Tis not the season to be a coach of a struggling team (or in Washington's case, a team with lofty expectations) in the NHL.

With coaches dropping like Santa's bag of toys down a chimney - I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the current NHL landscape when it comes to the head man behind the 30 benches in the NHL:

Buffalo Sabres - Lindy Ruff
14 years

Nashville Predators - Barry Trotz
13 years

Detroit Red Wings - Mike Babcock
7 years

Vancouver Canucks - Alain Vigneault
6 years

Boston Bruins - Claude Julien
5 years

Los Angeles Kings - Terry Murray
4 years

Toronto Maple Leafs - Ron Wilson
4 years

Chicago Blackhawks - Joel Quenneville
4 years

San Jose Sharks - Todd McLellan
4 years

Montreal Canadiens - Jacques Martin
3 years

Pittsburgh Penguins - Dan Bylsma
3 years

Philadelphia Flyers - Peter Laviolette
3 years

New York Rangers - John Tortorella
3 years

Calgary Flames - Brent Sutter
3 years

Phoenix Coyotes - Dave Tippett
3 years

Colorado Avalanche - Joe Sacco
3 years

Tampa Bay Lightning - Guy Boucher
2 years

Columbus Blue Jackets - Scott Arniel
2 years

Edmonton Oilers - Tom Renney
2 years

New York Islanders - Jack Capuano
2 years

Anaheim Ducks - Bruce Boudreau
1 year

Washington Capitals - Dale Hunter
1 year

Carolina Hurricanes - Kirk Muller
1 year

St. Louis Blues - Ken Hitchcock
1 year

Winnipeg Jets - Claude Noel
1 year

Dallas Stars - Glen Gulutzan
1 year

Minnesota Wild - Mike Yeo
1 year

Ottawa Senators - Paul MacLean
1 year

New Jersey Devils - Peter DeBoer
1 year

Now for some analysis:

* 25 coaches have been behind their benches 4 years or less.  That is 83% of the coaches in this league. How's that for shelf life?

* Including the 4 recently hired -- 9 coaches, or 30%, are in their first seasons behind their current team's benches. 

* If you include 2nd year coaches with 1st year that makes up a whopping 43% of this league's coaches that are only in their 2nd year or less behind their team's respective benches.

* Now that Bodreau and Carlyle have been pink slipped - only 5 coaches, or 16%, have been able to hold onto their current jobs for 5 years or longer. That's stunning.

* Only two coaches, Ruff and Trotz, have coached their current squads over 10 years.  That is only 6.6% of the coaches in this league.  I'll have what they are having.

* Now for the good news.  Once you have your foot in the NHL door and have had some level of success the chances are that even if you do get fired you will probably get rehired.  By my count 13 coaches (includes Noel) on this list are on their 2nd or more coaching stints in the league.  That is 43%.

Despite 4 firings already, I don't think the NHL coaching carnage is over.  We are only at the 25 game marker of the season and there are some other teams struggling.  Arniel is an obvious and well covered candidate.  There is Martin in Montreal. Sacco in Colorado.  Sutter in Calgary. Maybe Capuano on the Island.

It's a tough biz, this pro sports.  A business that is measured in two things: Wins and Losses.

Fair or not, coaches are always the first to go.  The pressure to win now is enormous and they are the easiest target when a team is struggling.  It's a cliche but it's true, it's easier to fire the coach than it is the team.  Just take a look at the Carlyle situation for a perfect example of this.  It's been heavily rumored Bobby Ryan is on the block to shake things up in Anaheim but instead, for now at least, the team fires their coach of 7 years.  A coach that won them a cup.

Now in Columbus' case I personally don't think firing a coach will be anything more than putting a band aid on a broken leg.  We've been there done that.  Now, in their 11th season, the Jackets are on coach #7.  Granted Agnew and Noel had short "interim" stints behind the bench.  No, that problem is much larger than a head coach but I won't get into all that again here. 

Bottom line is if you are lookin for job security, life as a bench boss in the NHL isn't where you're likely to find it.

-LTL

The title seemed appropriate for a couple of reasons.

1. Christmas season is here and since this is the last "Elvis" themed post for the month of November - why not segway with his most popular Christmas song.

2. And as we all unfortunately know, it's been a blue blue season thus far for the Blue Jackets.

So as the great Boomer would still want (and for those other suckers like myself who stayed up to watch this ass kicking) - on to the game recap.

1. I can't be the only one who thought this game was over before it started.  West coast trip.  Worst team in the league.  An offense who couldn't score on a free hooker.  Vancouver came out flying, got that first goal and off they went to a regulation win.

2. 48 shots (a franchise record) and 1 effing goal..! 1!!!  Once again they tried everything.  Traffic.  Deflections.  Hit posts (Letestu).  Point blank shots. Wide open nets where the Jacket (Umberger) fires it right back into the goaltender.  Wide open net where the Jacket (Wiz) bumbles the puck.  Odd man rushes (3 on 1 and Carter comes up empty).  I just don't get it anymore -- why can't these guys convert on these chances?  It's not just this season but every season.  It really does seem like you could put Gretzky, Lemieux, Crosby, etc on this team and they couldn't score either.  The jersey sucks all the offense outta any player it dawns.  It's like kryptonite to an offensive hockey player.

3. It's pretty sad when your PK had more pressure than your PP.  Credit to Vermette, Tyutin and Pahlsson (who got the goal) for scoring the only CBJ goal of the game and avoiding a shutout.

4. Lots of talk about Corey Schneider but hell, the Jackets seem to make EVERY goaltender look good/hot. Two perennial 30 goal scorers in this lineup and just 10 goals between them 24 games into this season.  At this point they will be lucky to get 30 goals combined between them.

5. It's time to try Carter and Nash on separate lines and see if some offense can be generated that way.  Enough of force feeding this shit. It reminds me of Mason -- if they keep playing him it will eventually work right?  Right?  Hogwash.  The chemistry is not there.  What's the saying?  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again.

6. Sanford wasn't horrible but should have had that 2nd goal.  This game could have been worse without him in the net.  I haven't blamed the D alot this season but they have to do a better job tying up sticks and moving bodies away from that net.  No excuse for Nikitin not tying up Sedin on goal #1 and Tyutin could have done a better job on Booth on goal #2.  No chance on goal #3 on that tic-tac-toe goal.

EXTRA SHOTS:
I liked Moore and Clitsome better in this game.  Moore took some big hits out there to make plays.  Carter, on the other hand, doesn't take any hits to make plays.  Nikitin was a horrendous -4.  Team as a whole was -17.  How ugly could this trip get with two games in two nights versus Calgary and Edmonton on Thurs/Fri. Both teams aren't exactly tearing up the standings but are .500 or better at home.  Cannot give up that goal after that shorty -- total momentum killer and typical Jackets play.  My guess is we'll see Mason in net on Thursday. Umberger is more noticeable of late but still can't find the back of the net.  Nash didn't do much.  In fact, I don't remember any significant plays from him.  Johansen had some nice looks and was competing in the hard areas of the ice but nada on the scoreboard.  Too bad he couldn't get on it with 200 family/friends in house.  Jackets continue to live in the league cellar with just 15p in 24 games.

The theme for the month of December will be "classic Christmas toys".  Lots of great candidates out there, especially the way this season is going!

Off to bed.

-LTL

Now I can't be the only one out there who always wondered what Hitch would look like with Elvis hair and glasses can I? 

Last night's 2-1 loss went pretty much as advertised...  It was a tight checking low scoring affair.  Of course the cruelty of the entire thing was that recently dealt defensemen Kris Russell scored a goal and the only coach to have any success here in Ken Hitchcock got his first win against his former team on his first try.

Never easy being a CBJ fan.

1.  Best line of the night for me was Vermette-Pahlsson-Dorsett line.  They were matched up against the Backes line and didn't give anything up - even strength at least.  In terms of ice time to scoring chances ratio - they created some quality chances and of course DD got the only goal.  Was nice feed by Pahlsson and great finish but DD. 

2. Overall I liked the Jackets effort but let me state the obvious - their lack of scoring crushed them.  Games like that somebody in the top 2 lines has got to find the back of the net.  The Jackets had their chances on the PP -- in fact they had 5 (although 2 of those were abbreviated) but could not covert.  The difference in the game was that the Blues and their 30th ranked PP came up with the game winner.  That PP goal by the Blues was slick. 

3. Marc Methot is playing some outstanding hockey right now.  He is very strong on the puck.  He's not losing many, if any, battles.  Not sure if this increased level of play is due to a new partner in Wiz or he's just finding his groove.  Whatever it is, I'm lovin it and hopefully he keeps it goin. 

4.  Sanford was solid again but was outplayed by Elliot and there is your difference.  Unfortunately when you don't get a lot of goal support there is no wiggle room and every goal is magnified.  Still when I watch those goals back there isn't a whole lot he could do.  I really liked Elliot's rebound control versus Sanford's.

5. Congrats to Hitch and Russell for their early success in St. Louis.  It will be interesting to see how long Hitch can keep this streak going -- as that new coach smell will eventually wear off.  No doubt, he's got them playing well now as St. Louis is 5th in the West with a 13-8-2 record.   

6. Although Nash didn't score I'm really liking his game much better of late.  His play at his end of the rink has been significantly better.  He's really playing all 200 ft.  He's also been a lot more noticeable shift to shift even if he's not scoring.  That is what this team needs from him.   I did notice a few times last night that both he and Carter almost forced passes to one another where 9 times out of 10 they both shoot.  That isn't a horrible thing as both guys are being unselfish but if the shot is there I'd like to see both take it and the other crash for the rebound.  Always easy to say from the cheap seats. 

EXTRA SHOTS:
Game wasn't as nasty as I thought it would be but Cody Bass had a nice go with Reaves.  Saw Hitch do what every team does to the Jackets - pressure those dmen and get turnovers.  Thought Wiz had a tough night - couple of bad giveaways in his own zone that need cleaned up.  He led all Jackets again with 26:16 in TOI.  Carter a nice night at the dot winning 10 of 16 draws.  Methot and Dorsett led the team in hits with 5 each.  Now that Sanford has lost in regulation does the coaching staff immediately go back to Mason?  I hope not.  When the Jackets got that first goal I thought for sure they would win this one. If you think last night's result was cruel then be glad you didn't watch and Springfield games -- they wen't 0-3 over the weekend.   

The Jackets 5 game point streak comes to an end and they find themselves right back where they started - in the league cellar.

Things don't get any easier as they'll head out west 3 game swing before finishing up at Montreal on Dec 6th.  Their next home game isn't until Dec 8th versus Nashville.

-LTL

The Jackets came to play tonight and they walked, ran and stomped all over the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo fans...thanks for the goals, the wings, the 2 points and your $$.

1. First ice cold beer goes to a man that didn't even register a point in tonight's 5-1 win and that is Vinny Prospal.  It's nice to actually type this and really mean it but Vinny, it has been an absolute pleasure watching you in union blue.  You are the ultimate pro's pro.  

So VP -- this LTL light is for you and your 1000th game.  Congrats on a such a special and well earned achievement.

2. There is no 'I' in the team.  At least not right now.  What a team win.  10 Jackets on the score sheet but even better, no passengers.  A great first period and they carried that through for 60 minutes.

3. Curtis Sanford again a calming influence in net.  The Jackets got on the scoreboard which is huge but it was the saves that he made after that first goal which once again keyed this win.  This dude is so smokin hot right now we could fry Buffalo Wild Wings off his head.

4. Big money players are starting to pay at the tables.  Nash with 2 big goals (that pass from Carter for the tap in was schaaaaWEEEeeet!).  Carter with 2 helpers.  Wiz with 2 as well.  Umberger with a goal.

5. Ryan Johansen with 2 more helpers.  He's got 10 points in 18 games and looks to be finding his groove.  Don't look now but he's tied for 7th in rookie scoring and is chargin.  Gonna be hard to catch Nugent-Hopkins who has 24p in 22g but 2nd place Craig Smith is 2nd with 16p in 21g and is definitely within striking distance.  Keep it goin Johan.  

6. Here is a comment from a ACA member on facebook and which shows exactly why I don't go to Sabres games.  

I would like to go on record saying Buffalo Sabre fans should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for how they acted in our arena tonight. Swearing, threatening, using derogatory language...AROUND KIDS! You're grown adults, act like it. Classless scum.

I've been to past games with Buffalo fans and know EXACTLY what he means.  The reason I don't go is b/c I'll end up in jail and divorced as I'm too immature to just ignore them.

Anyhow -- it's a damn shame.  I play with a guy from Buffalo and he's the greatest.  Certainly it's the 2% of these asshats that spoil it for the rest of the classy Sabres fans.

EXTRA SHOTS:
Sabres were -15.  Jackets were +15.  Johansen is a team best +4 and has a 5p in his past 7.  3 of the Jackets top 6 scorers are dman (Tyutin, Clistome and Wiz all have 10 points each) - when is the last time you could ever remember the D contributing like that?  Since joining the Jackets Nikita Nikitin has 5 assists in 7 games.  So great to see the Jackets chase a goalie.  Since joining the Jackets Mark Letestu has 3g in 8 games.  While I'm certain it's the goaltending that has sparked this run I'll give credit to Howson where credit is due -- Nikitin and Letestu have helped stabilize this lineup.  LOVE Letestu's soft hands.  Dorsett a great job drawing penalties.  Wiz led all players with 25:24 in TOI.  Is it me or does 61 look to be hustling harder at both ends of the rink out there?  I thought he played a fantastic game all the way around in this one.  Love Sanford's pads.  Surprised no rough stuff after game got out of hand.  I believe these 5 goals were the most scored in a game this season for the good guys.  Brass had his moments in this game - hopefully a baby step in the confidence rebuild.  The Jackets are no longer the league's worst team -- that honor now falls to NYI.  In fact the Jackets, with 15 points, are just 5 points out of 25th placed Carolina who has 20 points. Guy in Boomer shirt behind Buffalo bench - your next beer is on me!

Don't think it's gonna be too hard for the Jackets to find motivation against their next opponent in St. Louis on Sunday.  I expect one helluva a spirited affair in that one.  Lots to prove on both sides.

-LTL

The Jackets lost 2-1 in a SO to the Devils but you know what?  That's all right because this team came to play and battle from the goaltender straight on through the lineup.

1. That's four straight games with a point and for me, it is no coincidence AT ALL that this streak has come with a change of goaltending.  Tonight's game was no different.  Curtis Sanford continues to provide this squad with stability in net.  No bad early goals.  No bad positioning.  No 'whoa' is me after goals against.  Yeah he got lit up in the SO again but this team doesn't make it to the SO without Sanford in net.  23 of 24 saves and really kept his team in it after a slow start in the first.  He was extremely good during that first Devils PP when they were going 'around the horn' pumping shots.

2. I want to give the 2nd beer of the night to a guy I'm not a fan of.... well, until lately.  Sammy Pahlsson is playing his best hockey as a Blue Jacket through the last couple of games and it's not even close.  He's not been the invisible ghost cash checking card carrying member of club Jackets that I'm used to seeing.  In fact, he's been just the opposite... He still is useless in the offensive zone but I'm seeing this great defensive forward folks have talked about. He's been a force on the backcheck and in the defensive zone.  He's also getting engaged and under the skin of some opponents like he did tonight.   Perhaps he got a talkin to from the coach?  Perhaps he's realized he will be a UFA after the season?  Or maybe he just woke up?  I don't care what it is -- just keep it up!

3. Another guy who has been on/off again this season who had a really strong game in this one was Marc Methot.  He didn't do much on the stat sheet (had an assist) but he broke up a lot of plays.. Won a lot of battles in the tough areas and how about that hip check on Tedenby?  Solid game.

4. It's rare when I give a mancan to the opposition but Martin Brodeur earned the right to quench his thirst after his play in this game.  He was fantastic... That play he made with his stick (see, goalies can do that Mase!) to break up that Nash/Prospal two on nothing breakaway was nothing short of spectacular and probably won't even make a highlight reel.  We got a great show from both tenders in this game.

5. The Jackets had their chances to put this game away.  That 3rd period was probably their best of the season... They also had 6 PPs including a 20+ second 5 on 3 to pot one.  The Devils PK showed why they are #1 in the league although I'd certainly like to see the Jackets top players come up with a big one.

6. Jared Boll probably needs the ice in the cooler instead of the adult pop but was great to see him get rewarded with that goal after all the dirty work this guy puts in for this team.  And what about that crosscheck to the face he took from Janssen?   Spin that wheel of justice Shanahammer!

EXTRA SHOTS:
Prospal (aka the engine) with his team leading 19th point.  The guy completely made the play that led to Boll's goal by digging that puck out and hitting Methot on the point.  Nice job by M&M getting that shot off quickly and on net. Really thought the Jackets were going to get shut out for the first time in this game.  Carter and Nash with 6 shots each.  Letestu 75% in the dot.  I'm liking our transition up the ice much better -- not seeing a lot of ring it out of the zone plays.  Defense doing a better job of settling pucks and making a good first pass for transition.  Why do we suck so bad at shootouts?  Would like to see Prospal get some shootout chances - guy deserves it.  Umberger pretty quiet.  Wiz with a team high 28:56.  

Jackets improve to 5-13-3 on the season and are 4-4-2 in their past 10.  Up next is Buffalo at home on Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Til Friday!

-LTL

Before we hit some rapid fire CBJ stats, let's take a quick look at where Ohio State hockey ranks this week.

While the Jackets look to be finally getting their train on the tracks... Ohio State hockey's train continues to pick up steam...

Fresh off a sweep @ Michigan, the hockey Bucks are all the way up to 9th in the USCHO.com rankings!

InsideCollegeHockey.com also has them up 4 spots to 9th overall and had this to say:

The last time the Buckeyes left Ann Arbor with two wins over Michigan? Feb 14-15, 1986, although some of the recent pastings the Ohio State gridders have put on the Wolverines have felt like two wins.

The currently sit 1st overall in the CCHA standings with a big two game home stand that starts THIS NEXT Friday night against 3rd place Lake Superior state.

Okay now some rapid fire Jackets stats for ya:

• Vinny Prospal is 36th overall in league scoring with 18 points in 20 games.
• Derek Dorsett is 3rd in the NHL in penalty minutes with 62.
• Derek Dorsett is tied for the league lead in fights with 8.
• The CBJ lead the league in fighting majors with 18.
• The CBJ are 4-5-1 in their past 10.
• The NYI have the worst goals for/against ratio at -26.
• The Bruins have the best goals for/against ration at +26.
• Lost of 1st in Nashville.  First Jackets goal for Carter.  First Jackets goal for Wisniewski.  First road win of the season.
• The CBJ are 2-4-0 against the Central.
• The CBJ are 1-4-1 against the East. 
• The CBJ are 3-1 when leading after the first.
• The CBJ are 1-7 when trailing after the first.
• The CBJ are SECOND in the league in total hits with 533.
• The CBJ are 26th in the league in total blocked shots with 240.
• The CBJ have the lowest give aways in the entire NHL with 107.
• The CBJ are the 6th best team in the NHL in take aways with 163.
• The CBJ are 10th best team in the NHL in the faceoff circle winning 51.2%.
• The CBJ have only taken 76 minors which is 9th best in the league.
• The CBJ rank 25th in goals scored with 47.
• The CBJ have scored 14 1st period goals (18th); 16 2nd period goals (23rd); 16 3rd period goals (24th).
• The CBJ rank 27th in goals against with 68.
• The CBJ have given up 23 1st period goals (2nd); 22 2nd period goals (8th); 23 3rd period goals 9th).
• Wiz leads all CBJ in average time on ice with 26:55 per game.
• Dorsett leads all CBJ in hits with 57.  MacKenzie is 2nd with 52.
• Tyutin leads all Jackets in blocks with 33.  Wiz/Nikitin are 2nd with 28 per.
• Umberger has the most missed shots on the team with 21.
• Vermette the most give aways with 12.
• Nash the most take aways with 15.
• Nash also leads the team in shots with 69.  Umberger is 2nd with 59.
• Prospal leads the team in goals scored with 6.  Nash/Johansen are 2nd with 5 each.
• Prospal leads the team in assists with 12.  Nash is 2nd with 10.
• MacKenzie has the best +/- with a +3.  Johansen 2nd with a +2.
• Brassard the worst with a -11.  Nash is 2nd with a -10.

There ya have it!

Some very interesting stuff in there.  Some so interesting that it makes you wonder how our record is as bad as it is.

-LTL

The Jackets continued to stay hot last night beating the Flames by a final of 4-1.

Where o' where could this team be right now with average to above average goaltending from the get go?

1. Three things are going right for this team that haven't gone right for the majority of this season.  The first one is obviously Mr. Return To Sender himself Curtis Sanford.  He continues to stand on his head and not only make the saves he should, but make a lot he shouldn't.  Its not only how he's making the saves but when.  For instance last night after the Jackets PP scored to make a 3-1 game the Flames barreled down shorthanded on a odd man rush -- if that goal goes in who knows where this game ends up.  It's those kind of timely saves that provide some much needed momentum for a team that has struggled. 

2. The 2nd is primary scoring is finally providing some primary scoring.  Carter with 2.  Nash with a empy net goal.  Prospal with 3 helpers.  The guys who need to score are finally scoring.  Don't look now by Prospal has 18 points in 20 games.  Nash has 15p in 20g.  Wiz has 8p in 12g.  Carter heating up with 3 goals in past 2 games and 6p in 10g.

3. The 3rd is the friggan PP.  This team needs to rely on their PP and they are finally getting some production.  HUGE 5-3 goal in this game... Absolutely H-U-G-E!  For this team to get that 2 goal cushion is like me taking some Excedrin after Nashville - immediate relief and we all felt much better after.  Don't look now but that PP is all the way up to 22nd converting at 14.8%. 

4. Vermette goal.  You could put me 2 feet in front of a wide open cage and I still couldn't make a shot like that.  When you see a play like that at the highest level all you can do is sit back and marvel.  Had to be a huge confidence boost for Vermette.

5. Sure is nice to get a couple of bounces to go our way.  Carter's bounce on his 2nd goal.  The shot that bounced off the inside of Sanford's leg and trickled wide.   The bounce of the post that Nikitin then prevented from going in.  Those bounces, when they bounce in your favor, all add up to points in the standings.

6. Amazing how much better a defense looks when they get good goaltending eh?  That said, this team cannot give up all those odd man rushes while shorthanded.  Sanford bailed them out this time but he won't be able to every time.  Unacceptable lazy play that needs cleaned up.

EXTRA SHOTS:
Nice to see an opposing team's goaltendergive up a early soft goal for once -- no doubt Karlsson would like that first goal back (we feel your pain Calgary fans).  Only penalties in the game were in the 2nd period.  The Jackets only took 2 all game -- well done.  Thought the grinders continued to play well.  I've been on Pahlsson but I've liked his game much better the past two -- he still creates nothing offesnively but his backchecking and own zone coverage has been much better.  Nikita Nikitin is playing like a man possessed.  He had a team high 27:07 and +2 last night and was the team's best defender.  While I think dumping some salary was a big part of that deal for Russell perhaps Howson wasn't BSing when he said they really like this player.  Looks like a great deal early on for us - let's see if he can keep this level of play up.  Love Letestu's hands - so soft.  Guy does not seem to bobble a puck or make a bad decision.  I continue to love everything about Vinny Prospal as a hockey player. He's got a real chance to break the Jackets single season points record which I believe is held by Rick Nash with 79p in the 08-09 season.  That is if we keep him all season. Attendance 11,629.  Don't like to see a player hurt but Rick Nash's shot to Mason's nugget yesterday -- best move he's made as captain of this squad.

At 5-13-2 the Jackets are still in the league cellar but only 1 point out of 29th (Islanders).

Baby steps.

Up next the Devils tomorrow night @ Jersey.

-LTL    

This entire thing started on a hot Columbus Saturday night in July and ended on a cool Nashville Saturday night in November with a 4-3 OT Blue Jackets win!

What a trip!

I want to thank all the Jacket Backers who made the trip to Nashville -- you all made it one of, if not the, most memorable experience I've ever had enjoying this great game!

Thank you!

Thank you Nashville...

Thank you very much...!

-LTL

Wheels are up and all 121 Jacket Backers bus riders are off to fabulous Nashvegas!!

It's been one helluva bad season thus far.....

The expectations... The disappointment... The heartbreak.. The frustration... It's been an exhausting ride..

But you know what? Win/lose/bitch/moan --- at the end of it all I still love this team and this game and I'm proud to be traveling with some of the most die hard fans on the planet.

I know there are a lot of you die hards out there who couldn't make it so if you want to track all the road trip madness, twitter is the best place to find us!  Here a couple of handles to follow:

@JacketBackers (official twitter account of the JB)

@cbjTheHelmet (logo designer and official helmet of the JB)

@RbarArena (official bar of the road trip.. and hey, owner Mike Darr is on a bus)

@CPFro3 (official....well, not sure... but he likes to drink, loves the CBJ and tweets his ass off!)

@lightthelamp (yours truly and official blogger ahole of the JB)

Now I must warn ya, once the beers start flowing like wine and the beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano (quick, what movie?) -- many tweets will be of the R rated variety so follow at your own risk!

For some pregame reading be sure to check out the following posts:

TOP 10 REASONS TO ROCK MUSIC CITY

LOST AND FOUND

EVOLUTION OF A LOGO

Finally... here's to a CBJ miracle!

-LTL

I would like to thank Mrs. LTL for baking the "official" Let's Rock Music City cookies... I think my contributions will be obvious!

Now here is the first shot of the "official" Let's Rock Music City guitar.  There will be many more pics involving this gorgeous piece of music making machinery!

....and yeah, it also blinks!

Finally a pic of the gals making some Let's Rock Music City signs.  Not sure what they say yet, but I hope they are completely inappropriate!

Much more to come via Twitter @lightthelamp.

-LTL