“The Legend of Earthsea”
The Sci-Fi Channel will be broadcasting their production of Ursula K. LeGuin’s famed “Earthsea” Series tonight. There are a few questions that I have not been able to find the answers to. Like what books does it involve. The series consists of four novels and a book of short stories.
I will be taping this. It could be very interesting. Any fantasy movie will catch my attention. And even though I was not enthralled by the first book, it was more to do with LeGuin’s writing style which is not one of my favorites. I am also assuming the script writers had to make up a lot of dialogue. Because there is very little at all in the first book. (You can read my review of it from earlier this year.) Given this, and with a movie adaption, I am looking forward to it, because it can bring more of the emotion of the characters. All of this is funny, because fans of the series may absolutely hate seeing it brought to life. But from my perspective, this may actually help it. And since the Sci-Fi Channel did a excellent job with “Dune” a couple of years ago, I can’t see them messing this one up.
Happy Retirement Igor Larionov
Also tonight, (broadcast in Philly on Comcast Sports) is Igor Larionov’s Farewell Hockey Game will take place. Actually, it will be tape delayed since the game in is Moscow. For those that don’t know who Igor Larionov is, he was the premiere Russian hockey player in the 1980′s. Center of the famed KLM line (with Vladimir Krutov and Sergei Makarov) which helped the Soviet National team with the World Championship in 1983, and the Gold Medal in the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics.
In 1989 when the Soviet government finally let their players come to North America, Larionov played for the Vancouver Canucks, the team that drafted his rights. Eventually he landed with the Detroit Red Wings and helped guide the team to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998. A few years later after going to the Florida Panthers, the Red Wings traded to get him back, and he was with them to capture his third Stanley Cup in 2002. Larionov and his fellow Russian players in Detroit made the historic journey with the Stanley Cup to Red Square after the 1997 Championship.
Larionov, like many of his fellow Central Red Army teammates, came over to the NHL late in their careers. Many of their best days were behind them, which is really a shame. Larionov and Slava Fetisov inparticular made a real impact on the NHL game. One can only imagine what they could have done had they started their careers in North America earlier. Larionov was known for his quick thinking and incredible knowledge and decision making of knowing where to be and where to pass. Known as “The Professor” while playing in Detroit, he was usually referred to as the “European Wayne Gretzky” before getting to the NHL. Though not as prolific as a goal scorer, Larionov vision on the ice and incredible passing and playmaking skills surely were nearly equal of the Great One.
The game tonight will have many of Larionov’s former Red Wings teammates, and some of his Red Army teammates, too. Including Krutov and Makarov. Many others will be coming out of retirement to participate, including legendary coach Scotty Bowman who will lead the World Team.
Recent Comments