"Goodevening New York and everywhere else, I'm D.J. Bird ....welcome to the Birdcage, live on 92.7, WLIR....The station that Dares to be Different." That's how I opened my shows back in the 80's in my radio days. These days, instead of radio I do this.....and instead of music, we talk hockey.

In our attempt to give you something to help kill the time in what's looking like a long off-season, we here at Hockeybird are very happy to once again get the chance to talk with John Buccigross of ESPN fame. John was kind enough to become the first Birdcage interveiw and for reasons beyond me, agreed to do it again. I am a huge fan of this guy, his TV work and his web column if for no other reason than that his passion for the game is so obvious in his work. So break out your favorite tunes, grab a beer and some chips as we discuss hockey and life with John Buccigross.

Bird:
Larry Brooks, Ranger beat writer for the NY Post has stated that he believes that the NHL does have it out for big spending teams like the NY Rangers. If this is true, why do you think that is ?

John Buccigross:
I dont't know what Brooks is inferring. I think the NHL realizes it's players salaries are too high for all their teams to be profitble. And that should be the goal. Companies should share their wealth with its workers, but they also should be able to make a profit.

Bird:
Have you ever told Gary Thorne how to correctly pronounce Dale Purinton's last name ? It's not Purr - Ing - Ton , ya know. I won't even get into how he botcthes Manny Malhotra's name.

John Buccigross:
No, I haven't. But, we once hugged at a Shania Twain concert.

Bird:
Is contraction at all a possibility as we look forward to the great work stoppage of 2004?

John Buccigross:
The commissioner is adamant their will be none, but to get an agreement where some of the struggling franchise would mean a drastic change in the current CBA. For that to happen would likely mean a long work stoppage. Contracting would probably actually make a work stoppage shorter, because making new economic rules for teams like Edmonton, again, would mean a big change in the rules.

Bird:
What will you be doing if the NHL goes dark for an extended period of time?

John Buccigross:
I will probably have a different job.

Bird:
Do you think that ESPN will renew it's contract with the NHL?

John Buccigross:
Yes I do.

I asked a follow up to this.....but we haven't heard back from the big guy.

Bird:
Why do you think that hockey players are so much cooler towards the fans than players of other sports ?

John Buccigross:
Probably because they come from two parent, mostly middle class homes where the tone is set early to sacrifice and be kind to others or you'll get your butt kicked.

Bird:
Is it true you watch the Anna Nicole Smith show ?

John Buccigross:
That is not true. Although I once dated her in the late 80's.

Bird:
I recently read that Sam Rosen and John Davidson will be the voices for a hockey video game. Would you do anything like that and what video hockey games do you play, if any ?

John Buccigross:
I would like to do something like that. I have the xbox system and play all those games..

Bird:
Can I borrow ten bucks ?

John Buccigross:
No. Can I borrow 20 bucks?

Bird:
Please speculate on any rules changes we may see for next season.

John Buccigross:
I forsee none on the horizon. The only one possible is if any player, now its just a goalie, clears the puck over the glass, it's a automatic delay of game penalty.

Bird:
What three things will you do to occupy your time during the terrible, long hockeyless summer?

John Buccigross:
Golf, beach and my obsession with all things pottery.

Bird:
Your pick for the Rangers next head coach ?

John Buccigross:
Craig MacTavish

We asked this before the Oil re-upped the coach.

Bird:
Given that you and I both picked the Rangers as a sure thing for this seasons playoffs....will you join me and pick them to finish last next season so the reverse whammy can take effect ?

John Buccigross:
Let's wait and see what they do in the off season

Bird:
What websites do you most often visit other than the ESPN page, and of course....Hockeybird ?

John Buccigross:
weatherchannel.com, andrewsullivan.com, and www.mullets.com

Is it possible that John meant Hotmullets.com ?

Bird:
What is your reaction to having web searches for your name ? I get scores of them here at Hockeybird each month.

John Buccigross:
Hold me.

I wish to thank Mr. John Buccigross for taking out the time to do this. He has been very good to us here at Hockeybird in sharing his thoughts and views. We hope to check in with John from time to time in the future.

John Buccigross is the host of NHL2Night, which airs Tuesday-Saturday on ESPN2. His e-mail address -- for questions, comments or cross checks -- is john.buccigross@espn.com.

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