Blue Notes

O all of you whose intellects are sound,
look now and see the meaning that is hidden
beneath the veil that covers my strange verses

and then, above the filthy swell, approaching,
a blast of sound, shot through with fear, exploded,
making both shores of Hell begin to tremble;

it sounded like one of those violent winds,
born from the clash of counter-temperatures,
that tear through forests, raging on unchecked,

it splits and rips and carries off the branches
and proudly whips the dust up in its path
and makes the beasts and shepherds flee its course...

Dante
The Divine Comedy: Inferno
Canto IX


5:40 AM. A rainy, wind-swept, lightning-lit, white-knuckled drive from the Marriott Crabtree Valley to Raleigh-Durham Airport as the twisters gathered strength somewhere in the state. Yeah, it's a glamorous life, this sportswriting gig.

Never thought the airport would be open and in fact, the airline folks were sure that the place would be shut down later. Somehow, American Flight 4727 to LaGuardia did leave during a break in the weather.

Turns out at least eight people died in the fury in North Carolina today.
Tonight, with a glass of Twenty Bench, a California cab, we toast fate and good fortune this evening at home.
I could use a pail full.

The weather has been kind to the diminished band of Rangers' traveling writers so far this season, but Ottawa and Buffalo await like thieves in the night. I sense the inevitable snow.

But as you will see in tomorrow's editions of Newsday, the outlook is brighter for the second half---for both the team and soon-to-be-wearier scribes (who spend about equal time talking hockey on the road and discussing the culinary offerings at various media dining rooms in the arenas; FYI, the pulled pork in Carolina was awesome. Joe Micheletti said he gained 15 pounds during the Finals last spring.)

In any case, the mission (if you choose to accept it), is to survive the next five weeks with your sanity and peptic ulcers in remission.

Only seven of the 42 Rangers games in the second half, starting in January, require flights longer than a shuttle. And have faith that the Broadway guys will fare better at home.

The Rangers have 19 of the 42 games against Atlantic Division foes, so no matter the hole they dig or the lead they have, playoff berths will be decided then. And who knows, with injuries, waivers or trades, Dawes, Immonen and/or Dubinsky may be up here.

We are barely at the quarter-pole, readers, hang in, it's a long season.

Maybe not as long or chilling as the drive down 70 and 540 to the Raleigh-Durham airport, but...

Please stay tuned right here for news tomorow and a live report from Pittsburgh on Saturday