I'm thinking this was the wrong time for me to take up hockey. That's when I'm able to think at all after taking a reverse header at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex today during the Washington Capitals Media Fantasy Camp.

No one else was hurt, so we've got that going for us. When I take a fall, you don't want to be anywhere that the law of gravity is being enforced. I'm going to have trouble looking to my left for awhile, but it was still a blast getting out there on the ice and getting a little better idea of what it takes to be a hockey player. Being able to skate apparently is a plus.

The Caps put on the event to get a little media buzz going before the NHL season opens next month. I've got to thank media relations director Nate Ewell for including a former Southern California guy who didn't see his first snowfall until he was an adult. I guess they wanted some comic relief.

The best part was the seminar put on by Donald Brashear on the proper way to throw down your gloves and stick and pull the other guy's shirt over his head. I took a beating during the demonstration phase of that, too, so it didn't really go well from a waking-up-tomorrow standpoint.

Coach Bruce Boudreau delivered a little wisdom to the guys who thought they were cut out to be hockey goons.

"You're only a goon until you get beat up once,'' he said, ''because there's always a bigger goon out there somewhere."

There's always a bigger doofus out there somewhere, too. Today it was me.

Stand by. I'm putting together a video of the highlights of the event. I was unable to film myself setting off Richter Scales all over the East Coast, but the Caps did get video of it and I'm negotiating for the blog rights, so it might take a day or so.