A few days ago I visited ESPN's NHL page as I do almost every morning. I noticed a link to a new feature, The host of NHL2Nite, John Buccigross had given birth to the first of what should become a weekly must read. Like Chris mentioned when he found it....it has that free-flow to it and looks like it's gonna be a lot of fun. For the heck of it, I shot John an e-mail, he answered and I realized right away that the guy was pretty cool so I asked for an on-line interview. After finishing up a show at the ESPN2 studios (John MacLean was his old, bald, "I wish I was still playing" guest that night) John checked out Hockeybird and decided it was cool enough and agreed to the interview. I'm sure he's been kicking himself ever since. It's been an idea of mine to do these interviews for a while but each time I thought I had one set up, something would happen to screw it up. I had to move fast so Mr Buccigross wouldn't come to his senses and change his mind. What follows is the first of what I hope are many on-line interviews for you.

OK, we're here in the Bird Cage with John Buccigross of ESPN2's NHL2Night (well, we're not really there and he's not really here). After many years of interviewing musicians for WLIR 92.7 in NY, I thought it would be cool to do some interviews on Hockeybird with hockey people for you guys. John was stupid enough to agree to be the first so here goes.....

Bird:
1. Oh great....I finally get an interview and the first thing I do is call my guest stupid...... Well, nice to meet you JB.....may I call you JB ?

 (nods)

How am I doing so far ?

YOU'RE A TREMENDOUS SLOUCH !

Bird:
2. What in the hell is the deal with you and Cam Neely and does his wife know ?

She is fine with it, she understands that a man has gotta do what a man's gotta do.

Bird:
3. OK, you are running a team and reach the finals....gun to your head, who's the goalie on your team and why ? (you can pick from anyone who has ever played.....Pang will not be considered a legitimate answer)

 Ken Dryden, because he uses big words and is a lawyer. If we lose, we could sue the other team and maybe get the decision reversed. He was a pretty good goalie too.
 

Bird:
4. Colin Campbell is the guy who hands out the suspensions for the NHL. Some Hockeybird readers think he's biased against the Rangers. It's my opinion that he's at least inconsistent. Do you think he holds a grudge against NY (as they fired his ass) and do you think he's doing a good job in what is a very thankless position ? You should know.....around these parts, he's known as Clueless Colin Campbell or....CCC for short.

I Don't think he holds any grudges but I do think he was doing the Rangers a favor by suspending Igor Ulanov.

Bird:
5. John, you and I share a common interest..... bands that kick ass, (we both like Disturbed !) with that in mind what are your top 3 New CDs and why you like them. I highly recommend the latest offering from Lenny Kravitz.

I assume you mean new releases and not all time so......

1) Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American....Just good American rock and roll, good writing.

2) Nickelback - Silver Side Up.......They're a Canadian band.  Muckers and grinders..

3) REM - Reveal.....I'm a huge REM guy and think they have 6 great songs on here........the first three I listen to almost every day.

Bird:
6. From our Fact or Fiction writer, Gabe....Are the rumors involving Kariya being dealt legitimate, or media fodder ?

Who knows.............I'm hearing Colorado recently......I think its time to deal him.

Bird:
7. Also from our Fact or Fiction writer..... Do you think Barry Melrose
looks better with or without the mullet ?

His head is so large its hard to say what hairstyle would work best.

Bird:
8. Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Jennifer Lopez.......who would you most like to take to a Hockey game ? Follow up....why are you taking her to a hockey game ?

Briteny....I'm taking her to a hockey game to show her the art of poke-checking.

Bird:
9. What's is your favorite NHL building and why ?

The ACC in Toronto. Great building.......unique..historical, in the best hockey city.

Bird:
10. The Hockey Rodent wanted to know if whether Keith Tkachuk is UFA this summer.  Someone mentioned that he was, but based upon his age, he appears to be RFA rather than UFA in July of 2002.

He is not, but he he makes 8.3 million and the blues have to offer him that much (qualify him) or he would become a free agent. That's in the rules between the players and owners.

Bird:
11. Also from the Rodent......You recommend doling Petr Nedved to Vancouver for the pick they got in the Linden deal.  But with Messier skating slower and slower, don't you think it would be better for Slats to keep Nedved and for Low to put Dvorak back on his wing.  Wouldn't the move revive both their seasons?

Maybe, but I said Nedved to Washington. The Caps have Vancouver's first pick after the Linden trade. I think Holik will be a Ranger next year and maybe Amonte too. They can trade Nedved for a draft pick to keep the building process.......the Rangers are going to be good for a long time.

Bird:
12. And yet another from the Rodent....Do you realize the if you had gone to Brown U. you would be king of ESPN right now ?

Its good to be the king. I love Brown. It is my favorite campus in America. I worked in Providence for two years. I don't want to be the king. I feel much more at home in the fields with the common man. I don't like palaces.

Bird:
13. Final Question.......how in the hell did you get talked into doing this? OK, really.....what can you tell Rangers fans that they don't already know?

JB: Ummm, Eric Lindros lives near Goldie Hawn in the summer.

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