July 5, 2009

It may have taken awhile, but there's finally news in English. Kinda. Kaspar has put his NYC condo up for sale, or rent if you're strapped for cash. It's a 1300 sq.ft. condo at 205 E. 59th St. with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Just a meer $2,595,000. Oh, or $7995/month if you want to rent, but you're technically throwing your money away and getting no equity. Everyone's saying now is a good time to buy! For more info, go here, or call his realtor at 917-860-2782.

January 7, 2008

It's a new year (as if you didn't know) and special thanks go out to Alexander Tarasenko and Sasha Yaremchuk, some super SKA fans who emailed me after I posted on a forum at the official SKA site! They sent me this groovy link to Kaspar's very own LiveJournal. There are some lovely videos on the blog (I especially like the one of practice... I've got a few videos like that from Pittsburgh that I should post!) I'd love to tell everyone what the blog says, but since I don't speak Russian, and I couldn't find a translater... well. Let's just say, "It LOOKS cool!" And if you read Russian, it'll be a great way to keep up with Kaspar's doings and goings on!

December 15 , 2007

How weird is it that Kaspar is now playing hockey in Russia, and his coach is American? Here is a recent tidbit from the New York Times:

In Russia, With Love

One of the oddest stories in hockey this season involves a 54-year-old from Buffalo adjusting to life in St. Petersburg, Russia — and thriving.

Barry Smith, whose name appears on the Stanley Cup in five places as an assistant in Pittsburgh and Detroit, is now the coach of SKA St. Petersburg and has the club in second place in the Russian Superliga. SKA has never finished higher than third in its 61-year history, and that was in 1971.

Smith, the lone North American coach in the Superliga, has quickly become a star in St. Petersburg. In a recent chat on the SKA Web site, scores of fans wrote in to thank Smith for finally bringing winning hockey to the city, pleading with him to stay on and even asking that he coach the Russian national team.

“I can only say that I’ll stay at SKA through the end of the season,” Smith said, adding that he missed his family. “After that, we’ll assess the situation.”

Smith, whose SKA lineup includes the former Rangers defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, also praised the quality of the Superliga. But only up to a point.

“The top six clubs in the Superliga would get good results against the bottom six clubs in the N.H.L. if the games were played on big ice,” Smith told SKA fans.

Also, slightly newsworthy to Kaspar fans... Vilnius, Lithuania (Kaspar's hometown) was reently featured on an episode of "The Amazing Race." It's a gorgeous city and I hope everyone got to see it!

Check out SKA St. Petersburg's official website.

October 31 , 2007

Kaspar is off to Russia to play.

Read the details here.

September 26, 2007

Well, it's official finally. Kaspar cleared waivers yesterday so that means he's on his way back to Hartford for the season. Financially, a good deal for me. I won't have to buy NHL Center Ice this year, and I won't have to pay $100 each for game tickets to the RBC Center in Raleigh or a road trip to Pittsburgh. But on the down side, I'll get to see way less of Kaspar this season because I don't have access to all the news & games. I've got the same resources as everyone else does. Hopefully, you'll still visit the site, though.

On the upside, the Pack will be playing a double header in Norfolk in January. Expect to see me there and report back with news. By that time, though, Kaspar may be back in New York filling in for an injured blueliner. (Here's wishing a few viruses and some non-life-threatening trips & falls sprain a few fingers & toes!)

Kaspar's reaction to this latest bit of news:

“I was upset, but at the same time, I knew this could happen ...... I’ll go down to the minors and continue to try to prove that I’m still an NHL player.

“I knew that it was probably a long shot to make the Rangers because of the success they had last year without me. And I know my salary is an issue for the team. But at the same time, I felt like maybe it could happen. But it’s not a blow.”

September 20, 2007

Kaspar has made it past the first round of Rangers assignments to Hartford. Twelve players from camp were assigned to Hartford yesterday, Kaspar not among them. However, the Rangers still have 39 players, 16 over the NHL limit. Thirteen of those played for the Pack last season, including Kaspar.

And after the article below from the New York Times, nearly every New York area newspaper had some sort of article about Kaspar. My inbox was FULL of articles about him! Did you know he's running 7 miles a day? Whew!

September 16, 2007

Never thought I'd be thankful to the New York Times, but you HAVE to read today's article about our favorite hip-checker...

Kasparaitis Goes From Rock Bottom to Rock Hard

Photo by Suzy Allman for the New York Times

By LYNN ZINSER
Published: September 16, 2007

GREENBURGH, N.Y., Sept. 14 — Darius Kasparaitis’s determination to return to the N.H.L. is almost impossible to miss, requiring only a glance at his chiseled arms. Since showing up for Rangers training camp earlier this week, his sleeve-stretching biceps have turned the heads of people not normally impressed by arms.   More...

If anybody can make this type of comeback, it's Kaspar! I'd be more than happy to change the logo on the website back to a Rangers logo!

September 14, 2007

September 14, 2007

Reports have Kaspar attending Rangers training camp in Greenburgh N.Y. starting today. From Sam Weinman of The Journal News:

"The colorful defenseman [Kaspar] will be in camp and has actually worked his way into impressive shape. Banished to the minors last year when his conditioning was an issue following surgery, the 34-year-old Kasparaitis could cap an inspiring comeback should he crack the Rangers' opening-night roster. Problem is, the team might not be able to afford his hefty salary, either. Are you noticing a trend here?"

Wolfpack training camp starts Sept. 20 in Hartford CT. There's a new coach and a new management crew at the Hartford Civic Center. Opening day for the Pack is Sat. Oct. 6 at home against Bridgeport. Click here for the full season schedule.

Since I'm nowhere near Hartford, I'm getting tickets to the Pack double header against the Norfolk Admirals in January. If anyone else is catching any away games to see Kaspar, let me know. We can always use good stalker-stories!

You can sign up for the Pack newsletter here. Don't forget about us, though, as you learn you way around the Hartford team! We're still ALL KASPAR-ALL THE TIME! Okay, maybe some days more than others!

June 26 , 2007

Kaspar One of the New York Islander's Top 10 All-Time Defensemen

Are we surprised? Nope! Read the whole story here.

May 8, 2007

Yes, you're thinking the site is kapooey! You're thinking how can a fan in Virginia keep up with a team in Hartford? I could always move to Connecticut, but about the time I do, Kaspar would get bought out by Anaheim. And I ain't movin' there!

In all seriousness, about the time Kaspar stopped showing up regularly in the line-up with the Rangers last season, I was having major problems with my domain hosting company. So much so that I lost the domain due to their incompetence. They flat out lied when they said the hadn't re-released it, because I knew from someone else it was up for auction. After threatening cyber-squatting litigation, I got the domain back and promptly transferred EVERYTHING (about 7 websites) to another company. So far so good, but knock on wood VERY LOUDLY! My own problems with the domain were only mirroring Kaspar's.

A game I went to in Pittsburgh, he was there but didn't play, so I at least got to see him clambering onto the bus. Pittsburgh is a good arena for that. He didn't play when I saw the Blueshirts in Raleigh, and I have no clue if he traveled with the team there. By then, it was only a formality and a toll fee to Hartford. And I haven't done that good a job at keeping up with him there. I was so frustrated at the Ranger organization I couldn't see straight. Only watched about 5 minutes of the last playoff game. I was just peeved all around.

But Kaspar's a good guy, still my favorite hockey player, and I don't thenk he's deserved the chatter about him lately. Boy, talk about going from on-your-game to being called an "aging blueliner" in the blink of an eye. Sheesh!

Hopefully he'll end up someplace that appreciates him. I've seen lotsa players considered "finished" by one organization go on to new careers at other organizations. You'd be surprised how much the front office's attitude can have to do with it all. The Rangers have always been more about money than the game of hockey, anyway. That's why they've struggled so much lately to just get back to the game. Ya know? With guys who just love to play hockey? Remember those?

That's what Kaspar is. And we're the fans that love to watch him play. No matter where.

July 2 , 2006

This from Stan Fischler at hockeyjournal.com --

"Henrik Lundqvist showed up at the Mark Messier Canadian Association of New York dinner along with Darius Kasparaitis. Each reports feeling A-1 after respective surgeries. Kasper’s shoulder length blonde hair got plenty of laughs from the dais. …"

Many of us love the hair, Stan!

And more importantly, from Tom Renney --

"I think" D Darius Kasparaitis, who had shoulder surgery last month and abdominal surgery this month, will be ready for training camp. ..."

April 19, 2006

A belated road trip alert... Yeah, I didn't post beforehand. Trekked back to Pittsburgh for the Rangers game. Tough loss, but we met some great people! Hopefully the family from Maryland has checked out the site by now. Just to let them know, the players DID eventually leave the arena and about half a dozen of them actually WALKED back to the William Penn. We got a wave from Ortie and Lisa made me follow them so she could ask them if they needed a ride. Unfortunately, the light turned green and I had to zip before we got an answer. We had margaritas at the Tap Room next to J.D. and met a former Chippendale dancer from Brooklyn. After the bar closed, we talked for hours with the valet, Alan, while I sobered up to drive back to the motel. While sharing stories, most of the team returned to the hotel from whatever strip bar/sushi bar/coffee bar they'd been at! Most of them greeted us with "Hello ladies," but I much preferred Jason Strudwick's "Hello girls!"Marty arrived and then left again, and even Jagr was all smiles climbing out of his cab and seeing my jersey! The highlight was when I asked Mark Staal (who had just arrived from the minor league playoffs) if anyone had ever told him he looked like Napoleon Dynamite! He said no and the players with him all agreed on my assessment! Imagine my surprise to see his resemblance mentioned in an article the next day!

Hopefully, the Rangers will play Carolina in the playoffs sometime, so I can enjoy the games and not worry about the long drive! Sheesh!

February 15 , 2006

In their first game, the Russians were upset by Slovakia 3-5. Kaspar had one penalty and ended the game with a -1. Next up for the Russians is Sweden on Thursday at 4:05 pm. To get the latest Olympic hockey info, go to NBC Olympics.

January 25, 2006

Buffalo Sabres Coach Lindy Ruff calls Kaspar a "cheap shot artist" after his Tuesday night hip-check on Sabres center Tim Connolly (see the article here). Hm. Interesting the officials didn't see it that way. He claims Kaspar purposefully went low at the knees. Since Kaspar has had his share of knee problems, I doubt he'd wish them upon anyone. And failing to realize Kaspar has matured along with his game is a pretty cheap shot from Ruff.

January 22, 2006

Was it just me, or did anyone else think the announcers for Saturday's game vs. Boston mentioned Kaspar way more than usual? Did he make a deal with them that he'd donate a dollar to charity for every time they mentioned his name? That sounds like something I'd do!!

November 23, 2005 Okay, that might leave a mark. That SO TOTALLY should have been a penalty. Where's a ref when you need one? They always manage to get Kaspar for diving after a hit, but when he's bleeding, they don't see anything! Frustrating. These are the same refs who didn't see the opposing goal off its moorings! Heelllllooooo?!?!?! Oh well, tough guy Kaspar was back on the bench in a few. Now he'll just have a bruise that'll light up his schnaaaaz!

November 10, 2005Anyone else going to catch Kaspar and the Rangers in Pittsburgh this Saturday?? Look for a red car with temporary NC tags, that just might have this web address written across the back windshield!

SEE YOU AT THE GAME!!

October 19, 2005You know if Kaspar keeps getting these shots on goal, one is eventually going to go in! Woohoo! It has something to do with mathematics and probability!Wednesday's game against the Isles was a really good game, except the fact that we lost. It was the Rangers first time with the shoot out! I still think Lundquist is doing an excellent job!If you have NHL Center Ice, you've noticed they don't carry all Rangers games. OLN is contracted to air some of them, and OLN's contract is exclusive, meaning NHL Center Ice can't air them too (like MSG or TSN games.) I'm sure I'm not the only one already paying extra for NHL Center Ice because I KNOW there are Rangers fans outside of the NYC area. When I saw OLN carried some games, I upgraded my DISH Network package to include that channel (meaning I had to jump from America's Top 120 to America's Top 180 - quite the leap!) Then I discover that OLN doesn't think people outside the NYC area are interested in hockey, so they pre-empt the games in other areas for fishing shows and stuff. Talk about being MAD!

I shot off the following letter to OLN:

Does this piss anyone else off? I know I can't be the only one in this position. If not, please email OLN and tell them it's a stupid policy. Their email address is: feedback@olntv.com. This is really an idiotic way to run a network. If they aren't going to show the games nationally, they should release those games back to NHL Center Ice so fans outside NYC can watch them. I know I can't be the only person out there who basically follows a PLAYER rather than a TEAM (mostly!) Which means my favorite player doesn't always play for my home team.I know Jagr has fans all over, so we probably should get them in on this as well! I'm going to try and send something to other Rangers sites as well. Feel free to help out!

In a bit of website administration news, I've rearranged a bunch of folders on the server, so let me know if (and when) you get any broken links! Thanks much!

October 14, 2005Okay, I would have sworn Kaspar had at least ONE shot on goal last night against NJ, but that's not what the stats are telling me. Can these places be wrong?

Does anyone know someplace that keeps track of hits game by game. I've been looking for one and can't find it, although I sometimes see Kaspar's hit total in articles. Where is this stat coming from? Short of going to every game and never taking your eyes off the guy (which ain't a bad idea!)

October 7, 2005It wasn't a win, but it sure was an exciting game! Check out the Game Recap of the Rangers/Habs. At least it wasn't a total loss, we got a point out of it. “It’s good that we got the point, but we have to play better and now we go back to Jersey on Saturday and change a lot of things,” Kaspar said. “We have to play five on five.”

Kaspar is sporting one of the A's (ESPN reported he'd be the new captain, but no confirmation from NY on that.) Hopefully everyone caught his intermission interview! We'll have some screenshots up soon!

October 6, 2005HOCKEY IS BACK! And the Rangers beat the Flyers in their season opener! Read the game recap!Now, if my NHL CENTER ICE will just stay with the program and show the Rangers games, we might have something decent to put on the website this year. I can only learn so much from Google Alerts! I'll be hitting some games this season, so I'm sure to have some new pix posted at some point.

As always, if you have anything you want to share, get in touch.

November 12, 2003RANGERS BEAT PENGUINS! That's always good to hear from an old Pens fan, what with all the former players on the ice for the Rangers. Also, hope you didn't miss it, Kaspar was the 1st intermission interviewee during the Rangers game on Nov. 8 (coincidentally, my birthday).

Screenshots from the Penguins Game 7 of the 2001 playoffs against the Sabres have been posted. That's the game where Kaspar scored the winning goal in OT. Go check 'em out!

October 1, 2003

Kaspar will be making a cameo appearance on the tv show "Whoopi" on Oct. 7 along with Anson Carter and a few New Jersey Devils. Read the AP article.

September 20, 2003

Gearing up for hockey season! I've added pictures, articles & quotes to the site and we'll be doing play-by-plays as soon as my NHL Center Ice kicks in (no pre-season, pooh!) Stay tuned. If you don't have NHL Center Ice, keep track of Rangers games on TV.

August 23, 2003

Kaspar had surgery on Wednesday and has started rehab. You can read the official Rangers press release. Hope all goes well. Knowing Kaspar, he'll be chomping at the bit within days!

August 7, 2003Yes, I know it's been a year since any updates, an entire hockey season that I was without NHL Center Ice, and I moved out of a town with a pro hockey team. So I've spent the whole 02-03 season pretty much out of the loop, except for one season opener (Rangers in Carolina) and a handful of ESPN-aired games. 2003-04 will fair much better.The Rangers 2003-04 schedule is out. So check it out, mark your calendars and press your jerseys. Dropped pucks will be flying soon.As usual, there are new articles posted, updated stats, and additions to the gallery. We'll be posting any news as soon as we hear something, or as soon as I see it happening on a cable channel near me, live!

Thank you to everyone for their patience! Go Rangers!

August 12, 2002Obviously, there has been a major overhaul to the whole website. I tried to incorporate New York City (in the background above) and the Rangers colors (red, white & blue) without everything ending up too gaudy. However, a lot of people would probably expect just that from a defenseman like Kaspar! I think he has some class so the website should too! Many items of the website have just been transferred to this new design and color scheme, but you will still find lots of new stuff. There are tons of new articles to peruse, and a few pictures from Alexsei (from the mailing list) who was nice enough to let us post them here!

In other news: Kaspar is currerntly leading the votes on the Rangers official site for who fans think will lead the team in penalty minutes in the upcoming season.....Looks like Kaspar will be sporting #72 this season, since Mark Messier already has dibs on the double-ones! Perhaps if Messier were to retire....Kaspar will be back with some old teammates (namely Matthew Barnaby and Krzysztof Oliwa).... Fans, watch out if you're wanting Kaspar's autograph, Barnaby has a habit of signing things with Kaspar's picture on them....

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