Blues fans everywhere got a chuckle Thursday. One of the great villains in team history joined the team’s hockey staff.

The words “Ed Belfour” evoke all sorts of fond memories. In the heat of the great Blues-Blackhawk rivalry, Eddie the Eagle skated on center stage – in goal for Chicago, attempting to fend off Brett Hull and Co.

During every battle in St. Louis, fans chanted his name derisively. As an especially combative competitor, the Eagle remained a lightning rod for adverse fan reaction.

Eddie’s playoff implosion at the old Arena remains one of the great chapters in the old barn’s history. He flipped out after the Blues completed their exciting sweep of the Hawks. The clinching goal was scored after Hull set a pick on him behind the net.

All of this came back Thursday when Belfour joined the Blues organization as a goaltending consultant.

What’s next for this team – hiring Bob Probert an amateur scout?

SPEAKING OF BLUES HISTORY

Before joining the Note, Hull was a Calgary Flame. As such, he participated in this unfortunate video:

Wow . . .

Thanks to Sports by Brooks for bringing this to our attention.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering if Rick Ankiel will be hydrated for tonight’s game in Pittsburgh:

• Is John Smoltz’s latest comeback bid tarnishing his reputation? Shouldn’t his friends intervene on his behalf?
• Will the Cards bear up OK during Brad Thompson’s three-game suspension?
• Why must NFL receivers work so hard to draw attention to themselves?
• This is the guy giving career advice to unsigned NFL rookie Michael Crabtree. This may not turn out well.

RED SOX VS. YANKEES: GOOD CLEAN FUN

These teams are playing again this weekend, if you haven’t noticed. This is good fun for fans of the two teams.

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “I won’t say those new swim world records set in Rome are cheap, but my ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ trophy is starting to look legit.”

Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com: “There are things your mother says that you let go in one ear and instantly out the other. Then there are things she says that you should carry with you throughout life, because one day you will desperately need them. Take this one: ‘Never put yourself in a position to be used as an example.’ Now that the grand jury indictment has come down on Plaxico Burress, we all are about to witness a lesson in what happens when one doesn’t heed that advice. From the judge and jury who will hear the possible trial to the office of the NFL commissioner, the future of Burress’ career and several years of his life now sit in the hands of those who might use him to send a message to a much larger audience.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times, on Tiger Woods: “Tiger is such fun to watch after he’s stubbed his toe. The last time he missed a cut (at the 2006 U.S. Open), he finished tied for second, first, first, first, first, first, first and first in his next eight PGA Tour events.”

Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: “Yes, I realize that Milwaukee slugger Prince Fielder was hit on his very beefy leg Tuesday night by Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota, which came in response to Manny Ramirez being plunked by Brewers reliever Chris Smith. But what made this episode so surreal — and frightening — was the sight of the 275-pound Fielder barreling through the underbelly of Dodger Stadium and trying to bust his way into the home clubhouse, where Prince wanted to crown Mota in front of 24 teammates who I’m fairly certain would have turned the scene into bloody-Octagon-meets-Evander Holyfield’s ear.”

MEGAPHONE

“What I watched on television, I think it’s totally misrepresented — some of the terminology they used. They used words that made it sound like he was going to kill somebody. You’re focused on the wrong thing. If their pitcher doesn’t intentionally hit him, none of this happens. That’s what I mean by the misrepresentation — they’re portraying Prince as the bad guy, and he’s not the bad guy. So let’s get the proper focus, OK? It’s 17-4, and it’s a totally inappropriate action. People pitch inside for two reasons: No. 1, to get the outside part of the plate, and No. 2, to injure someone. Our guy was trying to get the outside part of the plate. Their guy was trying to injure someone.”

Brewers manager Ken Macha, defending Fielder’s outburst.