Just why am I watching Dancing With The Stars?

As the wife and I were chatting over dinner and DWTS last night, I noticed a close up on Mr. Bret Yamaguchi Hedican.

Mrs. Wuffie: "You only watch this show because they show him on it."
Wuffie: "Nuh-uh. OK, well maybe it has something to do with it. He's the only Canes player I've been able to see live on TV in what seems like forever over a month. And the guy that dances with Kristi sorta looks like the Latin American version of Chad LaRose."

So what if Hedican is probably not coming back. He has been an integral part of the Hurricanes for a good chunk of his career and is to be wished well in his future and health. But is it just me or is anyone else shocked how bald Bret really is? Maybe its the studio lights on ABC, but his head really seems to shine as I'm used to seeing his helmet cover up. Do you think he told the NY Times editors to crop the family picture so that it wouldn't be so obvious in this photo?

Aside: Farewell to Johnny Grahame, who signed with the coolest sounding Russian team today - Omsk Avangard. Just say it, "Omsk". That may be close to the sound I made while putting my hands-in-face watching him play goalie for the Canes. If anything, you've been fun to witness and ridicule during your time in Carolina. But good luck to you and stuff. Don't let any of the Russian coaches Tortarella you.

Come On & Get Me, You Make Me Go Beep! Beep! Ape! Shit!

Please forgive me for bashing the work of the lovely Cheri D & 13 Stories. I've seen the group at the Pour House in Downtown Raleigh at least once and she was very nice and fan-friendly. But the Ford commercial featuring the "Beep Beep" song that played at least once during every break in the Hurricanes TV coverage last season - must be put out of its misery. I can't recall how many times the clip would play even twice in a row during a commercial break. I found myself DVRing the games and finding something to do between 7:00-8:00. Then tune in so I could fast forward through the commercials.

That being said - another that must die is the "Silly Little Fairy" Dodge commercial.

Between the two of those - I would catch myself violently awaking in cold sweats after the reoccurring nightmare of replaying those clips in consciousness (or un).

It is almost as if its a marketing ploy by the team. "Buy your Hurricanes season tickets now: You won't have to watch it on TV and be subject to the death rattle of our two commercials." Then again, I can recall hearing Beep Beep on the pre-game warmup speakers at the RBC.

Give us 2:00 minutes of staring at the color bars screen. Give us NHL commercials. Play elevator music. Just don't give us anymore torture this season with our commercial breaks.