is no possibility of watching the stream from a IP based abroad. With Swedish proxies being hard to find/rubbish/unsuccessful in getting through the system at viasat, I have had an agonising time this season. Funnily enough s24 - the other channel streaming hockey, has no rights issues with my not living within the borders of the country. That they are crap is a completely different matter. Not that I expect viasat to be any different...

Regardless, I hope for a major breakthrough this evening. A little bit of tweaking, a few adjustments, a bit of this-and-that with a good helping of luck, I'll be sitting through just over two hours worth of buffering and pixelated stuttering. Life is good in Allsvenskan!

 

And I'm not even charging you for it!

46 days, 3h 24m 42s

The countdown to Kvalserien has now officially started. It's just enough time to defeat Mora, humiliate AIK, thrash Malmö and take care of the rest in due course. That should leave enough time to make sure the skates are sharp and the ice is polished before the proper battle commences.

KHL Chaos - TBC

AIK has had a members meeting to decide if KHL is the way to go or if the club should stay in the Swedish system and fight a losing battle to survive.

The meeting, attended by 200 odd supporters, voted in favour of KHL, but with the proviso that the board should investigate the actualities in more detail before another meeting will take place where the final decision will be made. This meeting will only be scheduled once the Swedish Ice Hockey Association has had a meeting to decide if AIK will be allowed to enter a foreign league.None of these meetings have been officially scheduled yet.

There are some major complications occurring due to this non-decision. KHL wants a final answer be April 1 for entry to the 20010/11 season. Qualification to the Swedish Elite League, through Kvalserien, starts in the later half of March. AIK has already budgeted for participation in this and look like they will qualify for the competition. A representative of the national association has however made a statement saying AIK will have to play in Sweden next year if entering Kvalserien.

So, what did we decide again?

I find it strange that the AIK members have given these I-will-but-I-won't messages to the world. It would have made much more sense to say nothing and await the more detailed study to be made by the board, or a clear Yes or No. This leaves the Swedish Association unable to make a decision in the question as they do not know what AIK's application to KHL would entail, KHL has been clear from the beginning in stating the deadline for an application (oh yes, AIK would have to apply to see if they actually fulfil the criteria set out by KHL, so an application is no guarantee), but are now facing requests from AIK to push back this deadline so the club can try to qualify for the Elite League. Talk about aksing to marry your girlfriend, on the proviso that you can hook up with you ex for a week long shag-fest. If she gets preganant you might go with her instead. Fair enough!

AIK has put themselves in a very precarious position and I am unsure who will make the first move. Something will have to happen before March 21, so story to be continued.