Tuesday, February 1, 2011

SAG Awards 2011: Kyra Sedgwick

Kyra Sedgqick in vintage Thierry Mugler

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Huh? What? Oh, I'm doing a review. Sorry, I totally fell asleep. What a snoozer of a dress.

D

SAG Awards 2011: Kate Mara

Kate Mara in Herve Leger
I don't know who this Kate Mara person is, but I appreciate that she brought the crazy to the red carpet since Helena Bonham Carter decided not to.

Where to begin? The top I would imagine. So we all know I'm a big headband fan, and have even been a proponent of headbands with evening wear. But this is not what I meant. I feel like she just grabbed some tissue paper and wrapped her hair up so she could wash her face real quick. I mean, her hair is up in an ugly about-to-wash-my-face bun and everything. Not exactly red carpet appropriate.

And then there's the dress. A little bit Valentino, a little bit bondage, a little bit arts and crafts.

F

SAG Awards 2011: Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria in Georges Hobeika.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, Eva Longoria gives good red carpet. I am seriously swooning over her hair and makeup. Total knockout. And for the most part I love the gown. I just think it's a little too... showy of the upper parts. Maybe I'm getting more prudely in my old age. What do you think?

B+

SAG Awards 2011: Julia Stiles


I approve of Julia Stiles' choice of ornate, vintage-looking earrings instead of a necklace. Especially with the romantic look of her long waves. The look on her face, however, just scary.

I am, however, undecided how I feel about Julia Stiles' ombre navy-to-white gown. So I leave this grad up to you: What should Julia Stiles get?

SAG Awards 2011: Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen in Catherine Malandrino
Poor Julie Bowen. It must be hard to spend your days with Sofia Vergara, her hotness, and her major cleave. Especially when you're flat as a board yourself. I mean, Julie Bowen is a pretty woman, but compared to Sofia Vergara, she kind of looks like a leper. I'm just waiting for her fingers to start falling off. Sorry, that was gross.

But still not as gross as wearing an ill-fitting jumpsuit on the red carpet.

F

Texture Tuesday: February 1, 2011

Lanvin silk t-shirt:Red Valentino brocade skirt:Miu Miu perforated pumps:Lucca Couture studded v-neck top:See by Chloe leather wallet:

1973-74 Portland Buckaroos Connie Madigan Jersey

Connie Madigan's career began in his hometown Port Arthur Bruins of the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League in the 1952-53 season. After three seasons with the Bruins, Madigan moved up to the senior level in 1955 with the Peniction Vees of the Ontario Senior Hockey League for two seasons.

Madigan, a defenseman, also played for the Nelson Maple Leafs of the Western International Hockey League in 1958-59 where he was named to the WIHL First All-Star Team after helping lead the Maple Leafs to the Allan Cup as the champions of Canadian Senior Hockey. He then joined the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League for the following season, where he established a personal high with 57 points in 66 games.

After a second season with the Komets of Fort Wayne, Madigan moved west to play for the conventionally spelled Comets of Spokane in the Western Hockey League for the 1961-62 and 1962-63 seasons. Eventually Madigan was traded to the Los Angeles Blades after an argument with his Spokane coach that included a threat to trade Madigan, to which he responded "go ahead." Within the hour Madigan was on his way to Los Angeles!

After one season in Los Angeles, he was traded across the country to the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League. He would play in just ten games for Providence to begin the 1964-65 season before once more being traded for cash to the Portland Buckaroos back in the familiar WHL.

Madigan Buckaroos program

It was with Portland that Madigan's nomadic hockey career, which had seen him criss-crossing the North American continent would finally find a place to call home. Madigan became a stalwart on the Buckaroos blueline for the next nine seasons, never playing less than 60 games a year.

His first season with Portland would be a successful one, as the Buckaroos captured their second Lester Patrick Cup in franchise history as champions of the WHL. 1966-67 saw Madigan record his second 50 point season as a professional with 51 points and be named to the WHL First All-Star Team for the first of four consecutive seasons. Additionally, he was named the recipient of the Hal Laycoe Cup as the WHL's Outstanding Defenseman.

1964-65 Portland Buckaroos
1964-65 WHL champion Portland Buckaroos

In 1969-70 Madigan left Portland for a ten game stint with the Dallas Black Hawks of the Central Hockey League, the fifth league he had now played in since turning professional back in 1958.

Back with Portland for the majority of the season, Madigan still had enough time to surpass the 100 penalty minute mark, keeping alive the rugged defenseman's streak that now stretched to 14th seasons and would eventually reach 18 consecutive seasons.

1970-71 would see the Buckaroos capture another Lester Patrick Cup following a season in which Madigan would establish a career high with 67 points which came in 72 games.

1970-71 WHL champion Portland Buckaroos

Following a 56 point season in 1971-72, Madigan began the season with Portland as usual, but on the final day of 1971, the unthinkable happened - he was sold.

While Madigan being traded for cash was not that unusual, as it had happened a number of times earlier in his career, the unthinkable element was to whom he was sold. The St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League.

So it came to be on this date in 1973 that Connie Madigan of the St. Louis Blues became the oldest rookie in NHL history when he made his debut in a 3-3 tie against the Montreal Canadiens at the age of 38 years old.

Madigan Blues

At the time of his debut, his coach Jean-Guy Talbot was only two years older than Madigan and some of his teammates had not even been born yet when his career began!

Filling in for a pair of injured Blues defensemen, Madigan played in 20 games for St. Louis, scoring three assists and seeing action in five playoff games.

That would be the extent of Madigan's NHL career, as the Blues would sell him to the San Diego Gulls of the WHL for the start of the 1973-74 season. After 39 games with the Gulls, he once again returned home to Portland when he was sold yet again in February of 1974. Back with the Buckaroos he finished out the regular season and one final playoff run in the spring of 1975 before closing out his career with ten games in 1974-75 at the age of 40.

At the time of his retirement, Madigan was second in penalty minutes in minor league history.

His retirement would not be his final time on skates however, as Madigan appeared as Ross "Mad Dog" Madison in the greatest hockey movie of all time, "Slap Shot" starring Paul Newman in 1977.

Ross "Mad Dog" Madison

Today's featured jersey is a 1973-74 Portland Buckaroos Connie Madigan jersey. The Buckaroos began play in 1960-61 and took the name of a previous franchise which played in Portland from 1928 to 1941.

The team had a smashing debut, winning the WHL title in it's very first season. They went on to capture two more championships in 1965 and 1971.

They remained in the WHL until it folded in 1974. The franchise lingered on for another two seasons in first a semi-professional league and then a new amateur league, which did not last a full season, bringing and end to the Buckaroos after 15 seasons.

Madigan Buckaroos

Today's video segment begins with a feature on Connie Madigan presented by the Portland Winter Hawks, who saluted the Buckaroos on March 14, 2009.


In a a real unexpected find, Madigan slugs it out in a brief clip with Real Lemieux of the Los Angeles Kings during Madigan's time in the NHL.


This next video feature on the Portland Buckaroos, has some classic footage that is really a joy to see, and it's followed by some former Buckaroos, including Connie Madigan, talking about their time in Portland.