| Some of the Islanders might want him....read on!
February 28, 1997
Puck-er up for Palffy and Green
'Ziggy kind of surprised me with a big kiss on the lips'
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun
Gable and Lombard.
Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster frolicking in the surf in From Here
to Eternity.
Palffy and Green.
Palffy and Green.
The New York Islanders' kissing bandits, who bring their act to the
Corel Centre tonight, raised some eyebrows and pursed some lips with
their post-goal smoochfest after Ziggy Palffy scored a goal against the New
Jersey Devils Wednesday night.
In case you missed it, Palffy swatted home a rebound behind Devils
goaltender Martin Brodeur for his 33rd goal of the season. He passed
behind the Devils net and hooked up with Travis Green in the corner where
the two embraced.
The next thing you knew, bam, lip lock.
"Ziggy kind of surprised me with a big kiss on the lips," said Green.
You and about 30 million hockey fans, Travis.
Goals are happy occasions. They inspire a group hug, a pat on the
head or maybe a tap on the butt.
Palffy was clearly overcome by the emotion of the moment and it
didn't look like he was doing it tongue in cheek.
"I guess he was just pretty happy to get a goal. I guess that's what
Europeans do," said Green, who had to endure the expected derision from
his teammates yesterday.
"The thing is, he's done it before. He gave somebody a peck on the
cheek last year."
"We believe in camaraderie," said Isles coach Rick Bowness, "but
that's taking it a little too far."
Don Cherry, who landed a smooch on Doug Gilmour during an episode of
Coach's Corner -- but, hey, only on the cheek, I'm tellin' ya -- had a
laugh about it last night. He plans to do something on Ziggy's pucker
power tomorrow night.
"I know those guys who wear visors are sweeties," said Cherry last
night, "but that's a little too much."
What is proper post-goal kissing etiquette? Does the guy with the
visor tilt his head to the left or right?
Ziggy was keeping his lips sealed yesterday. Guess he doesn't like to
kiss and tell.
What's next?
Will Islanders fans start celebrating Ziggy's goals by throwing
Hershey Kisses on the ice?
The pair obviously has a huge endorsement deal coming its way.
Imagine the commercial:
Announcer, over the pictures of Zigmund Palffy racing in and beating
a goaltender: "Palffy shoots. He scores!"
Cut to Palffy: "Before I pucker up, I make sure to use T and Z's lip
balm. Helps eliminate those annoying injuries that can put a crimp in a
goal scorer's game. No, not knee, groin or shoulder injuries -- chapped
lips! Nothing worse than having lips rougher than the ice at the
CoreStates Center. Right, Travis?"
Green: "Right, Ziggy. Make mine strawberry."
You can bet that any Islanders player on the ice when Palffy scores
in his next game will be giving him a wide berth. They'll avoid him
like a retail price.
Green said there probably won't be a repeat tonight at the Corel
Centre. He's not ready to just turn the other cheek.
"I wouldn't count on it," he said. "But then again, it depends on how
big a goal it is."
Green figures he's got the problem licked.
"All I know is I'll run to the bench."
|
| Vigneault's been rumoured to be going to the Isles to be w/ Bowness
since Xmas. But now, the Habs need a coach. Who knows.
Mind you, after this weekend, it looks like Burns'll get it. The
Thrashing Trio (Tremblay, Raymond, Todd) have warned Houle that THIS
time he better get a reaaallll good coach or else (ie. they're going
after him). Til then, they'll be trying to fire Corey (to keep their
form). ;*)
Andy
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