Roberto Luongo

WEEK TOMORROW HOCKEY CANADA WILL ANNOUNCE ITS 23 MAN ROSTER FOR THE OLYMPICS…
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH MIKE BABCOCK…THERE ARE ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT UP FOR GRABS…
ONE ON DEFENCE AND TWO FORWARDS…
AS FOR THE GOALTENDING…BABCOCK INSISTS…THOSE DECISIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE…
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TEAM CANADA STEVE YZERMAN HAS ALL BUT CONFIRMED THAT…
IN HIS WORDS…”THE GOALTENDING IS SOMEWHAT CLEAR TO US…
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH IT MEANS…THE 3 GOALTENDERS ARE:
MARTIN BRODEUR…
ROBERTO LUONGO…
AND MARC-ANDRE FLEURY…
AS MUCH AS HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WOULD LOVE TO SEE LUONGO “START” THE TOURNAMENT…
CLEARLY THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO BRODEUR…
HOW COULD IT NOT???
LASTNIGHT NEW JERSEY SHUTOUT PITTSBURGH 4-0…
IT WAS BRODUER’S 104TH CAREER SHUTOUT…A NEW NHL RECORD…
A RECORD THAT HAD STOOD FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS…
AT 37…MARTIN BRODUER IS STILL ON TOP OF HIS GAME…
NOT ONLY DOES HE LEADS THE NHL IN WINS…WITH 23…
BUT HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE…AND SAVE PERCENTAGE…ARE BOTH BETTER THAN EITHER…LUONGO’S OR FLUERY’S…
ADD TO THAT…HIS TROPHY CASE INCLUDES…
4 VEZINA’S…
3 STANLEY CUPS…
AND 1 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL…
BUT ALL OF THAT WILL MEAN NOTHING…IF BRODUER STRUGGLES EARLY IN THE TOURNAMENT…
AND NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER THAN BRODUER…
IN 2002 HE BEGAN THE OLYMPICS AS THE BACK UP TO CURTIS JOSEPH…
AFTER JOSEPH WAS BOMBED 5-2 BY SWEDEN IN THE OPENING GAME…BRODEUR LED TEAM CANADA THE REST OF THE WAY…
SO LUONGO MAY INDEED FIND THE “OLYMPIC SPOTLIGHT”…
BUT IN THE MEANTIME…HE HAS MUCH MORE PRESSING ISSUES TO DEAL WITH…
STARTING TONIGHT WITH NASHVILLE…

Ed Willes

MAYBE IT’S JUST THE EGGNOG TALKING…BUT…
IT APPEARS ED WILLIS OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE AND THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE…
IN TODAY’S PAPER WILLES DECRIBED THE CANUCKS BLUELINE AS…”THE BIGGEST DISSAPPOINTMENT” OF THE SEASON…
CLEARLY THAT CONCERN IS SHARED WITH HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…
YESTERDAY AFTER THE MORNING SKATE…VIGNEAULT HAD AN ON ICE CHAT WITH KEVIN BIEKSA…
WHEN IT WAS OVER BIEKSA SKATED TO THE BENCH…SLAMMED HIS STICK AGAINST THE BOARDS…AND STORMED INTO THE DRESSING ROOM…
UNFORTUNATELY THE MESSAGE DID NOT GET THROUGH…
LASTNIGHT AGAINST ST. LOUIS…IN THE SECOND PERIOD…WITH THE GAME TIED AT 1…
BIEKSA WAS CAUGHT STANDING STILL AS DAVID BACKES DANCED AROUND HIM TO SCORE THE WINNING GOAL…
ON FRIDAY NIGHT AGAINST WASHINGTON…IT WAS BIEKSA WHO COUGHED UP THE PUCK…WHICH DIRECTLY LED TO THE CHRIS CLARKE GOAL…
THE RESULT WAS VIGNEAULT CUTTING HIS ICE TIME…
ADD TO THAT…BIEKSA HAS SCORED JUST 1 GOAL THIS SEASON…AND IN A MINUS 1…
NOW COMPARE THAT WITH CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF…WHO LEADS THE NHL WITH A PLUS 17…
IN FAIRNESS…BIEKSA IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM…
LASTNIGHT ON THE KEITH TKACHUK GOAL…SAMI SALO WAS CAUGHT LOOKING…
THIS IS THE SAME SAMI SALO…WHO HAS PRODUCED A MERE 6 POINTS THIS SEASON…
WILLIS ALSO POINTED OUT TODAY IN THE PROVINCE…
“THE CANUCKS HAVE OVER $21 MILLION DOLLARS TIED UP THIS SEASON IN THEIR TOP 7 DEFENCEMAN”…
NO QUESTION GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS HAS NOTICED THAT…
THE 3 MOST EXPENSIVE ARE…BIEKSA…SALO AND WILLIE MITCHELL…WHO COMBINE FOR MORE THAN $11 MILLION…
AND YET THIS SEASON…THEY HAVE PRODUCED A GRAND TOTAL OF JUST 6 GOALS…
THEY ALSO SHARE ONE OTHER THING IN COMMON…
ALL 3 WERE SIGNED TO LONG TERM DEALS…BY FORMER GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS…
IT’S WHY LAST SUMMER GILLIS MADE NO EFFORT TO RE-SIGN MATTIAS OHLUND…
OR IS LIKELY TO RE-SIGN MITCHELL NEXT SUMMER…UNLESS HE IS WILLING TO TAKE A PAY CUT…
GOOD ON “ED WILLIS TO POINT OUT…THE ENORMOUS CHALLENGES GILLIS “INHERITED” WHEN HE TOOK THIS JOB…
WHO KNOWS…AT THIS RATE…EDDIE MAY STILL GET AN INVITE…TO THE CANUCKS CHRISTMAS PARTY…

Ed Willes

THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS MIKE GILLIS DOES NOT NEED ANYBODY TO FIGHT HIS BATTLES…

LET ALONE SOMEBODY IN SPORTS TALK RADIO…

AND HAVING DAVID PRATT AS THE “CALM SANE VOICE OF REASON” IS THE 7^TH SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE…

BUT TODAY IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE…ED WILLIS TOOK A CHEAP SHOT AT GILLIS…

IT WAS UNFAIR AND UNBALANCED…IT ALSO GOT PERSONAL…

WILLIS MAKES NO SECRET ABOUT THE FACT HE IS…“NOT A HUGE FAN”…

NO KIDDING!!!

THE FOCUS OF TODAY’S ATTACK WAS ON THE 13 PLAYERS ON THE ROSTER WHICH GILLIS HAS BROUGHT IN…

WILLIS POSSED THIS QUESTION…

“HAVE ANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN “DIFFERENCE MAKERS” FOR THE CANUCKS???”

WELL TO BEGIN WITH…NONE OF THESE PLAYERS WERE BROUGHT IN TO BE “DIFFERENCE MAKERS”…

LAST SUMMER GILLIS SPENT MOST OF HIS MONEY GETTING THE SEDINS AND ROBERTO LUONGO SIGNED…

HOW CAN YOU ARGUE WITH THAT DECISION???

IN CASE YOU DIDN’T NOTICE…HENRIK SEDIN IS NOW SECOND IN NHL SCORING…

WILLIS ALSO DROPPED THIS LITTLE GEM…

“YOU WONDER WHAT THE TEAM’S RECORD WOULD BE IF GILLIS HAD NOT FALLEN INTO A “MADE BED”…

“MADE BED???”…PLEASE!!!

THE TEAM GILLIS INHERITED IS THE SUMMER OF 2008…HAD LOST 7 OF IT’S LAST 8 GAMES…AND MISSED THE PLAYOFFS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE YEARS…

TREVOR LINDEN’S FINAL GAME IN THE NHL…A 7-1 EMBARASSMENT…AT THE HANDS OF THE CALGARY FLAMES…

THESE CANUCKS DID NOT NEED A MAKE OVER…THEY NEEDED A HEART TRANSPLANT!!!

LET’S BE FAIR…

YOU CAN NOT JUDGE ANY GENERAL MANAGER IN ANY SPORT FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS…

BY THEN WE WILL KNOW THE IMPACT OF CODY HODGSON….YANN SAUVE…JORDAN SCHROEDER AND ANTON RODIN…

IN THE MEANTIME…THE CANUCKS ARE STILL PAYING FOR THE SINS OF “PAST MANAGEMENT”…

WHO’S FIRST ROUND PICKS INCLUDED THE LIKES OF…BRYAN ALLEN…NATHAN SMITH…R.J. UMBERGER…CORY SCHNIEDER…MICHAEL GRABNER…AND PATRICK WHITE…

EDDIE…RUNNING AN NHL FRANCHISE IS NOT A POPULARITY CONTEST…

YOU OF ALL PEOPLE…KNOW THAT!!!

Atlanta Thrashers

TONIGHT AT GM PLACE HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WILL GET THEIR “FIRST” LOOK AT EVANDER KANE IN AN ATLANTA THRASHERS JERSEY…
IT COULD ALSO BE THE “LAST” TIME HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY WILL GET A LOOK AT EVANDER KANE IN AN ATLANTA THRASHERS JERSEY…
THE THRASHERS ARE JUST ONE OF A HALF A DOZEN TEAMS THE NHL WILL BE FORCED TO RE-LOCATE…OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS…
THE EIGHT PEOPLE WHO OWN THE TEAM ARE MORE DYSFUNCTIONAL THAN A TIGER WOODS-MICHAEL VICK CHRISTMAS SPECIAL…
THE GROUP HAS SPENT THE LAST 5 YEARS IN AND OUT OF COURT FIGHTING OVER CONTROL OF THE FRANCHISE…
LAST SPRING A VANCOUVER GROUP THAT INCLUDED TOM GAGLARDI AND NELSON SKALBANIA MADE A PITCH TO BUY THE TEAM…
THE THRASHERS DENIED IT WAS FOR SALE…
BUT ONE OF THE OWNERS BRUCE LEVENSON DID ADMITT…THE TEAM WAS LOOKING FOR…QUOTE…”POSSIBLE INVESTORS”…
NO KIDDING!!!...
IN THE LAST 6 YEARS THIS GROUP…WHICH ALSO OWNS THE ATLANTA HAWKS OF THE NBA…
HAS LOST A TOTAL OF $174 MILLION DOLLARS…AND COUNTING…
WHEN IT COMES TO NHL ATTENDANCE…THE THRASHERS ARE 27TH …
BY COMPARISON THE PHOENIX COYOTES ARE 30TH AND ARE EXPECTED TO LOSE AROUND $50 MILLION DOLLARS THIS SEASON…
IN THE MEANTIME THE GLOBE AND MAIL NOW SAYS AS MANY AS 9 NHL TEAMS ARE CURRENTLY FOR SALE…
ONLY A FOOL WOULD BELIEVE THE THRASHERS ARE NOT ONE OF THEM…
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE STEPHEN HAWKING TO DO THE MATH…
THE OWNERS OF THE THRASHERS…ALSO CONTROL THE PHILIPS ARENA…
SO THE ISSUE OF GETTING OUT OF THEIR LEASE…IS NOT A MAJOR OBSTACLE…
ADD IT ALL UP…AND IT MAY HELP TO EXPLAIN…WHY ILYA KOVALCHUK HAS BEEN SO UNWILLING TO SIGN A NEW CONTRACT…
QUITE SIMPLY…THERE IS NO GUARENTEE WHERE THE TEAM WILL BE BY NEXT SEASON…
CAN YOU SAY JIM BALSILLIE???
CAN YOU SAY HAMILTON???

More Tiger!

“I’M HUMAN…I’M NOT PERFECT”…
THOSE ARE THE WORDS USED BY TIGER WOODS ON HIS OWN WEBSITE…
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
NOBODY EVER SAID HE WAS “PERFECT”…
BUT THE MORE WE LEARN ABOUT HIS PRIVATE LIFE…
THE MORE HE BECOMES…”HUMAN”…
MORE AND MORE IT IS BECOMING CLEAR TIGER WAS INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF AN AFFAIR…
THE PROBLEM IS THE WAY THAT INFORMATION IS BECOMING AVAILABLE TO US…
TO START WITH…TIGER WOODS IS NOW HIDING BEHIND A MEDIA BLACK OUT…
AND THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA ARE DRAGGING THEIR FEET…
UNWILLING TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS…FOR FEAR THEY MIGHT UPSET A SPORTS ICON…
INSTEAD THE DETAILS OF HIS CAR ACCIDENT ARE COMING TO US THROUGH THE TABLIODS…
AND THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING THIS WHOLE MESS…
FOR EXAMPLE…TMZ IS NOW REPORTING…
TIGER TOLD A FRIEND HE WAS IN THE MAKRET FOR A…”KOBE SPECIAL”…
AS YOU KNOW…
IN 2005…AFTER A SEX SCANDAL…KOBE BRYANT BOUGHT HIS WIFE A $4 MILLION DOLLAR DIAMOND RING TO MAKE PEACE…
AND TOMORROW “US WEEKLY” WILL HIT THE STANDS WITH A FRONT COVER STORY THAT SAYS…
TIGER WOODS HAD AN AFFAIR WITH A LAS VEGAS COCKTAIL WAITRESS NAMED JAMIE GRUBBS…
ACCORDING TO US WEEKLY…
GUBBS THE RELATIONSHIP LASTED 31 MONTHS…
AND SHE HAS OVER 300 TEXT MESSAGES…AND VOICE MAIL FROM TIGER WOODS…TO PROVE IT…
RIGHT NOW…THE SMART THING FOR TIGER WOODS TO DO…IS FOLLOW THE LEAD OF DAVID LETTERMAN…
AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE STORY…
HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE…AND TELL THE TRUTH…
ANSWER ALL THE UNPLEASANT QUESTIONS…AND THEN GET ON WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE…
THERE IS A SIMPLE RULE IN LIFE…
WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A HOLE…THE FIRST THING YOU MUST DO…IS STOP DIGGING…
THE FANS AND THE SPONSORS DO NOT EXPECT TIGER WOODS TO BE PERFECT…
THEY JUST DO NOT WANT HIM TO BE…ROGER CLEMENS…

Grey Cup

THERE’S GUT WRENCHING…
AND THEN THERE’S “RIP YOUR HEART OUT…STICK IT IN A BLENDER…AND HIT “PUREE”…
THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT THE GREY CUP…TO BOTH THE SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS AND THEIR FANS…
THE ECHO OF…”TOO MANY MEN ON THE FIELD”…
WILL HAUNT “RIDER NATION” FOR THE REST OF THE CENTURY…
IN THE SAME WAY…THE SOUND OF…”TOO MANY MEN ON THE ICE”…
STILL HAUNTS DON CHERRY…
TO HIS CREDIT…CHERRY HAS ALWAYS SHOULDERED THE BLAME…
30 YEARS LATER AND HE STILL REFUSES TO IDENITFIED THE PLAYER THAT COST THE BOSTON BRUINS A SHOT AT WINNING THE STANLEY CUP…
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IS THE SAME APPROACH THE RIDERS ARE TAKING…
ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME…THE MONTREAL ALOUETTES MISSED A 43 YARD FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT…
SASKATCHEWAN HAD PULLED OFF ONE THE BIGGEST UPSETS IN CFL HISTORY…
HOWEVER THE CELEBRATION DID NOT LAST LONG…
THE RIDERS WERE HIT WITH A 10 YARD PENALTY FOR “TOO MANY MEN ON THE FIELD”…
SECONDS LATER...DAMON DUVAL HIT FROM 33 YARDS…
MONREAL WINS 28-27…
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW…
SPECIAL TEAMS COACH KAVIS REED SENT ONE PLAYER ONTO THE FIELD AND ANOTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OFF…
CLEARLY THE MESSAGE DID NOT GET THROUGH…
AFTER THE GAME…HEAD COACH KEN MILLER REFUSED TO IDENTIFY THAT PLAYER…OR POINT A FINGER…
MILLER WOULD ONLY SAY…”WE DID NOT SEE IT”…”WE THOUGHT WE’D WON THE FOOTBALL GAME”…
AS A RULE…IT’S EASY TO SPOT “THE GOAT”…
IT’S SCOTT NORWOOD…”WIDE RIGHT”…IN SUPER BOWL 25…
IT’S JACKIE SMITH…DROPPING A SURE TOUCHDOWN PASS IN SUPER BOWL 13…
IT’S BILL BUCKNER…IN THE 1986 WORLD SERIES…
AND IT’S JEAN VAN VEDLE AT THE 1999 BRITSH OPEN…
THE TRUTH WE MAY ALL GO TO OUR GRAVES NEVER KNOWING THREE THINGS…
THE BRUIN WHO JUMPED ON THE ICE DURING THE 1979 NHL PLAYOFFS...
THE RIDER WHO FAILED TO COME OFF THE FIELD IN THE 97TH GREY CUP GAME…
AND THE MAN WHO WAS STANDING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL AT DEALEY PLAZA…
MAYBE IT’S BETTER THAT WAY…

Brendan Burke

SOMEBODY NOMINATE BRIAN BURKE FOR FATHER OF THE YEAR…
NO!!!
MAKE THAT FATHER OF THE DECADE…
TODAY ESPN BROKE THE NEWS THAT BURKE’S SON BRENDAN IS GAY…
IT WAS BRENDAN’S DECISION COME OUT…AND EVEN THOUGH BRIAN WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF HIS SON DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE IN PUBLIC BECAUSE OF HIS FEAR OF THE NEGATIVE REACTION…
BURKE CONTINUES TO SUPPORT HIS SON…
IN THE WORDS OF BRIAN BURKE…“I STAND BESIDE HIM WITH AN AXE”…
THE MORE YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY…THE MORE YOU HAVE TO BE IMPRESSED WITH THE COURAGE OF BRENDAN BURKE AND THE SUPPORT HE HAS RECEIVED BY HIS ENTIRE FAMILY…ESPECIALLY FROM HIS FATHER…
SO MUCH SO…THAT LAST SUMMER…
BRIAN AND BRENDAN ATTENDED “THE PRIDE PARADE” IN TORONTO…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…
THE CULTURE OF HOCKEY AND SPORTS IN GENERAL IS…HOMOPHOBIC…
JOKES AND SLURS ARE STANDARD IN EVERY DRESSING ROOM…
AND BRENDAN IS CURRENTLY THE STUDENT MANAGER OF THE HOCKEY TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI AT OHIO...
UNLIKE ADAM LAMBERT PERFORMING AT THE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS ON SUNDAY NIGHT…OR BRITNEY SPEARS AND MADONNA KISSING AT THE MTV AWARDS IN 2003…
THERE IS A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF TOLERANCE IN SPORTS…
WHICH MAKES THE DECISION BY BRENDAN BURKE TO “COME OUT” EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE…
HE PLANS TO GET HIS LAW DEGREE…AND ODDS ARE GOOD…HE PLANS TO BECOME A PLAYER AGENT…
OR WORK IN THE FRONT OFFICE OF AN NHL TEAM…
WHO KNOWS…PERHAPS ONE DAY HE BECOMES AN NHL GENERAL MANAGER…
WHATEVER HE DOES…IT WILL NOT COME EASILY…
THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS NEVER IS…
BUT IF THERE WAS NO JACKIE ROBINSON…THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO REGGIE JACKSON…AND NO DEREK JETER…
PERHAPS HIS FATHER PUT IT BEST…
“I HOPE THE DAY COMES…AND SOON…WHEN THIS IS NOT A STORY”…
AMEN!!!

Roberto Luongo

THERE’S A REASON ROBERTO LUONGO IS THE CAPTAIN OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
GREAT LEADERS ALL SHARE ONE THING IN COMMON…
THEY DO NOT LOOK FOR EXCUSES…
AFTER 21 GAMES THE CANUCKS FIND THEMSELVES WITH A RECORD OF 11 AND 10…
GOOD ENOUGH FOR 11TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
FANS AND THE MEDIA ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT…THE CANUCKS HAVE BEEN CRIPPLED WITH INJURIES…
AND THE NUMBERS BACK THAT UP…
VANCOUVER HAS ALREADY LOST 109 MAN GAMES DUE TO INJURY…
THE MOST OF ANY TEAM IN THE NHL…
WHEN THAT FACT WAS POINTED OUT TO LUONGO YESTERDAY…
HE SNAPPED BACK WITH THIS RESPONSE…
“WHETHER WE’VE HAD INJURIES OR NOT…I DON’T THINK ANYONE ON THE TEAM SHOULD BE SATISFIED WITH OUR RECORD…I’M NOT”…
THOSE COMMENTS WERE BACKED UP BY HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…WHO STATED…QUOTE…
“WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR GUYS WHO CAN PLAY BETTER THAN THEY’VE SHOWN SO FAR”…
YOU DO NOT NEED A G.P.S. TO KNOW WHERE VIGNEAULT WAS HEADED…
KYLE WELLWOOD HAS YET TO SCORE A GOAL THIS SEASON…
IN FACT AFTER 21 GAMES…WELLWOOD HAS JUST ONE ASSIST TO SHOW FOR HIMSELF…
ALEX EDLER IS A MINUS 5…THAT’S WORST “PLUS-MINUS” ON THE ENTIRE TEAM…
UNACCEPTABLE FOR A DEFENCEMAN MAKING OVER $3 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS HAS A MERE 4 GOALS…BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…BURROWS HAS BECOME THE INVISIBLE MAN…
AND FINALLY…STEVE BERNIER…
DO NOT LET THE 2 GOALS IN COLORADO ON SATURDAY FOOL YOU…
MUCH MORE WAS…AND STILL IS…EXPECTED OF BERNIER THIS SEASON…
CERTAINLY GETTING DANIEL SEDIN BACK ON SUNDAY WILL BE A BIG HELP…
AND THE FACT THAT PAVOL DEMITRA IS BACK SKATING HAS TO BE EMBRACED AS GOOD NEWS…
BUT LIKE IT OR NOT…INJURIES ARE NOW A BIG PART OF THE GAME…
AND SUCCESS IN THE NHL NOW DEPENDS GREATLY ON HOW TEAMS DEAL WITH THAT ADVERSITY…
THE CANUCKS HAVE ENJOYED A 5 DAY BREAK…AND TONIGHT THEY PLAY A COLORADO TEAM PLAYING ITS 3RD GAME IN 4 NIGHTS…
ADD IT ALL UP AND IT MEANS ONE THING…
”NO EXCUSES”…

NHL injuries

INJURIES ARE NO EXCUSE!!!
THAT’S THE STANDARD LINE FROM ANY COACH…IN ANY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LEAGUE…
YESTERDAY IN WINNIPEG WE GOT MORE PROOF OF THAT…
THE B.C. LIONS WON A FOOTBALL GAME WITHOUT THEIR STARTING QUARTERBACK AND WITHOUT THEIR STARTING RUNNING BACK…
BUT THE SITUATION IN THE NHL IS NOW GETTING OUT OF HAND…
LESS THAN 3 WEEKS INTO THE REGULAR SEASON…
AND ALREADY…THERE ARE “83” PLAYERS ON THE INJURY LIST…
THAT’S NOT AN “EPIDEMIC”…THAT’S A “PANDEMIC”…
THE LIST INCLUDES SOME VERY BIG NAMES…
THE LATEST INCLUDES MILAN LUCIC OF THE BOSTON BRUINS…
WHO WILL BE GONE FOR THE NEXT 4 TO 6 WEEKS AFTER HAVING SURGERY ON HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER…
ALSO ON THE SIDELINES ARE SUCH NAMES AS…
JOHAN FRANZEN AND PAVEL DATSYUK OF THE WINGS…
SHELDON SOURAY OF THE OILERS…
MARTIN HAVLAT OF THE WILD…
ANDRE MARKOV OF THE CANADIANS…AND JOE PAVELSKI OF THE SHARKS…
WITHOUT QUESTION THE HARDEST HIT ARE THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
WHICH NOW HAVE 5 REGULARS OUT OF THE LINE UP…INCLUDING…
DANIEL SEDIN…
PAVOL DEMITRA…
SAMI SALO…AND MATHIEU SCHNIEDER…
UNFORTUNATELY IN THE SALARY CAP WORLD OF THE NHL…THERE IS LITTLE OR NOTHING A GENERAL MANAGER CAN DO…
THE CANUCKS NOW FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRITICAL PART OF THEIR SCHEDULE…
13 GAMES IN 22 NIGHTS…INCLUDING 2…BACK TO BACK ROAD GAMES…
QUITE SIMPLY IT COULD COST THEM A PLAYOFF SPOT…
IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHY DOES THE LEAGUE DO THIS TO ITSELF…
IT’S NO SECRET THE CAUSE OF MOST OF THESE INJURIES IS THE SCHEDULE…
TOO MANY GAMES…IN TOO FEW DAYS…
WHAT MAKES MATTERS WORSE IS THE FACT…THE SCHEDULE IS COMPRESSED…BECAUSE OF THE OLYMPICS…
IT’S NO SECRET WHAT’S DRIVING THIS IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR…
GREED!!!
BOTH ON THE PART OF THE OWNERS AND THE PLAYERS…
BUT THE END RESULT IS…BAD HOCKEY…AND ULTIMATELY THAT’S JUST BAD BUSINESS…

The Thrill is Gone

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER…
NO MORE MOONLIT WALKS…
NO MORE HOLDING HANDS…
NO MORE STARING INTO EACH OTHERS EYES…WHILE LISTENING TO THE GREATEST HITS OF MICHAEL BOLTON…
NO…THE LOVE AFFAIR BETWEEN TORONTO AND BRIAN BURKE IS OVER…
AT LEAST FOR NOW…
NOBODY SHOULD BE SURPRISED…ALL THE SIGNS WERE THERE…
ON SATURDAY NIGHT…PITTSBURGH DROPPED THE LEAFS 5-2…
TORONTO FANS ACTUALLY BOOED THE PLAYERS…AS THEY LEFT THE ICE…
LASTNIGHT IN NEW YORK…
THE LEAFS WERE BLOWN OUT 7-2 BY THE RANGERS…
IT’S THE FIRST TIME THE FRANCHISE HAS LOST 5 STRAIGHT TO START A SEASON IN NEARLY 20 YEARS…
THIS MORNING WHEN TORONTO FANS WOKE UP…THE BLOOD WAS ALL OVER THE SPORTS SECTIONS OF THE LOCAL PAPERS …
THE HEADLINES IN THE TORONTO STAR READ…
“MELTDOWN IN MANHATTAN”…AND…“LOUSY LEAFS”…
THE TORONTO STAR WENT WITH THIS LITTLE GEM…
“”TORONTO’S UGLY DISPLAY”…
NOW KEEP IN MIND…
THESE ARE THE SAME MEDIA TYPES IN TORONTO…WHICH HAVE FOR THE LAST YEAR…HAILED BURKE AS A “SAVIOR”…
IN FACT…IT WAS JUST LAST MONTH WHEN THE TORONTO STAR RAN A HEADLINE WHICH READ…
“BRIAN BURKE SAYS LEAFS BUILT TO MAKE PLAYOFFS”…
THE NATIONAL POST HEADLINE USED THIS QUOTE FROM BURKE…
“WELL ON OUR WAY”…
NOT SO FAST!!!
AFTER 5 GAMES INTO REGULAR SEASON…ALL THAT TALK HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED…
TONIGHT AGAINST COLORADO THE LEAFS WILL START THEIR THIRD STRING GOALTENDER…JOEY MCDONALD…
AND HAVE SENT 2 VETERANS…MATT STAJAN AND NIKLAS HAGMAN…TO THE PRESS BOX…
THIS SEASON HOCKEY FANS IN TORONTO MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT…WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DRAFTING FIRST OVER ALL NEXT JUNE…
EXCEPT…WELL…BURKE HAS ALREADY TRADED AWAY THE PICK…
AND THEIR FIRST ROUND PICK IN 2011…
THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH “LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT”…
WAKING UP THE NEXT MORNING…

Canuck Fans

CANUCK FANS HAVE BEEN SLAGGED…RIPPED…DISSED…AND SLAPPED IN THE FACE…
AND THE WORST PART OF ALL THIS…MAYBE…WE DESERVE IT…
THE SOURCE IS A DAVID BREITMAN…
A CANADIAN…WHO WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA…AND IS NOW WORKING IN LOS ANGELES FOR SPIKE T.V…
BREITMAN HAS NOW ISSUED HIS LIST OF:
”THE 10 TEAMS WITH THE MOST ANNOYING FANS”…
COMING IN AT NUMBER 5 IS…THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
HE CALLS THEIR FANS “ARROGANT”…AND “SCUMBAGS”
DESCRIBES THEM AS PEOPLE WHO SPEND THEIR DAYS…
1) DEMANDING TRADES ON LOCAL RADIO SHOWS…
2) REMINICING ABOUT THE YEAR THEY ALMOST SIGNED WAYNE GRETZKY…AND…
3) PREACHING ABOUT HOW HOSTING JAROME IGINLA AND THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC TEAM WILL FINALLY ESTABLISH THEIR CITY AS A GENUINE HOCKEY TOWN…
HE REFERS TO THE SEDINS AS…”HOMO-EROTIC SWEDISH TWINS…THAT SEEM PHYSICALLY AFRAID OF THE PLAYOFFS”…
HOLD ON…THEM ARE FIGHTIN’ WORDS…
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE…
BREITMAN HAS GONE SO FAR AS TO OFFER UP A WAY TO DETERMINE WHO IS…AND WHO IS NOT…A CANUCK FAN…
CHECK THIS OUT…
“NEXT TIME YOU SEE A SUSPECTED PYRAMID SCHEMER…IN THE CORNER OF A TRENDY WINE BAR…SPORTING A $200 DOLLAR HAIR CUT AND $900 DOLLAR SUIT…GO AHEAD AND ASK HIM ABOUT KEVIN BIEKSA…
ODDS ARE HE’S A VANCOUVER CANUCKS FAN”…
UNFORTUNATELY….BREITMAN HAS A POINT…
CANUCK FANS REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO JUSTIFY THEIR SUPPORT…
THERE ARE NO STANLEY CUP BANNERS IN THE RAFTERS OF GM PLACE…
IN 40 YEARS…THERE’S NOT ONE PLAYER IN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
AND THEN THERE’S “RICHARD BEACH”…THE CANUCK FAN…WHO CANCELLED HIS CABLE LAST SEASON WHEN THE CANUCKS LOST IN SAN JOSE…
HOW DO YOU ARGUE THAT???
WELL AT LEAST WE CAN TAKE SOME COMFORT IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE CANUCKS DO NOT HAVE “THE” WORST FANS…
THAT TITLE BELONGS TO THE CHICAGO CUBS…
WHO HAVE NOT WON A CHAMPIONSHIP IN 101 YEARS…
HELL IT’S ONLY BEEN…94 YEARS FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…

0 and 3

LASTNIGHT WATCHING THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS…
IT WOULD BE HARD…IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE…FOR CANUCK FANS NOT TO FEEL JUST A LITTLE JEALOUS…
AFTER ALL…THE FLYERS BEAT THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS 6-5 IN OVERTIME…
PHILADELPHIA NOW LEADS THE EASTERN CONFERENCE WITH A PERFECT RECORD OF 3-0…
BUT THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED…
THIS IS THE SAME PHILADELPHIA TEAM…WHICH ONLY A YEAR AGO…LOST ITS FIRST 6 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
SOUND FAMILAR???
THE SAME PHILADELPHIA TEAM…WHICH ONLY A YEAR AGO…HAD MADE IT TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS…
IT’S ANOTHER REMINDER…THAT IN TODAYS NHL…
IT’S NOT HOW YOU START THAT MATTERS…IT’S HOW YOU FINISH…
TONIGHT THE CANUCKS TAKE ON THE MONTREAL CANADAINS…
A TEAM THAT WILL BE PLAYING ITS SECOND ROAD GAME IN AS MANY NIGHTS…
A TEAM THAT HAS LOST ITS TOP DEFENCEMAN…ANDRIE MARKOV…
AND ON SUNDAY…DALLAS IS IN TOWN…
THE STARS ARE A FRANCHISE IN COMPLETE “RE-BUILD”…
THEY HAVE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER IN JOE NIEUWENDYK…
AND A NEW HEAD COACH IN MARC CRAWFORD…
THEY ALSO HAVE LOST THEIR FIRST 2 GAMES OF THE SEASON…
STARTING TO FEEL BETTER???
SHOULD THE CANUCKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION…AND POST 2 VICTORIES OVER THE NEXT 5 DAYS…
TRUST ME…THE NEED TO PANIC…WILL SUDDENLY DISSAPPEAR…
IN THE WORDS OF ROBERTO LUONGO:
“RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH…RELAX AND JUST GO OUT AND PLAY”…
WHAT SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE FANS IS THIS ONE STAT…
THE CANUCKS HAVE PRODUCED 120 SHOTS IN THEIR FIRST 3 GAMES…
NOW HAVING SAID THAT…
THE WORDS OF TONY GALLAGER IN THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE THIS MORNING…STILL ARE HANGING IN THE AIR…
“BUT THEY’RE STILL 0-3”…
UNTIL THAT CHANGES…NO HISTORY LESSON…NO STAT…AND NO LITTLE PEP TALK…IS GOING MAKE THESE FANS FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR TEAM…
IN THE MEANTIME THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS…“TAKE A DEEP BREATH”…

Canucks panic!

ATTENTION VANCOUVER HOCKEY FANS…
BEFORE YOU BURN YOUR AUTHENTIC CANUCKS JERSEY…
AND GO SCREAMING DOWN ROBSON STREET DEMANDING THE TEAM FIRE THE HEAD COACH…AND TRADE EVERY SINGLE PLAYER ON THE ROSTER…
CATCH YOUR BREATH…CHILL OUT…
AND REMEMBER THERE ARE STILL ANOTHER 80 GAMES IN THE SEASON…
THE CANUCKS ARE NOT THE ONLY TEAM TO START THIS SEASON AT 0 AND 2…
SO HAVE THE DETROIT RED WINGS…
IN FACT THERE ARE 14 TEAMS STILL LOOKING FOR THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON…
HAVING SAID THAT…
YES FANS IN THIS CITY HAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST…”THE PENALTY KILL”…
“4 FOR 9 AIN’T GONNA GET IT DONE!!!”
WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHAT THE CANUCKS HAVE TO DO…
DANIEL SEDIN DID NOT HESITATE IN SAYING…
“THE NUMBER 1 THING TO DO BETTER…IS STAY OUT OF THE BOX”…
ALSO ON THE LIST IS:
CASHING IN ON THEIR CHANCES…
THE CANUCKS HAVE PRODUCED 77 SHOTS IN THEIR FIRST 2 GAMES…
THAT’S THE SECOND MOST OF ANY TEAM IN THE LEAGUE…
AND YET…THEY HAVE JUST 3 GOALS TO SHOW FOR THEMSELVES…
ADD IT ALL UP AND THE CANUCKS AND THEIR COACHING STAFF KNOW ONE THING…
THEY MUST EXECUTE BETTER…
AS HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT EXPLAINED…
“THIS IS A VETERAN GROUP AND GUYS KNOW HOW TO PLAY”…
THERE IS ONE OTHER REASON TO APPROACH THIS GAME AGAINST COLUMBUS WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY…
IT IS THE START OF A 3 GAME HOME STAND…
THANKS TO THE OLYMPICS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE BEEN HANDED A SCHEDULE WITH ROAD TRIPS THAT ARE LONGER…THAN AN NHL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE CALL…
AS A RESULT…HOME GAMES WILL HAVE “EXTRA VALUE” THIS SEASON…
WITH THAT IN MIND…SHOULD THE CANUCKS LOSE THEIR NEXT 3 GAMES…
OK…THEN FEEL FREE…TO BURN THE JERSEY…AND GO SCREAMING DOWN ROBSON STREET…
ODDS ARE PRETTY GOOD…YOU WON’T BE ALONE!!!

The Leafs

TO DEBATE WHETHER OR NOT MATS SUNDIN SHOULD GO INTO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
MAKES AS MUCH SENSE AS WASTING YOUR TIME DISCUSSING WHETHER OR NOT BERNIE MADOFF SHOULD ROT IN HELL…
TODAY SUNDIN ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT…
AS A RESULT…HE’LL BE ELIGIBLE TO GO INTO THE HALL OF FAME IN 3 YEARS…
WHICH MEANS IN NOVEMBER OF 2012…THE CITY OF TORONTO WILL BE “GIDDY” WITH EXCITEMENT…
TO UNDERSTAND HOW “GIDDY”…KEEP IN MIND…
THE LEAFS HAVE NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN 42 YEARS…
AND HAVE NOT SEEN A PLAYOFF GAME IN OVER 5…
IT GETS WORSE…A LOT WORSE!!!
THE LAST TIME A FORMER LEAF ENTERED “THE HALL” WAS DICK DUFF IN 2006…
NOW ASK YOURSELF…
HOW CRAZY CAN YOU GET FOR A PLAYER WHO RETIRED IN 1972…AND SCORED A MERE 283 GOALS…
PLEASE!!!
YOU THEN HAVE TO GO BACK TO 1986 TO FIND THE NEXT LEAF TO GET IN…
THAT WAS DAVE KEON…
JUST ONE PROBLEM THERE…
KEON JUMPED TO THE WHA IN 1975 AND WHEN THE TEAM REFUSED TO RETIRE HIS NUMBER 14…
HE TURNED HIS BACK OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR THE NEXT 32 YEARS…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…
“THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…PUTTING “THE FUN” BACK IN DYSFUNCTIONAL”
SUNDIN ALSO SUFFERED FROM THIS DISORDER…
LAST SEASON HE WANTED TO END HIS CAREER IN TORONTO…
BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON…GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE REFUSED TO OFFER SUNDIN A CONTRACT…
SO HE PLAYED HIS LAST SEASON HERE IN VANCOUVER…
ALL THIS IS NOTHING NEW FOR WEST COAST HOCKEY FANS…
MARK MESSIER ALSO USED THIS CITY AS A “REST HOME”…
IN 2006 THE RANGERS RETIRED HIS NUMBER…
SO…DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF SOMETIME LATER THIS SEASON THE LEAFS HONOR SUNDIN…
BUT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL THEY RETIRE HIS NUMBER…
GOD FOR BID!!!
AFTER ALL…HE’S ONLY THEIR ALL TIME LEADER IN GOALS AND POINTS…
NEVERTHELESS THE BIG CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN 3 YEARS…AT THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
ON THAT DAY…THE BOYS AND GIRLS IN TORONTO…WILL PARTY LIKE ITS 1967…

San Jose Sharks

THE SAN JOSE SHARKS ARE “NOT” THE WORST CHOKE ARTISTS OF ALL-TIME…
BUT THEY DO OWN THE TITLE FOR “THIS DECADE”…
IN THE LAST 4 SEASONS THE SHARKS HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
AND IN EVERY CASE THEY WERE UNABLE TO “EVEN GET TO THE FINAL”…
LET ALONE WIN IT…
IN FACT IN THE LAST 3 SEASONS THE SHARKS HAVE FAILED TO GET PAST THE 2ND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
THE BIGGEST OF THE 4 CHOKES CAME LAST SPRING…
SAN JOSE HAD THE BEST RECORD IN THE NHL…WITH 117 POINTS…
THEY SET A FRANCHISE RECORD FOR WINS WITH 53…
AND YET IN THE FIRST ROUND…
THE 8TH SEEDED ANAHEIM DUCKS FINISHED THEIR SEASON IN ONLY 6 GAMES…
THROUGH IT ALL GENERAL MANAGER DOUG WILSON HAS TRIED EVERYTHING…
HE TRADED FOR JOE THORTON…
FIRED HEAD COACH RON WILSON…
HIRED TODD MCLELLAN…
SIGNED 37 YEAR OLD JEREOMY ROENICK AND 43 YEAR OLD CLAUDE LEMIEUX…
THIS SUMMER THE SHARKS REMOVED PATRICK MARLEAU AS THEIR CAPTAIN…
SENT CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF AND BRAD LUKOWICH TO VANCOUVER…
AND TRADED FOR DANY HEATLY…
THE HEATLY DEAL ALONE WILL COST THE SHARKS $35 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS…
DESPITE IT ALL…THE BOOKIES IN LAS VEGAS ARE STILL NOT IMPRESSED…
THEY HAVE THE SHARKS AT 10-1 TO WIN THE CUP…
SHOULD SAN JOSE CHOKE AGAIN NEXT SPRING…
THEN THIS TEAM WOULD JOIN SOME ELITE COMPANY…
UP THERE WITH LIKES OF:
BILL BUCKNER…
GREG NORMAN…
JEAN VAN DE VELDE…
THE BUFFALO BILLS…
AND THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS…
THE DIFFERENCE IS…ALL THE ABOVE…CHOKED WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE…
THE SHARKS STILL HAVE NOT MADE IT TO THE DANCE…
SO UNTIL THEY DO…
THE WORST CHOKE ARTISTS OF ALL-TIME REMAIN…
THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS…

Dallas Cowboys

ON SUNDAY NIGHT THE WORLD AS YOU KNOW IT…IS ABOUT TO CHANGE…
THE DALLAS COWBOYS WILL PLAY THEIR HOME OPENER IN THE BRAND NEW…”COWBOYS STADIUM”…
OVER 100 THOUSAND FANS ARE EXPECTED TO WATCH THE COWBOYS AND THE NEW YORK GIANTS…
AT A PRICE OF $1.2 BILLION DOLLARS IT IS THE LARGEST DOMED STADIUM IN THE WORLD…
BUT THAT IS JUST THE PART OF THE STORY…
THE STADIUM HAS THE WORLD LARGEST VIDEO SCREEN THAT HANGS OVER THE FIELD…
ITS 160…BY…72 FEET…AND ITS ALL IN HI-DEF…
WHEN IT COMES TO THE “WOW” FACTOR…
THIS ONE IS RIGHT OFF THE CHARTS…
AND IT ALSO MAKES A GREAT TARGET FOR EVERY PUNTER IN THE NFL…
NOW GET THIS…
THE IDEA OF THE GIANT VIDEO SCREEN…CAME TO OWNER JERRY JONES WHEN HE WAS IN LAS VEGAS…
JONES WAS AT A CELINE DION CONCERT AT CAESARS PALACE…AND COULD NOT TAKE HIS EYES OFF THE VIDEO BOARD HANGING OVER THE STAGE…
THEN THERE’S THE MILLER LITE CLUB…WHICH IS FULL OF DRUNK AND SCREAMING FANS…
THE PLAYERS ACTUALLY HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE BAR ON THEIR WAY TO…AND BACK FROM…THE FIELD…
BUT ALL THIS LUXERY DOES COME AT A PRICE…
TO BECOME A SEASON TICKET HOLDER A FAN MUST FIRST BUY HIS SEAT…
EACH SELLS FOR $5,000…
THEN THERE’S ANOTHER $100 FOR EACH AND EVERY GAME…
AND OF COURSE…THERE’S PARKING…
THAT GOES FOR $60 DOLLARS PER GAME…
SO A PAIR OF SEASON TICKETS THIS YEAR WILL SET YOU BACK…A COOL $12 THOUSAND DOLLARS…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE REFRESHMENTS…
PIZZA SELLS FOR $60 DOLLARS…
AND BEER GOES FOR $8 DOLLARS A POP…
THERE IS A CHEAPER WAY TO GO…
IT’S CALLED “THE PARTY PASS”…AND IT SELLS FOR JUST $29 DOLLARS…
BUT THAT ONLY GET’S YOU STANDING ROOM…
SO FAR THE COWBOYS HAVE SOLD 20 THOUSAND OF THOSE PASSES…FOR SUNDAY NIGHTS GAME…
ADD IT ALL UP…
THE COWBOYS ARE DOING ALRIGHT…
ESPECIALLY FOR A TEAM THAT HAS NOT WON A PLAYOFF GAME IN 13 YEARS…

Burkie!

WHAT IS A STANLEY CUP RING WORTH???
FOR BRIAN BURKE…$18 MILLION DOLLARS…
THAT’S WHAT THE LEAFS ARE NOW PAYING BURKE AS PART OF HIS 6 YEAR CONTRACT…
DESPITE ALL THE HYPE…SO FAR BURKE HAS NOT REALLY DONE MUCH TO EARN IT…
LAST SEASON THE LEAFS FINISHED 12TH IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
MADE A COUPLE OF MINOR DEALS AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
WERE UNABLE TO MOVE UP IN THE ENTRY DRAFT…
AND IN THE OFF SEASON SPENT $33 MILLION DOLLARS TO SIGN MIKE KOMISARIK AND FRANCOIS BEACHEMIN…
TWO DEFENCEMEN WHO LAST SEASON COMBINED FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 6 GOALS…
IN THE MEANTIME…BOB MURRAY…
THE MAN WHO REPLACED BURKE IN ANAHEIM…
HAS COMPLETELY RETOOLED THE DUCKS…
THANKS TO BURKE…AND HIS MISMANAGEMENT OF THE SALARY CAP…
THE DUCKS WERE FORCED TO GIVE AWAY ANDY MCDONALD TO ST. LOUIS…
AND AT THE START OF LAST SEASON…
THE TEAM COULD NOT GET BOBBY RYAN INTO THE LINE UP…
AFTER MURRAY CLEANED UP THE MESS…RYAN WENT ONTO SCORE 31 GOALS IN 64 GAMES…
IN FACT SINCE TAKING OVER LAST NOVEMBER…
MURRAY HAS TRADED AWAY 7 STARTERS INCLUDING CHRIS PRONGER…CHRIS KUNITZ…SAMEUL PAHLSSON AND TRAVIS MOEN…
THE PRONGER DEAL ALONE GAVE THE DUCKS…3 FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS FROM THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS…
NEVERTHELESS…DESPITE ALL THE CHANGES LAST SEASON…
ANAHEIM NOT ONLY MADE THE PLAYOFFS…
THE DUCKS KNOCKED OFF SAN JOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND AND THEN PUSHED DETROIT TO A 7TH GAME…
IN THE SUMMER MURRAY RESIGNED SCOTT NEIDERMAYER…
AND LANDED SAKU KOIVU AS A FREE AGENT …
TONIGHT ANAHEIM FANS WILL GET THEIR FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW COMBINATION OF “KOIVU AND TEEMU SELANNE”…
ALSO IN THE SUMMER…MURRAY GAVE UP A 3RD ROUND DRAFT PICK TO THE LEAFS FOR GOALTENDER JUSTIN POGGE…
WHICH NOW SETS THE STAGE FOR THE DUCKS TO UNLOAD J.S. GIGUERE…AND THE $13 MILLION DOLLARS HE’LL MAKE OVER THE NEXT 2 SEASONS…
JUST ANOTHER “LEFT OVER” FROM THE BRIAN BURKE ERA…
ADD IT ALL UP…AND MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…
THE LEAFS HIRED THE WRONG GUY!!!

Gary Bettman

GARY BETTMAN IS IN THE FIGHT OF HIS LIFE…
ON THE LINE IS NOT THE FUTURE OF THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
BUT ALSO “HIS” FUTURE AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NHL…
TODAY IN PHOENIX…BETTMAN AND JIM BALSILLIE WERE BACK IN COURT…
IT’S A 2 DAY PROCESS THAT WILL RESULT IN AN AUCTION TO DECIDE WHO OWNS THE TEAM…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…IT WILL DECIDE WHO RUNS THIS LEAGUE…
TODAY IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL STEPHEN BRUNT DESCRIBED IT THIS WAY…
“A CONTEST OF POWER AND MONEY AND SMARTS AND EGO”…
NO MATTER WHAT JUDGE REDFIELD T. BAUM DECIDES…
IT IS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HOW BETTMAN SURVIVES…
IF BALSILLIE WINS…THE TEAM WILL MOVE TO HAMILTON…
YES…THE LEAGUE CAN FIGHT THE MOVE…BUT WHY???
BALSILLIE HAS PROVEN HE HAS BOTH THE “MONEY” AND THE “WILL” TO KEEP GOING…AND GOING…AND GOING…
IF THE NHL WINS…THE OTHER 29 OWNERS WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR WHATEVER THE COYOTES LOSE THIS SEASON…
LAST SEASON THEY LOST $67 MILLION…
THE NHL WILL THEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH BUSINESS OF RE-LOCATING THE COYOTES…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THEIR MARKET…
WHICH MEANS…ANOTHER NASTY AND EXPENSIVE LEGAL FIGHT IS ALREADY ON THE HORIZON…
ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE…AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED…
IF ONLY BETTMAN HAD SIMPLY ALLOWED BALSILLIE TO BUY THE NASHVILLE PREDATORS…
INSTEAD HE CHOSE TO PICK…YET…ANOTHER FIGHT…
THIS TIME WITH A BILLIONAIRE WHO IS CLEARLY…OUT OF HIS WEIGHT CLASS…
TO KEEP BALSILLIE OUT OF THE NHL CLUBHOUSE…BETTMAN SUPPORTED THE SALE OF THE PREDATORS TO A CROOK BY THE NAME OF WILLIAM “BOOTS” DE BIAGGIO…
ON TUESDAY DE BIAGGIO WAS SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STEALING $110 MILLION DOLLARS…
THE TIMING OF THIS HAS NOT BEEN LOST…
THERE ARE NOW LESS THAN 2 YEARS LEFT ON BETTMANS CONTRACT…AND NO MATTER HOW THIS COURT CASE PLAYS OUT IN PHOENEX…
IT IS HIGHLY DOUBTFUL HE’LL BE ALLOWED TO SEE IT THROUGH…
THE SAD TRUTH IS…
GARY BETTMAN ONLY HAS HIMSELF TO BLAME…

Brian Burke

BRIAN BURKE…
THE GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING…
IT IS NO SECRET BURKE IS TRYING TO LAND PHIL KESSEL OUT OF BOSTON…
IN JUNE THE LEAFS OFFERED UP THOMAS KABERLE AS PART OF PACKAGE…BUT THAT DEAL FELL THROUGH…
OVER THE WEEKEND BURKE RE-ACQUIRED THE TEAMS 2ND ROUND PICK IN 2010 FROM CHICAGO…
THAT TRIGGERED ALL SORTS OF SPECULATION THAT BURKE IS NOW PREPARED TO SUBMIT AN OFFER SHEET TO AQUIRE KESSEL…
NOW HOLD HERE KIDS!!!
THIS IS THE SAME BRIAN BURKE WHO JUST 2 YEARS AGO “WENT POSTAL” ON KEVIN LOWE FOR DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WITH DUSTIN PENNER…
BACK THEN BURKE CALLED LOWE…”GUTLESS”…
THEN WENT ONTO SAY…
“IF I HAD RUN MY TEAM INTO THE SEWER LIKE THAT I WOULDN’T THROW A GRENADE AT THE OTHER 29 TEAMS”…
LOWE RESPONDED BY CALLING BURKE A “MORON”…
LABLED HIS COMMENTS AS…”PATHETIC”…
AND REFERED TO BURKE AS A…”MEDIA JUNKIE”…AND…”AN UNDERACHIEVING WANNABE”…
NOW THE FIGHT IS OVER KESSEL…
SUDDENLY BURKE HAS FOUND A WHOLE NEW APPRECIATION FOR “OFFER SHEETS…
TODAY HE STATED…”THEY’RE PART OF THE CBA AND A TEAM UTILIZES THAT TOOK TO GET BETTER”…
IF ALL THIS SOUNDS JUST A LITTLE HYPOCRITICAL…WELL THEN CLEARLY…YOU DO NOT DO NOT LIVE ON “PLANET BURKE”…
ACCORDING TO HIM…THESE ARE NOT PARALLEL CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE…
AS BURKE PUTS IT…”THERE HAS BEEN NO BLINDSIDE OR BACK DOOR LIKE KEVIN LOWE DID”…
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
BURKE IS TALKING TO BOSTON GENERAL MANAGER PETER CHIARELLI BECAUSE IT IS IN HIS BEST INTERESTS TO MAKE A TRADE FOR KESSEL…
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE LEAFS…
THE BRUINS HAVE CAP PROBLEMS AND ARE NOT INTERESTED IN ADDING ANY MORE SALARY…
BURKE NOW WILL HAVE TO OFFER KESSEL AT LEAST A 5 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH MORE THAN 26 MILLION…
THAT COST THE LEAFS…2 FIRST ROUND PICKS…A SECOND ROUNDER…AND A THIRD ROUNDER…
IT WOULD…IN EFFECT…”GUT” THEIR DRAFTS IN BOTH 2010 AND 2011…
CHIARELLI HAS MADE IT CLEAR…ANYTHING LESS…AND THE BRUINS WILL MATCH…
WHICH MEANS…FOR BRIAN BURKE…IT’S TIME TO EITHER…
”PUT UP OR SHUT UP”…

Brian Burke

Roberto Luongo

IT IS MORE THAN A CONTRACT…
IT IS A “STATEMENT”…
TODAY THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS SIGNED ROBERTO LUONGO TO A 12 YEAR DEAL WORTH $64 MILLION DOLLARS…
THIS DEAL ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS REALLY THINKS ABOUT HIS GOALTENDER…
LUONGO IS THE FRANCHISE…PERIOD…
NOT EVEN THE SEDIN TWINS WERE OFFERED THIS KIND OF LONG TERM COMMITMENT…
THE CONTRACT IS FRONT LOADED…
NEXT SEASON LUONGO WILL BE PAID $10 MILLION DOLLARS…
THAT’S NEARLY TWICE WHAT MARTIN BRODUER MAKES…
AND $1 MILLION MORE THAN BOTH ALEXANDER OVECHKIN…AND SIDNEY CROSBY WILL TAKE HOME…
LUONGO WILL SEE $53 MILLION OVER THE FIRST 8 YEARS OF THE CONTRACT…
WITH A MERE $7 MILLION TO BE PAID OVER THE FINAL 4 YEARS…
WHICH MEANS:
STARTING NEXT SEASON…HIS CAP HIT…WILL DROP TO…$5.33 MILLION…
NEARLY $1.5 MILLION LESS…THAN THIS SEASON…
THAT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE GILLIS HAS THREE BIG DECISIONS TO MAKE…
THE FIRST IS RYAN KESLER…WHO WILL BE A RESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SUMMER…
KESLER MAKES $1.75 MILLION…HE WAS THE CANUCKS MVP LAST SEASON…AND WILL BE LOOKING FOR A BIG RAISE…
THE SECOND IS WILLIE MITCHELL…WHO WILL BE AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SUMMER…
MITCHELL IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED…
HE’S NOW 32…MAKES $3.5 MILLION AND HAS A NO TRADE CLAUSE…
AND FINALLY…CORY SCHNEIDER…
WHO IS ONE OF THE CANUCKS BEST PROSPECTS…
SCHNEIDER IS JUST 23…AND LAST SEASON WAS NAMED THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR…
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO KEEP HIM…AND IT MAKES NO SENSE TO SEND HIM BACK TO MANITOBA…
THE SMART MONEY SAYS…THE CANUCKS WILL SHOWCASE SCHNEIDER TO START THE SEASON…
THEN PACKAGE HIM UP IN A DEAL TO LAND A TOP 6 FORWARD…
IT ALSO MEANS…ANDREW RAYCROFT WILL PROBABLY START THE SEASON IN WINNIPEG…
BUT FOR NOW…WHAT MATTERS MOST IS…
THE CANUCKS WILL NOT LOSE ROBERTO LUONGO TO FREE AGENCY…
WHICH MEANS:
FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS THIS FRANCHISE WILL BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR A STANLEY CUP…
HOW’S THAT FOR A “STATEMENT”???

NHL

HOCKEY IS A GREAT GAME…
IT HAS TO BE…JUST TO SURVIVE THE CLOWNS WHO RUN IT…
YESTERDAY IN CHICAGO…THE NHL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION MET FOR 10 HOURS…
THE ISSUE WAS THE FUTURE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PAUL KELLY…
FINALLY AT AROUND 2.30 IN MORNING…
KELLY WAS FIRED…
THE UNION GAVE NO REASON FOR THE SHAKE UP…
ALTHOUGH WORD HAS IT:
THE PLAYERS FELT KELLY WAS TO CLOSE TO NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
NEVERTHELESS THE P.A. IS NOW LOOKING FOR ITS 4TH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN THE LAST 4 YEARS…
IF CAN BELIEVE THIS…PAUL KELLY LASTED A MERE…23 MONTHS…
“THE SOPRANOS” HAVE MORE JOB SECURITY…
A FORMER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER…WHO DID NOT WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED…TOLD ESPN…
THE PROBLEM WITH THE UNION IS WHAT HE CALLS…
”A CULTURE OF PARANOIA”…
THE TIMING AS ALL THIS COULD NOT BE WORSE…
WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR…THE PLAYERS AND THE OWNERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BEGIN TALKS ON A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT…
STAY TUNED!!!
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE…
ON FRIDAY NIGHT…THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS FILED A LETTER BEFORE THE PHOENIX BANKRUPTCY COURT…
CLAIMING THEY RETAIN VETO POWER OVER ANY ATTEMPT TO MOVE A TEAM INTO THEIR TERRITORY…
THE LEAFS ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP THE PHOENIX COYTOTES OUT…
THE NHL HAS OTHER PLANS…
IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP JIM BALSILLIE OUT…WORD HAS IT…
THE LEAGUE IS ATTEMPTING TO BUY THE COYTOES…AND RE-LOCATE THEM NORTH OF TORONTO…
THIS DEAL COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS…”HALF A BILLION DOLLARS”…
AND HOW’S THIS FOR A TWIST???
THIS FIGHT WOULD PUT BETTMAN AND BRIAN BURKE AT EACH OTHERS THROATS…
LIKE IT SAID…HOCKEY IS A GREAT GAME…
IT HAS TO BE!!!

Team Canada

GREAT EXPECTATIONS…
IN THIS COUNTRY THAT IS NOT THE TITLE OF A CHARLES DICKENS NOVEL…
IT’S THE WEIGHT OF AN ENTIRE NATION ON THE SHOULDERS OF TEAM CANADA…
TONIGHT IN CALGARY THE PLAYERS…THE COACHES AND MANAGEMENT WILL GET THEIR FIRST REAL LOOK AT JUST HOW GREAT THOSE EXPECATIONS ARE…
THE ORIENTATION CAMP WRAPS UP WITH A “GLORIFIED SCRIMMAGE”…
NEVERTHELESS…16 THOUSAND FANS WILL JAM INTO THE SADDLEDOME TO WATCH…
THEY ALONE WITH THE OTHER 33 MILLION PEOPLE IN CANADA WILL ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN “GOLD” NEXT FEBRUARY IN VANCOUVER…
ANYTHING SHORT OF THAT…WILL BE CONSIDERED A NATIONAL DISASTER…
THEIR PERFORMANCE…GOOD OR BAD...WILL EITHER BE CELEBRATED OR CRITICIZED…FOR WHAT IS LEFT OF THE 21ST CENTURY…
THINK BACK TO NAGANO IN 1998…AND THE IMAGE OF WAYNE GRETZKY SITTING ALONE ON THE BENCH…
THAT TOOK PLACE 11 YEARS AGO…AND THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY…
DESPITE THE TIME AND DISTANCE…HEAD COACH MARC CRAWFORD WILL TAKE THAT MOMENT TO HIS GRAVE…
NOW MIKE BABCOCK IS IN THE HOT SEAT…
AND THIS TIME AROUND…THE STAKES ARE EVEN HIGHER…
THE 2010 OLYMPICS ARE LITERALLY IN OUR OWN “BACK YARD”…
OH…AND DID WE MENTION???
CANADA HAS NEVER WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN MEN’S HOCKEY ON OUR OWN SOIL…
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE “STEPHEN HAWKING” TO DO THE MATH…
NEVERTHELESS BABCOCK APPEARS TO HAVE EMBRACED THE CHALLENGE…
ON TUESDAY HE REFERED TO IT AS…”AWESOME”
HE ALSO WENT ONTO SAY…
”I’M CANADIAN…I WAS BORN IN CANADA…THE GREATEST COUNTRY”…
SUDDENLY THE ENTIRE NATION HAD THE UNCONTROLABLE DESIRE TO CRACK OPEN A MOLSON…
TONIGHT WILL NOT BE QUITE THAT EMOTIONAL…
THE SCRIMMAGE WILL BE BROKEN DOWN INTO 3 PERIODS…
IT WILL FOCUS ON SPECIAL TEAMS…5 ON 5 PLAY AND THE SHOOTOUT…
BUT THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL KIND OF ENERGY IN THE AIR…
A TASTE OF WHAT LIES AHEAD…
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY…A REMINDER OF WHAT IS…“EXPECTED”…

Hockey News Predictions

IN THE WORDS OF THE GREAT CASEY STENGEL:
“NEVER MAKE PREDICTIONS…ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE FUTURE”…
CLEARLY CASEY NEVER HOSTED HIS OWN “SPORTS TALK SHOW”!!!
ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS ISSUED ITS PREDICTIONS FOR THE UP COMING REGULAR SEASON…
IN THE WEST:
NO SURPRISE HERE…
THE PAPER EXPECTS SAN JOSE TO REPEAT AS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS…
VANCOUVER FANS WILL BE GLAD TO SEE…
“THE HOCKEY NEWS” PREDICTS THE CANUCKS WILL TAKE THE NORTHWEST DIVISION…AND FINISH 3RD IN THE CONFERENCE…BEHIND CHICAGO…
BUT THEY’LL ALSO WIND UP AHEAD OF BOTH…DETROIT AND CALGARY…
IT ALSO EXPECTS DALLAS TO BOUNCE BACK AND MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
IN THE EAST:
AGAIN NO SURPRISE…
THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS PICKED BOSTON TO REPEAT AS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS…
BUT PREDICTS…WASHINGTON WILL FINISH 2ND…AHEAD OF PITTSBURGH…
IT ALSO IS NOT BUYING INTO ANY OF THE HYPE COMING FROM TORONTO GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE…
THE PAPER HAS THE LEAFS…MISSING THE PLAYOFFS AND FINISHING 11TH…
THEIR WRITERS ARE ALSO NOT A FAN OF “GLEN SATHER”…
THE NEW YORK RANGERS ARE EXPECTED TO END UP IN 13TH PLACE…
NOW BEFORE YOU TAKE ALL THIS TO VEGAS…
LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW “THE HOCKEY NEWS” DID LAST YEAR…
IN THE WEST:
IT HAD MINNESOTA WINNING THE NORTHWEST DIVISION AND FINISHING 3RD IN THE CONFERENCE…
THE WILD FINISHED 9TH AND MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…
IT ALSO HAD EDMONTON AND DALLAS MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…
NEITHER DID!!!
AND THE PAPER…WROTE OFF…VANCOUVER…COLUMBUS…AND ST. LOUIS…
ALL OF WHICH DID MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
IN THE EAST:
THE HOCKEY NEWS HAD THE BRUINS FINISHING 10TH…
ONE SPOT BEHIND TAMPA BAY…
AS YOU KNOW….THE BRUINS WENT ONTO WIN THE CONFERENCE…
THE LIGHTINING WOUND UP IN 14TH PLACE…
ALL OF WHICH PROVES ONE THING…
“CASEY STENGAL WAS RIGHT”….

NHL Broadcast Schedule

SUMMER IS OVER…
THE HOCKEY SEASON HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN…
TODAY BOTH CBC AND TSN ANNOUNCED THEIR NHL BROADCAST SCHEDULES…
THE HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA SEASON…WILL BEGIN WITH A DOUBLE HEADER ON THURSDAY…OCTOBER THE 1ST...
THE FIRST GAME HAS MONTREAL IN TORONTO…
THE SECOND HAS VANCOUVER IN CALGARY…
IN ALL…THE NETWORK WILL SHOW 76 GAMES…
ONCE AGAIN TORONTO REMAINS THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE…
THIS SEASON THE LEAFS ARE ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA A TOTAL OF 24 TIMES…
COMPARED TO 15 TIMES FOR THE CANUCKS…
BUT IT’S THE GAME ON THE 24TH OF OCTOBER THAT WILL MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL…
THE LEAFS ARE IN VANCOUVER…
NEVERTHELESS THE GAME STARTS AT 4 O’CLOCK PACIFIC TIME…SATURDAY AFTERNOON…
WHICH MEANS 18 THOUSAND CANUCK FANS…WHO PAID BIG MONEY…WILL HAVE TO RE-ARRANGE THEIR LIVES…
SO LEAF FANS IN TORONTO CAN SEE THEIR TEAM AT THE USUAL TIME OF 7 O’CLOCK EASTERN…
WHAT SHOULD UPSET WEST COAST FANS EVEN MORE IS THIS…
ON THAT NIGHT…CBC ALSO HAS THE RANGERS IN MONTREAL…
WHICH MEANS THE NETWORK COULD EASILY SHOW THE HABS AT 7 EASTERN…
THEN SHOW THE LEAFS AT 10…
INSTEAD HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA WILL GO WITH EDMONTON/CALGARY AS THE SECOND HALF OF THE DOUBLE HEADER…
WAIT…THERE’S MORE…
ON THE LAST SATURDAY IN JANUARY…THE CANUCKS ARE IN TORONTO…
GAME TIME…7 O’CLOCK EASTERN…4 O’CLOCK PACIFIC…
TO BE FAIR…”TSN” IS ALSO A MEMBER OF “LEAF NATION”…
THAT NETWORK WILL FEATURE TORONTO A TOTAL OF 17 TIMES…
THE MOST OF ANY CANADIAN TEAM…
THE CANUCKS ARE THIRD ON THE LIST…WITH JUST 10 APPEARANCES…
NOT THAT THIS MATTERS TO ANYBODY IN TORONTO…
BUT JUST FOR THE RECORD…
LAST SEASON…THE LEAFS FINISHED 12TH IN THE EAST…AND HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 6 YEARS…
LAST SEASON…THE CANUCKS WON THEIR DIVISION…
ADD IT UP…AND IT’S ANOTHER REASON TO KEEP “FIGHTING” IN THE GAME…

2009-10 NHL Schedule

IN THE PAST…THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS HAVE APPROACHED THE ARRIVAL OF THE NHL SCHEDULE…WITH THE KIND OF EXCITEMENT USUALLY RESERVED FOR A “ROOT CANAL”…
THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HURT…
THE ONLY QUESTION WAS…HOW MUCH???
LAST SEASON GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WENT TO THE NHL FRONT OFFICE AND EXPRESSED HIS FRUSTRATION…
IT WOULD APPEAR THE MESSAGE GOT THROUGH…
THE RESULT IS A SCHEDULE THAT ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE…
THIS SEASON THE CANUCKS WILL NOT HAVE TO ACT LIKE “THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS” AND DANCE FROM ONE TIME ZONE TO THE NEXT…
FOR EXAMPLE:
LAST NOVEMBER…AS PART OF A 4 GAME ROAD TRIP…
THE CANUCK PLAYED THE RANGERS IN NEW YORK ON A WEDNESDAY NIGHT…
FLEW TO MINNESOTA TO PLAY THE WILD ON A THURSDAY NIGHT…
THEN FLEW TO PITTSBURGH TO PLAY AN AFTERNOON GAME ON SATURDAY…
IT WAS THAT PITTSBURGH GAME IN WHICH ROBERTO LUONGO PULLED HIS GROIN…
IN ALL LUONGO MISSED 24 GAMES…
AND IN JANUARY LOST A RECORD…9 STRAIGHT AT HOME…
THIS SCHEDULE CERTAINLY DOES HAVE ITS CHALLENGES…
THE CANUCKS WILL PLAY 14 GAMES ON BACK TO BACK NIGHTS…
11 OF WHICH…WILL INVOLVE TRAVEL…
AND THEN THERE’S THE OLYMPIC BREAK…
THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE TO ENDURE A 14 GAME ROAD TRIP TO ALLOW ORGANIZERS TO PREPARE GM PLACE…
STARTING ON JANUARY 30TH THEY WILL PLAY 8 STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD…
AND AFTER THE GAMES…THERE ARE 6 MORE…
BUT FOR THE MOST PART VANCOUVER HOCKEY FANS HAVE LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO…
BOTH ALEX OVECHKIN AND SIDNEY CROSBY WILL PLAY IN VANCOUVER…
WASHINGTON IS TOWN ON DECEMBER 18TH…
PITTSBURGH IS HERE ON JANUARY THE 16TH…
AND ON MARCH THE 16TH…JOHN TAVARES AND THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS WILL BE IN GM PLACE…
OH YEAH!!!
HOW’S THIS FOR A BONUS…
ON NEW YEARS EVE…THE CANUCKS ARE IN ST. LOUIS…
GAME TIME IS 5 O’CLOCK…
YES VIRGINIA…THIS SEASON…WHEN IT COMES TO THE CANUCKS SCHEDULE…
“IT WOULD APPEAR…THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS”…

BC Lions

THERE IS A STORM COMING…
AND IT COULD HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON THE SPORTS LANDSCAPE OF THIS CITY…
TO START WITH:
ON FRIDAY CANWEST GLOBAL COMMINUCATIONS POSTED A LOSS OF $110 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE LAST QUARTER…
ITS TOTAL DEBT LOAD IS NOW ALMOST $4 BILLION…AND IS FACING A DEADLINE OF JULY 31ST TO DEAL WITH ITS CREDITORS…
KEEP IN MIND…IN THIS MARKET ALONE…CANWEST OWNS:
THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE…THE VANCOUVER SUN…THE NATIONAL POST…AND B.C.T.V…
SHOULD THE COMPANY GO INTO BRANKRUPCY…IT’S ANYBODY’S GUESS WHAT THE FALL OUT WOULD BE…
BUT THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY…ONE OF THE LOCAL NEWS PAPERS COULD BE SHUTDOWN…
AND THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF A LOT OF JOBS…
INCLUDING A NUMBER INN THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT…
WHAT HAS ADDED FUEL TO THIS FIRE IS ALL THE TALK ABOUT THE B.C. LIONS LOOKING TO HIRE A NEW PRESIDENT…
THE MAN ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS DENNIS SKULSKY….
THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CANWEST PUBLISHING…
BOTH SKULSKY AND THE OWNER OF THE LIONS DAVID BRALEY DENY THE RUMORS…
RIGHTFULLY SO…SKULSKY IS STILL UNDER CONTRACT…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…
A YEAR AGO…BRIAN BURKE DENIED HE HAD ANY INTEREST IN GOING TO TORONTO…AND SEE HOW THAT WORKED OUT…
HERE’S WHAT WE DO KNOW…
SKULSKY HAS A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OWNER OF THE LIONS DAVID BRALEY…
HE WAS ALSO GOOD FRIENDS WITH FORMER PRESDENT BOBBY ACKLES…
AND IT WAS SKULSKY WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE 2005 GREY CUP COMMITTEE…
NOW…IN A PERFECT WORLD…THE LIONS COULD NOT AFFORD TO HIRE SOMEONE LIKE DENNIS SKULSKY…
LAST YEAR ALONE…HE MADE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS…
BUT IF CANWEST IS ABOUT TO BE RESTRUCTURED…
SKULSKY AND HIS SALARY COULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST CAUSUALTIES…
AND THAT GETS US BACK TO THE LIONS…
WITHIN A MATTER OF A FEW WEEKS…THIS STORM COULD LEAVE THE LIONS WITH A NEW PRESIDENT...
BUT UNFORTUNATELY…IT COULD COME…AT A TREMENDOUS COST…

Joe Sakic

JOE SAKIC BEGAN PLAYING HOCKEY WHEN WAS JUST 6 YEARS OLD…
TODAY IN DENVER…34 YEARS LATER…HIS CAREER OFFICIALLY CAME TO AN END…
HOWEVER…THE DEBATE ON HIS GREATEST MOMENT HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN…
AS IN MOST THINGS…OPINION SEEMS TO BE BASED ON POINT OF VIEW…
FOR EXAMPLE:
IF YOU ARE A DENVER SPORTS FAN…IT WAS 1996 WHEN HE LIFTED THE STANLEY CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME…
IT WAS THAT CITY’S FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP…
IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN BOSTON…IT WAS 2001…WHEN SAKIC HANDED THE CUP TO RAY BOURQUE…
BUT IF YOU ARE CANADAIN!!!
ITS FEBRUARY 24TH 2002…THE GOLD MEDAL GAME AGAINST THE U.S….
SAKIC SCORED 2 GOALS…AS CANADA BEAT THE AMERICANS 5-2…
THE VICTORY CAME 50 YEARS TO THE DAY…FROM OUR LAST OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN MEN’S HOCKEY…
SAKIC’S SECOND GOAL…SEALED IT…
THE IMAGES OF BOTH THE PLAYERS CELEBRATING ON THE ICE…
AND WAYNE GRETZKY AND CELEBRATING IN THE STANDS…WILL LIVE FOREVER IN THE HEARTS OF CANADIAN HOCKEY FANS…
SAKIC WAS NAMED THE TOURNAMENTS MVP…
AL MACINNIS DESCRIBED THE PRESSURE OF THAT GAME AS A…”PIANO ON THEIR BACK”…
BUT IN JUST ONE AFTERNOON…ALL THE QUESTIONS AND DOUBT ABOUT OUR GAME…WERE WASHED AWAY…
THE PAIN OF LOSING 5-2 TO SWEDEN…WAS SUDDENLY GONE!!!
IT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY “PURE JOY”…AND THE “LUCKY LOONIE” BURIED IN THE ICE…
GRETZKY EXPLAINED IT THIS WAY…
“THIS MEANS A GREAT DEAL TO OUR COUNTRY…IT’S WHY WE “HAD” TO WIN THIS TOURNAMENT”…
NEARLY 10 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED FROM COAST TO COAST…
IT IS STILL THE HIGHEST RATED SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF CANADIAN TELEVISION…
WHEN ASKED TO COMPARE A STANLEY CUP WITH A GOLD MEDAL…
SAKIC WOULD ONLY SAY…”THEY ARE SEPARATE THINGS”…
WHICH MEANS…
THIS DEBATE OVER HIS GREATEST MOMENT…MAY NEVER BE TRULY ANSWERED…

Ron Wilson

ONCE AGAIN THE “INTEGRITY” OF THE NHL IS IN QUESTION…
THE LATEST INVOLVES TORONTO HEAD COACH RON WILSON WHO IS NOW UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE LEAGUE FOR TAMPERING…
ON MONDAY OF LAST WEEK WILSON CLEARLY STATED ON “THE FAN 590” IN TORONTO…
“WE WOULD BE GOING AFTER THE SEDINS”…
WITHIN HOURS GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE JUMPED ON A PLANE AND FLEW TO STOCKHOLM…
BURKE NOW INSISTS…HE WAS IN SWEDEN…ONLY TO MEET WITH GOALTENDER JONAS GUSTAVVSON…
FOR THE RECORD:
NHL BYLAW NUMBER 15 STATES THAT TAMPERING IS…
“THE MAKING OR CAUSING TO BE MADE THROUGH ANY MEDIUM…PUBLIC OR PRIVATE…ANY STATEMENT INDICATING ANY INTENTION OR DESIRE OF…OR INTEREST IN…AQUIRING THE SERVICES OF A PLAYER ON ANOTHER CLUB”…
IT IS “BLACK LETTER LAW”…
LAST FRIDAY JASON BOTCHFORD OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE QUOTED AN UN-NAMED NHL EXECUTIVE AS SAYING WILSON’S COMMENTS WERE…QUOTE…”A CLEAR CASE OF TAMPERING”…
AS FATE WOULD HAVE IT…
A YEAR AGO…WHILE BURKE WAS STILL IN ANAHEIM…
HE ACCUSED EDMONTON GENERAL MANAGER KEVIN LOWE OF TAMPERING WHEN LOWE SUGGESTED THE OILERS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A TRADE FOR COREY PERRY…
AS EXPECTED…LOWE WAS CLEARED OF ANY WRONG DOING…
THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “PUBLICLY TALKING TRADE”…
AND GOING ON THE RADIO AND TALKING ABOUT SIGNING PLAYERS…WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
“BIG DIFFERENCE”!!!
WHEN BURKE WAS ASKING ABOUT THESE LATEST TAMPERING CHARGES…HIS ONLY COMMENT WAS…”NO COMMENT”…
IN 1999 THE ST. LOUIS BLUES WERE FOUND GUILTY OF SENDING AN OFFER SHEET TO THE AGENT OF SCOTT STEVENS…
AT THE TIME STEVENS WAS A RESTRICTED FREE AGENT…BUT STILL UNDER CONTRACT TO THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS…
DESPITE THE FACT…STEVENS RE-SIGNED WITH THE DEVILS…
THE BLUES WERE FORCED TO PAY THE DEVILS $1.4 MILLION IN DAMAGES…AND GIVE THEM A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…
AT THE TIME…COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN STATED…
“VIOLATIONS OF THE “NO TAMERING PROVISIONS” DIRECTLY UNDERMINE THE “INTEGRITY” OF THE LEAGUE AND THE GAME”…
SO HOW DOES BETTMAN HANDLE THIS MESS???
HE AND BURKE ARE CLOSE FRIENDS…WHICH IS A CLEAR “CONFLICT OF INTEREST”…
IN THE END…IT ALL GETS BACK TO ONE THING…”INTEGRITY”…

Wayne Gretzky

THE RULES ARE SIMPLE…
DO NOT TUG ON SUPERMAN’S CAPE…
AND IF YOU LIVE IN CANADA…NEVER…EVER…CRITICIZE WAYNE GRETZKY…
BUT JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE…I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT GRETZKY “REALLY” THINKS…
YESTERDAY GRETZKY WAS IN VANCOUVER TO HELP PROMOTE THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
BUT HE IS ALSO LIVING IN THE EYE OF THE STORM THAT IS THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
BY THE END OF THE WEEK JERRY REINSDORF IS EXPECTED TO MAKE AN OFFER TO BUY THE TEAM…
KEEP IN MIND…THIS IS THE SAME JERRY REINSDORF WHO LAST MONTH MADE IT CLEAR…
IF HE BUYS THE TEAM…GRETZKY IS OUT…
REINSDORF HAS NO INTEREST IS PAYING GRETZKY $14 MILLION DOLLARS TO COACH HIS TEAM FOR THE NEXT 2 SEASONS…
BUT YESTERDAY…GRETZKY WOULD ONLY SAY HE IS WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH THE NEW OWNER…AND…
IN HIS WORDS…”MAKE IT WHERE EVERYBODY’S COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY”…
PLEASE!!!
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A MAN WHO WANTS TO TAKE $14 MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF YOUR POCKET…
SO HOW DOES THAT MAKE WAYNE GRETZKY….”COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY”???
BUT THAT’S JUST THE START…
THE CITY OF GLENDALE HAS OFFERED A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD CUT GRETZKY’S SALARY DOWN TO $1.6 MILLION A SEASON AND ELIMINATE HIS 1 PERCENT OF PIECE OF TEAM REVENUE…
GRETZKY’S RESPONSE…”WHATEVER IS GOING TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE CITY OF PHOENIX…I’M 100 PERCENT BEHIND IT”…
NOW ASK YOURSELF…HOW WOULD YOU RE-ACT IF THE CITY OF VANCOUVER WANTED YOU TAKE AN 80 PERCENT “CUT IN PAY”???
IN ALL THE COYOTES OWE GRETZKY OVER $22 MILLION DOLLARS…
WHICH JIM BALSILLIE HAS AGREED TO PAY…IF HE GETS THE TEAM…AND MOVES IT TO HAMILTON…
THAT’S 22 MILLION REASONS TO SUPPORT RE-LOCATION…
NEVERTHELESS…CHECK OUT THIS QUOTE…
“THE BEST CASE SENARIO WOULD BE…EVENTUALLY…THAT BOTH CITIES HAVE AN NHL TEAM”…
WHAT!!!
NO…THE BEST CASE SENARIO WOULD BE FOR WAYNE GRETZKY TO BE PAID THE MONEY THAT HE IS OWED…
NOW CLEARLY GRETZKY HAS TOO MUCH CLASS TO SAY IT PUBLICLY…
BUT JUST ONCE…JUST ONCE…I’D LOVE TO HEAR IT…

CFL ownership

LET’S BE PERFECTLY CLEAR ABOUT A FEW THINGS…
TO START WITH:
WITHOUT DAVID BRALEY…THERE IS NO CFL…
NOT ONLY DID BRALEY SAVE THE LIONS IN 1997…
BUT ON 5 OTHER OCCASIONS…
HE HAS COME TO THE RESCUE OF OTHER FRANCHISES IN THE LEAGUE WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT…
INCLUDING THE TORONTO ARGONAUTS…
AT NO TIME DID BRALEY BREAK ANY CFL RULES OR BYLAWS…
AT NO TIME DID HE TAKE AN OWNERSHIP POSITION IN MORE THAN ONE TEAM…
AND AT NO TIME DID HE ATTEMPT TO COMPROMISE THE PRODUCT ON THE FIELD…
NEVERTHELESS…TODAY THE GLOBE AND MAIL RAN A FULL PAGE STORY WITH THE HEADLINE…
“CREDIBILITY GAP”…
CLEARLY SUGGESTING SOME KIND OF WRONG DOING…
THE COLUMN READ THIS WAY…
“BRALEY “SECRETLY” PUT UP HALF OF THE $2 MILLION FRANCHISE FEE…WHEN DAVID CYNAMON AND HOWARD SOKOLOWSKI PURCHASED THE TORONTO ARGONAUTS IN 2003”…
THE STORY WENT ONTO SAY THE DEAL TOOK PLACE “WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THEN CFL COMMISSIONER TOM WRIGHT…AND WAS UNKNOWN TO CURRENT COMMISSIONER MARK COHON”…
WHICH LEAVES THE QUESTION…”SO WHAT???”
BRALEY IS NOT REQUIRED TO SHARE HIS PERSONAL BUSINESS WITH ANY EMPLOYEE OF THE CFL…
AND THAT INCLUDES THE COMMISSIONER…
THERE IS ALSO NOTHING TO SUGGEST THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE GAME HAS EVER BEEN COMPROMISED…
THE CFL MAY WANT TO CONSIDER MAKING ITS OPERATION MORE TRANSPARENT…BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT…
HERE’S THE MUCH BIGGER QUESTION…
WHERE DID THIS STORY COME FROM…AND WHO DOES IT BENEFIT???
THE TIMING OF ALL THIS IS…TO SAY THE LEAST…INTERESTING…
CYNAMON AND SOKOLOWSKI HAVE JUST MADE A PITCH TO BUY THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
WHICH MAKES THEM DIRECT COMPETITORS OF JIM BALSILLIE…
THE SAME JIM BALSILLIE WHO HAS JUST “HIRED” TOM WRIGHT…
THE SAME TOM WRIGHT WHO WAS “FIRED” BY DAVID BRALEY…
THE STORY WAS WRITTEN BY DAVID NAYLOR AND MATTHEW SEKERES…AND SO FAR…
THEY’RE NOT TALKING

CFL ownership

Marc Crawford

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE “DAVID CHASE” TO APPRECIATE THE JOB SECURITY OF COACHS IN THE NHL…
IT’S LIKE SOMETHING…RIGHT OUT OF “THE SOPRANOS”…
YESTERDAY THE HEAD COACH OF THE DALLAS STARS DAVE TIPPETT WAS FIRED…
TODAY TIPPETT WAS REPLACED WITH MARC CRAWFORD…
THAT MAKES 5 COACHING CHANGES SINCE THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON…
AND A TOTAL OF “19” CHANGES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS…
BUT HERE’S THE BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NHL AND THE SOPRANOS…
IN THE NHL IT’S GOOD TO GET “WHACKED”…
CHECK THIS OUT…
TIPPETT STILL HAS 2 YEARS LEFT ON HIS CONTRACT…
WHICH MEANS…FOR THE NEXT 24 MONTHS HE CAN…
GO TO THE BEACH…GO TO VEGAS…OR GO TO WORK FOR HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…AND STILL GET PAID…
THIS SEASON CRAWFORD RECEIVED TWO PAY CHEQUES…
ONE FROM THE L.A. KINGS…AND ANOTHER FROM CBC…
NO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LEAGUE…SPENDS MORE MONEY ON COACHES…NOT TO COACH!!!
IT WOULD APPEAR…THE NHL HAS ADOPTED THE…”ONE STRIKE…AND YOU’RE OUT” POLICY…
DAVE TIPPETT HAD SPENT 6 YEARS IN DALLAS…
IN THAT TIME THE STARS WERE 115 GAMES OVER .500…
THEY HAD WON 2 DIVISIONAL TITLES…
AND LAST YEAR TOOK DALLAS RIGHT TO THE CONFERENCE FINAL…
THIS SEASON WAS THE FIRST…AND ONLY TIME…THE STARS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS WITH TIPPETT BEHIND THE BENCH…
AND HE HAD LOTS OF GOOD REASON…
FIRST…THERE WAS THE SEAN AVERY MELT DOWN…
SECONDLY…THE SLOW START BY MARTY TURCO…
AND THIRDLY…INJURIES TO KEY PLAYERS…SUCH AS:
BRENDAN MORROW…BRAD RICHARDS…SERGIE ZUBOV…STEVE OTT…AND JERE LEHTINEN…
JANICE SOPRANO WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE UNDERSTANDING!!!
NEVERTHELESS…DO NOT FEEL TOO SORRY FOR TIPPETT…
AFTER ALL IN THE WORLD OF NHL COACHES…HE’S A “MADE GUY”…
NO LEAGUE RECYCLES ITS COACHES MORE THAN THE NHL…
THERE ARE STILL 3 OPENINGS THAT HAVE TO BE FILLED…BEFORE THE START OF NEXT SEASON…
AND 27 OTHER HEAD COACHES…THAT GET NERVOUS…EVERY TIME THEY START THEIR CAR…
IN THE WORDS OF TONY SOPRANO…”BADA BING…BADA BOOM”…

Game 7

THE STANLEY CUP IS THE TOUGHEST TROPHY IN SPORTS TO WIN…
FRIDAY NIGHT IN DETROIT THERE WILL BE MORE PROOF OF THAT…
THERE WILL BE A GAME 7…
AFTER MORE THAN 8 LONG MONTHS…THIS WILL BE THE FINAL GAME OF THE SEASON…
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT A LONG ROAD THIS HAS BEEN…
TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE…
ON OCTOBER THE 7TH OF LAST YEAR…THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS OPENED UP THEIR REGULAR SEASON IN OTTAWA…
TWO NIGHTS LATER…THE DETROIT RED WINGS WERE AT HOME TO PLAY THE LEAFS…
THOSE TEAMS EACH PLAYED 82 GAMES FOR A TOTAL OF 164…JUST TO GET TO THE PLAYOFFS…
AND SINCE THEN:
THE PENGUINS HAVE ADDED ANOTHER 23…AND THE WINGS ANOTHER 22…
BRINGING THE GRAND TOTAL TO…209 GAMES…
FOR THE WINNER…IT WILL BE A CELEBRATION TO LAST A LIFE TIME…
FOR THE LOSER…A FEELING OF EMPTINESS THAT WILL LAST ALL SUMMMER…
AND IN TRUTH CAN NEVER BE DESCRIBED…
LAST YEAR AFTER PITTSBURGH LOST TO DETROIT IN THE FINAL…
SIDNEY CROSBY APPEARED IN AN NHL TV COMMERCIAL THAT ASKED THE QUESTION…
“IS THIS THE YEAR???”
CROSBY LOOKED INTO THE CAMERA AND SIMPLE STATED…
“I NEVER WANT TO BE IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH AGAIN”…
LASTNIGHT IN PITTSBURGH HE AVOIDED DOING JUST THAT…
NOW ALL HE NEEDS IS JUST ONE VICTORY TO KEEP HIS OWN PROMISE…TO HIMSELF…
SO THE QUESTION STANDS…
WHERE DOES THIS FINAL STAND…IN TERMS OF GREATNESS???
CERTAINLY RIGHT UP THERE WITH MONTREAL/CHICAGO IN 1971…
EDMONTON/PHILADELPHIA IN 1987…AND VANCOUVER/NEW YORK IN 1994…
EACH SERIES WENT 7 GAMES…
ALL WERE BLESSED WITH PLENTY OF STAR POWER…
AND NONE OF WHICH…PLAYED OUT THE WAY…THE EXPERTS HAD PREDICTED…
SUCH IS THE CASE WITH THIS SERIES…
THIS IS WHY WE LOVE THIS GAME…
BECAUSE IN THE END…THE TOUGHEST TROPHY IN SPORTS TO WIN…WILL BE DECIDED BY THE PLAYERS…

Phoenix Coyotes

TONIGHT THE NHL SHOULD PARTY LIKE ITS 1994…
SHOULD PITTSBURGH WIN…AND FORCE A GAME 7…
THIS CUP FINAL COULD GENERATE MORE EXCITEMENT AND ATTENTION…THAN THE CANUCKS AND THE RANGERS DID…15 YEARS AGO…
TV RATINGS ON BOTH NBC AND VERSUS ARE AT RECORD NUMBERS…
AND NEVER…HAS THE NHL BEEN SO BLESSED…WITH SO MUCH…GREAT YOUNG TALENT…
COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN SHOULD FEEL LIKE HE’S 5 FEET TALL!!!
UNFORTUNATELY…THE GAME THE NHL IS PLAYING “OFF THE ICE”…IS A COMPLETE DISASTER…
TODAY IN PHOENIX BETTMAN WAS BACK IN COURT TRYING TO BLOCK JIM BASILLIE FROM BUYING THE COYOTES AND MOVING THEM TO HAMILTON…
HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL…
INSTEAD…IT WOULD APPEAR…JUDGE REDFIELD T. BAUM HAS DECIDED TO GO WITH A “RE-LOCATION FEE” TO SOLVE THE MATTER…
ACCORDING TO THE JUDGE…IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE MONEY NOT COME OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE CREDITORS…
WORD HAS IT…THAT “FEE” IS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND $100 MILLION DOLLARS…
AS LONG AS BASILLIE IS WILLING TO ADD THE “RE-LOCATION FEE” ONTO THE…$212 MILLION…HE ALREADY HAS ON THE TABLE…
IT WOULD APPEAR…THE TEAM…AND THE RIGHT TO MOVE IT…COULD SOON BECOME HIS PROPERTY…
IF THAT HAPPENS…THAT’S WHEN THE FUN WILL REALLY BEGIN…
IT WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR…THE NHL…THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…GARY BETTMAN…AND JIM BALSILLIE TO WIND UP SUING EACH OTHER…
OH…AND THERE’S ALSO THE POSSIBLITY OF AN ANTI-TRUST SUIT…
WITH ALL THAT OUT OF THE WAY…GARY BETTMAN THEN LEFT THE COURT ROOM…BLEW OFF THE REPORTERS…JUMPED ON A PLANE AND HEADED FOR PITTSBURGH…
SHOULD THE WINGS TAKE GAME 6 TONIGHT…IT WILL BE BETTMAN’S JOB…TO HAND THE STANLEY CUP TO CAPTAIN NIK LIDSTROM…
DON’T LET THE SMILE FOOL YOU…
IT’S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR GARY…

The Sedins

IT IS NOW EXACTLY…4 WEEKS TO THE DAY…UNTIL THE SEDINS TWINS BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
WITH THE ACCENT ON…”UNRESTRICTED”…
UNLIKE DOING YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ON CHRISTMAS EVE:
GETTING THE SEDINS GIFT WRAPPED…WILL REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE THAN JUST…REACHING FOR A CREDIT CARD…
TO START WITH….TODAY THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE REPORTED…THE TWINS ARE LOOKING FOR LONG TERM DEALS THAT WILL PAY EACH OF THEM…AROUND…$7 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
WHERE’S SANTA CLAUS WHEN YOU NEED HIM???
FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS HAS BEEN BACK EAST…ATTENDING NHL MEETINGS…
SO IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS…NEITHER SIDE HAS TALKED…
BUT WHAT SHOULD CONCERN YOU…IS THIS…
THE AGENT OF THE SEDINS J.P. BARRY NOW SAYS…“NO TALKS ARE SCHEDULED”…
IN THE WORDS OF BARRY…”RIGHT NOW WE’RE IN…”WAIT AND SEE”…MODE”…
THE SEDINS CAN AFFORD TO SIT BACK AND RELAX…
NO MATTER HOW THIS PLAYS OUT…SOME GENERAL MANAGER WILL…”SHOW THEM THE MONEY”…
BARRY HAS PUBLICLY STATED THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 5 TEAMS “INTERESTED”…
THAT MAY BE TRUE…
BUT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN…“INTERESTED”…
AND HAVING BOTH THE “MONEY” AND “CAP SPACE” TO MAKE IT WORK…
CERTAINLY BRIAN BURKE AND THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ARE ON THE LIST…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…
BURKE ALREADY HAS $42 MILLION COMMITTED TO 17 PLAYERS FOR NEXT SEASON…
SO UNLESS BURKE CAN FIND A TAKER FOR TOMAS KABERLE…THE LEAFS WILL NOT BE A FACTOR…
MONTREAL MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE…
BOB GAINEY HAS JUST $23 MILLION COMMITTED TO 11 PLAYERS…
ATLANTA GENERAL MANAGER DON WADDELL IS DESPERATE TO RE-SIGN ILYA KOVALCHUK…
LANDING THE SEDINS WOULD PROVE THE THRASHERS ARE SERIOUS…
AND THEN THERE’S THE L.A. KINGS…
IF THEY CAN NOT TRADE FOR VINCENT LECAVALIER…THE KINGS WILL BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE FREE AGENT MARKET…
DESPITE THE FACT THAT SUMMER HAS JUST ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER…
FOR THE SEDINS:
“IT’S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Chris Osgood

THE GOLDEN RULE IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IS…
“WINNING MAKES EVERYTHING RIGHT”…
CHRIS OSGOOD OF THE DETROIT RED WINGS IS PROOF OF THAT…
OSGOOD IS NOW JUST 2 WINS AWAY FROM HIS 4TH STANLEY CUP…
HIS RECORD IN THE PLAYOFFS IS 14-4…WITH A…GOALS-AGAINST-AVERAGE OF JUST 1.95…
AS A RESULT…THE HEAD LINE IN THE VANCOUVER SUN TODAY…REFERED TO HIM AS…
“THE WIZARD OF OZ”…
CAM COLE NOT ONLY HAS OSGOOD WINNING…THE CONN SMYTHE…GOING INTO THE HOCKEY HALL OF THE FAME…AND MAKING TEAM CANADA…
THE HEADLINE IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL USED THE WORD…
“REDEMPTION”
ERIC DUHATCHEK POINTED TO HIS “73” PLAYOFF WINS…
AND REMINDED US THAT ONLY 6 GOALTENDERS IN HISTORY HAVE MORE…
PATRICK ROY…MARTIN BRODUER…GRANT FUHR…ED BELFOUR…BILLY SMITH AND KEN DRYDEN…
THERE WAS ANOTHER PITCH TO GET HIM INTO THE HALL OF FAME…
WHAT MAKES THIS STORY SO AMAZING…IS THE ROAD CHRIS OSGOOD TOOK TO GET HERE…
IN FEBRUARY DETROIT GENERAL MANAGER KEN HOLLAND WAS SO DISSAPPOINTED IN THE PLAY OF OSGOOD…
HE SENT HIM HOME…IN THE HOPE THAT OSGOOD WOULD FIND HIS GAME…
HEADING INTO THE PLAYOFFS…HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE WAS 3.09…
40TH IN THE NHL…
NOBODY…NOT EVEN THE WINGS…KNEW IF OSGOOD STILL HAD ANYTHING LEFT IN THE TANK…
NOW SHOULD DETROIT GO ONTO WIN THE CUP…
OSGOOD IS A LOCK FOR THE CONN SMYTHE…
AND WITH THAT ON HIS RESUME…THE HALL OF FAME SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF HIS REACH…
BUT TEAM CANADA???...
KIDS…GIVE YOUR HEAD A SHAKE…
THERE’S A REASON WHY OSGOOD MAKES A MERE $1.7 MILLION A SEASON…
YES…HE HAS BEEN THE BEST “FEEL GOOD” STORY OF THE PLAYOFFS…
SO ENJOY IT…WRITE ABOUT IT…BATHE IN IT…TELL YOUR GRAND CHILDREN ABOUT IT…
BUT TRUST ME…WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR STEVE YZERMAN TO PICK TEAM CANADA…
THE GOLDEN RULE WILL APPLY…
AND NOBODY KNOWS THAT BETTER THAN CHRIS OSGOOD…

Gary Bettman

IF GARY BETTMAN HAD BEEN THE CAPTAIN OF THE TITANIC:
HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TO ASSURE THE PASSENGERS…
“THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF ICE!!!”
ON SATURDAY IN DETROIT…THE GOOD SHIP BETTMAN ONCE AGAIN…SET SAIL…
IT WAS THE ANNUAL “STATE OF THE UNION” ADDRESS…
THE CENTER OF ATTENTION WAS THE FATE OF THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
LET US BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
THIS FIGHT IS NOT OVER A FAILED FRANCHISE…IN A FAILED MARKET…
IT IS ABOUT WHO RUNS THE NHL…
RIGHT NOW IT IS BETTMAN…AND A SMALL COLLECTION OF OWNERS WHO SUPPORT HIM…
THE MATH IS THIS SIMPLE…
IF BETTMAN LOSES THIS FIGHT…HE LOSES HIS JOB…
NEVERTHELESS ON SATURDAY…WHEN THE ISSUE WAS RAISED…
BETTMAN LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF THE MEDIA AND SAID…
“FROM MY STANDPOINT…IT’S NOT PERSONAL”…
WHO THE HELL IS TRYING TO FOOL…
FOR BASILLIE…IT DOES NOT GET ANY MORE PERSONAL…
BOTH IN PITTSBURGH AND THEN IN NASHVILLE…HE HAD THE DOOR SLAMMED IN HIS FACE…
FOR A BILLIONAIRE…THAT’S PERSONAL…
SHOULD BASILLIE WIN IN BANKRUPTCY COURT…
THE NHL WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY HAVE TO LET HIM INTO THEIR LITTLE CLUB HOUSE…
THE OTHER CHOICE WOULD BE A LONG AN EXPENSIVE LEGAL FIGHT…
DURING WHICH…THE LEAGUE WOULD HAVE TO SUSPEND THE FRANCHISE…
THE NHL WOULD ALSO HAVE ANOTHER FIGHT ON ITS HANDS WITH THE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION…
THAT’S A LOT OF HEADACHES…TO PROTECT A TEAM THAT HAS LOST MONEY…EVERY YEAR SINCE MOVING TO PHEONIX IN 1996…
EVEN IF THE NHL WINS THIS ROUND…UP NEXT IS ATLANTA…THEN FLORIDA…THEN TAMPA BAY…AND THEN NASHVILLE…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE MAGIC NUMBER FOR BASILLIE IS “16”…
THAT’S HOW MANY OWNERS HE NEEDS ON HIS SIDE…TO HAVE BETTMAN THROWN OUT AS COMMISSIONER…
SO GARY…HOW ABOUT A DRINK???
WORD HAS IT…THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF ICE!!!

Canucks offseason

THE CANUCKS FUTURE IS NOW…
THE DIRECTION OF THIS FRANCHISE FOR THE NEXT 5 YEARS WILL BE DECIDED IN THE NEXT MONTH…
DANIEL AND HENRIK SEDIN ARE ON THE TOP OF THE LIST…
THEIR AGENT J.P. BARRY NOW SAYS THERE ARE AS MANY AS 5 TEAMS THAT INTERESTED…
IT’S NO SECRET BRIAN BURKE AND THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ARE ON THE TOP ON THAT LIST…
IF THE CANUCKS ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO SIGN THE TWINS…THEN ALL BETS ARE OFF…
THE SALARY CAP DOES NOT ALLOW TEAMS TO REBUILD THROUGH FREE AGENCY…
YES…THERE ARE A HALF A DOZEN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS THAT WOULD HELP ANY TEAM…
SUCH AS:
JAY BOUWMEESTER…
SCOTT NIEDERMAYER…
MIKE CAMMALLERI…
MARIAN HOSSA…
MARIAN GABORIK…AND MARIN HAVLAT…
BUT NONE OFFER ANY REAL LONG TERM SOLUTIONS…
THE LOSS OF THE SEDINS WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY PAVE THE WAY FOR THE DEPARTURE OF ROBERTO LUONGO…
HOWEVER…SHOULD GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS GET THE SEDINS SIGNED…LUONGO WOULD BE NEXT IN LINE…
ALL OF THIS COULD BE DONE BY AS SOON AS JULY 1ST…
AS IT STANDS NOW…THE CANUCKS HAVE COMMITTED $33 MILLION DOLLARS TO 12 PLAYERS FOR NEXT SEASON…
THEY ARE ONE OF ONLY A FEW TEAMS IN THE NHL WITH ENOUGH CAP SPACE TO MAKE SOME BOLD MOVES THIS SUMMER…
WHICH GETS US TO SCOTT NIEDERMAYER…
IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS NIEDERMAYER IS EXPECTED TO SIT DOWN WITH ANAHEIM GENERAL MANAGER BOB MURRAY AND MAKE A DECISION ON HIS FUTURE…
HIS AGENT KEVIN EPP IS NOW ON RECORD AS SAYING…SIGNING WITH THE CANUCKS IS NOW…QUOTE…”A DEFINITE POSSIBLITY”…
OVER THE WEEKEND AL STRACHAN OF HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA ATTEMPTED TO DISMISS THIS STORY BY SAYING…
GILLIS HAS NOT RAISED A FINGER TO GET THIS DEAL DONE…
“AL SHOULD KNOW BETTER”…
GILLIS CAN NOT TALK TO EITHER NIEDERMAYER OR HIS AGENT UNTIL JULY 1ST…
IT’S CALLED “TAMPERING”…
THE TRUTH IS…THIS TIME OF YEAR EVERY TEAM IN THE NHL…INCLUDING THE CANUCKS…ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE…
AND THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE… WILL GO A LONG WAY IN DETERMINING…
WHO’S STILL PLAYING HOCKEY…THIS TIME…NEXT YEAR…

Roberto Luongo

MARK TWAIN WOULD PROBABLY PUT THIS WAY…
“THE COLDEST WINTER ROBERTO LUONGO WILL EVER SPEND…IS A SUMMER IN VANCOUVER”…
IT APPEARS THERE IS MORE FORGIVENESS…IN THE HEARTS OF HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…FOR MICHAEL VICK…THAN THERE IS FOR LUONGO…
7 GOALS IN A PLAYOFF GAME IS…“THE ULTIMATE SIN”…
AS A RESULT…THERE IS NOW A MOVEMENT IN VANCOUVER TO NOT ONLY TRADE LUONGO…
BUT ALSO KEEP HIM OFF TEAM CANADA….
THIS MORNING THE HEADLINE ON THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE READ…“CRAZY TALK”…
ON THE INSIDE…JASON BOTCHFORD ATTEMPTED TO BRING SOME REASON…TO ALL THIS MADNESS…
BOTCHFORD USED SMALL WORDS…AND POINTED OUT…THAT SINCE THE LOCKOUT LUONGO HAS THE BEST SAVE PERCENTAGE OF ANY CANADAIN GOALTENDER IN THE NHL…
NICE TRY BOTCH…HERE’S THE PROBLEM…
YOU ASSUMED “THE PINHEADS” CAN READ…
BIG MISTAKE…
NO QUESTION $7.5 MILLION IS A LOT TO PAY FOR A GOALTENDER…
BUT THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS HAVE $12 MILLION COMMITTED TO THEIR GOALTENDING…AND THEY’RE IN THE CONFERENCE FINALS…
THE REASON IS…
THEY HAVE DRAFT PICKS SUCH AS KANE…TOEWS…VERSTEEG…BOLLAND AND BAKER ALL MAKING LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
DETROIT HAS 8 DRAFT PICKS IN THEIR LINE UP MAKING THAT KIND OF MONEY…
IT’S WHY THE WINGS CAN PAY LIDSTROM…HOSSA AND DATSYUK A COMBINED $22 MILLION A SEASON…
SINCE TAKING RYAN KESLER IN 2003…THE CANUCKS DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE PLAYER DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THEIR LINE UP…
INSTEAD THE TEAM PASSED OVER THE LIKES OF…
MIKE GREEN…
JOHAN FRANZEN…
ANZE KOPITAR…
PAUL STASTNY…
MILAN LUCIC…
PATRICK BERGLUND…
AND DAVID PERRON…JUST TO NAME A FEW…
YES CODY HODGSON IS ON THE WAY…
BUT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS STILL FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE MISTAKES MADE BY OTHERS…
IN THE MEANTIME…HERE’S A REALITY CHECK…
DURING THE REGULAR SEASON…THE CANUCKS WERE 20 GAMES OVER .500…WITH LUONGO IN GOAL…
WITHOUT HIM THEY WERE 2 GAMES UNDER .500…
WITHOUT LUONGO THE CANUCKS NEVER SEE THE PLAYOFFS…LET ALONE THE SECOND ROUND…
MEMO TO THE PINHEADS…
IT’S BEEN NEARLY TWO WEEKS SINCE GAME 6 IN CHICAGO…
GET OVER IT!!!

Pierre Mcguire

PIERRE MCGUIRE IS ONE OF THE BEST TALKERS IN HOCKEY…
UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LAST WEEK…HE WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK HIS WAY INTO BECOMING THE NEXT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE MINNESOTA WILD…
ACCORDING TO TSN…THE JOB NOW BELONGS TO CHUCK FLETCHER…
WHO IS NOW THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS…
IRONICALLY…THE MAN WHO BROKE THAT STORY…WAS PROBABLY…PIERRE MCGUIRE…
EARLIER THIS WEEK MCGUIRE WAS TOLD HE WAS A FINALIST…
FOR GOOD REASON!!!
MCGUIRE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME…
HE WON 2 STANLEY CUPS IN PITTSBURGH AS AN ASSISTANT COACH IN THE EARLY 90’S…
HE WAS A HEAD COACH IN HARTFORD…
AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER…
BUT…THIS IS WHAT HURT HIS CHANCES…
PIERRE MCGUIRE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED WITH ANY TEAM IN 12 YEARS…
THAT’S A LONG TIME TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES…
THE TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TOOK A SHOT WITH BARRY MELROSE THIS SEASON AS THEIR HEAD COACH…
MELROSE HAD NOT COACHED IN 13 YEARS…
HE LASTED A GRAND TOTAL OF 16 GAMES…
NEVERTHELESS THERE ARE SUCCESS STORIES OF BROADCASTERS MOVING INTO THE FRONT OFFICE…
THE MOST RECENT ARE…
DALE TALLON IN CHICAGO…AND JOHN DAVIDSON IN ST. LOUIS…
EVEN IF ONE DAY MCGUIRE BECOMES A GENERAL MANAGER IN THE NHL…THERE IS NO GUARENTEE OF SUCCESS…
UNLIKE A HEAD COACH…THE SURVIVAL OF A GENERAL MANAGER DEPENDS ON MORE THAN JUST WINNING…
POLITICS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE…
NOT ONLY WITH THE OWNERS…BUT ALSO WITH:
THE PLAYERS…THE AGENTS…THE OTHER GENERAL MANAGERS…THE NHL FRONT OFFICE AND ABOVE ALL…THE MEDIA…
ANY ONE THEM CAN COST A GM “HIS JOB”…
BUT DO NOT KID YOURSELF…
THERE IS NOBODY IN BROADCASTING THAT PLAYS THIS GAME BETTER THAN PIERRE MCGUIRE…
WE KNOW HE CAN “TALK THE TALK”…
SOME DAY WE MAY FIND OUT IF MCGUIRE CAN ALSO…“WALK THE WALK”…

Scott Niedermayer

THE FUTURE OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
WILL BE DECIDED IN THE NEXT 40 DAYS…
THE SINGLE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS GETTING DANIEL AND HENRIK SEDIN SIGNED TO LONG TERM CONTRACTS…
LET’S SAY FOR A MOMENT…THE TWINS SIGN…
THE NEXT MOVE WOULD BE TO GET ROBERTO LUONGO SIGNED…
LUONGO HAS NOT MADE ANY SECRET OF THE FACT…HE WANT TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
IN HIS WORDS…“WHICH EVER TEAM IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE BEST CHANCE TO DO THAT…IS THE TEAM I WANT TO BE WITH”…
YOU CAN DEBATE HIS JUDGEMENT IN MAKING THAT STATEMENT…
BUT WHAT YOU CAN NOT DEBATE IS WHERE HIS PRIORITY IS AT…
IT IS NOT ABOUT “THE MONEY”…
IT IS ABOUT WINNING…
AND GILLIS HAS MADE IT CLEAR…HE INTENDS TO GET LUONGO SIGNED…
IN HIS WORDS…“WE HAVE A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK…AND WE INTEND TO DO THAT”…
SO NOW THE QUESTION IS…HOW???
CERTINALY THE SEDINS ARE THE FIRST STEP…
BUT ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS HAVE 12 PLAYERS ALREADY SIGNED FOR NEXT SEASON…FOR A TOTAL OF $33 MILLION DOLLARS…
AND THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 3 OR 4 PLAYERS ADDED FROM THE MANITOBA MOOSE…
INCLUDING CODY HODGSON…
WHICH MEANS…
EVEN AFTER THE SEDINS GET SIGNED…GILLIS WILL HAVE ENOUGH ROOM UNDER THE CAP TO MAKE A BIG DEAL…
AND THAT GETS US TO:
SCOTT AND ROB NIEDERMAYER…
BOTH ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
WORD ON THE STREET IS… THE TWO HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST TO FINISH OUT THEIR CAREERS HERE IN VANCOUVER…
NOT ONLY WOULD THIS BE A HOME COMING…
BUT IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW SCOTT NIEDERMAYER THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL IN HIS OWN BACK YARD…
AFTER THE DUCKS WERE KNOCKED OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS…
SCOTT SAID A DECISION ON HIS FUTURE WOULD COME VERY SOON…SIMPLY OUT OF RESPECT FOR ANAHEIM GENERAL MANAGER BOB MURRAY…
SO NO MATTER HOW ALL THIS PLAYS OUT…
IT WOULD APPEAR…CANUCK FANS ARE ABOUT TO GET A GOOD LOOK AT THEIR FUTURE…
AND THEY MAY BE VERY SURPRISED…AT WHAT THEY SEE…

Phoenix Coyotes

TRUST ME ON THIS KIDS…
WHAT’S AT STAKE TODAY IN A PHOENIX COURT ROOM…IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST…THE FATE OF THE COYOTES…
THIS IS ABOUT WHO RUNS THE NHL…
ON THE SURFACE IT APPEARS THIS FIGHT IS BETWEEN JIM BALSILLIE AND COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN…
IN TRUTH…THIS IS A FIGHT BETWEEN JIM BALSILLIE AND THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
THE PRIZE…IS A SHARE OF THE BIGGEST HOCKEY MARKET IN THE WORLD…
TO PUT IT QUITE SIMPLY…THE LEAFS DO NOT WANT TO SHARE IT…
AND IT’S BETTMAN’S JOB…TO MAKE SURE THEY DON’T…
LET’S DO THE MATH…
SHOULD THE COYOTES MOVE FROM PHOENIX TO HAMILTON FOR NEXT SEASON…
THE TEAM WOULD TAKE A FRANCHISE LOSING $40 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A TEAM GENERATING $200 MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON…
THAT MONEY WOULD FIND ITS WAY INTO THE POCKETS OF EVERY PLAYER AND OWNER IN THE LEAGUE…
SO WHY IS THE NHL FIGHTING WITH A BILLIONAIRE…WHO IS WILLING TO BAIL THEM OUT???
SIMPLE…
BALSILLIE REPRESENTS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO “THE ESTABLISHMENT” THAT CONTROLS THIS LEAGUE…
A HAND FULL OF OWNERS…SUCH AS ED SNIDER IN PHILADELPHIA…JEREMY JACOBS IN BOSTON…AND ABOVE ALL…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
THESE TEAMS ARE THE SINGLE REASON WHY BETTMAN STILL HAS A JOB…
HOWEVER THEY ARE STILL A “MINORITY”…
AND THIS FIGHT OVER THE COYOTES…HAS CERTAINLY RAISED SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION OF THE LEAGUE…
KEEP IN MIND…
BEFORE THE LOCK OUT…BETTMAN GUARENTEED THESE OWNERS “COST CERTAINTY”…
NO WHERE IS THAT “FAILURE” MORE EVIDENT…THAN IN PHOENIX…
UNFORTUNATLEY FOR THE NHL…THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG…
THERE ARE AT LEAST ANOTHER 5 FRANCHISES THAT ARE IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF RE-LOCATION…
THE LIST INCLUDES…ATLANTA…NASHVILLE…FLORIDA…TAMPA BAY AND THE NEW YORK ISLANDERS…
BETTMAN’S VISION OF RAPID EXPANSION AND RELOCATION INTO NON TRADITION MARKETS HAS BLOWN UP IN HIS FACE…
THE LOSSES ARE NOW BEING COUNTED IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS…
ADD IT UP…AND NO MATTER WHO WINS IN COURT TODAY…
BY THE TIME THE SMOKE CLEARS…THIS IS GOING TO COST GARY BETTMAN HIS JOB…

Canucks Playoffs

THIS IS WHY WE SPEND $20 DOLLARS TO PARK OUR CAR…
$7 DOLLARS FOR A BEER…
AND A $100 DOLLARS FOR A TICKET…
THIS IS WHY WE PUT OUR PERSONAL LIFE ON HOLD…FOR HOURS…
SO WE CAN SPEND QUALITY TIME IN FRONT OF A TELEVISION…
BECAUSE…GOOD OR BAD…SPORTS IS REAL…
LET’S START WITH THE MASTERS…
IF HOLLYWOOD PRODUCES THIS EPIC…
TIGER WOODS AND PHIL MICHELSON MAKE A CHARGE ON THE BACK 9 TO SAVE THE DAY…
INSTEAD…IT COMES DOWN TO A 48 YEAR OLD MAN…
WHO…BOGIES THE LAST 2 HOLES….AND LOSES TO THE 69TH RANKED PLAYER IN THE WORLD…IN A PLAYOFF…
THERE’S A REASON HOLLYWOOD WOULD NEVER TOUCH THAT SCRIPT…
WHO THE HELL WOULD BELIEVE IT…
SO NOW…LET’S TRY AND IMAGINE…
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CANUCKS…
IT’S ALREADY BEEN A SEASON THAT HAS HAD MORE SURPISES…THAN THE “CRYING GAME”…
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW…GOING INTO THE SERIES WITH ST. LOUIS…
IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SEASON THE BLUES WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
IN JANUARY THE CANUCKS WERE THE WORST TEAM IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON…THEY WERE TWO OF THE HOTTEST TEAMS…WITH THE TWO HOTTEST GOALTENDERS…
BOTH ENDED THEIR REGULAR SEASON…WITH A 1-0 VICTORY IN DENVER…
HOW WEIRD IS THAT???
WHAT THIS STORY NEEDS IS A HERO…
HOW ABOUT THE SEDINS???
WHO ARE ABOUT TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…
THERE’S MATS SUNDIN…
WHO IN 13 YEARS IN TORONTO… NEVER GOT TO A STANLEY CUP FINAL…
WHAT ABOUT RYAN KESLER AND ALEX BURROWS…
WHO HAVE SUDDENLY LEARNED TO “LEAP TALL BUILDINGS WITH A SINGLE BOUND”…
AND THERE’S PAUL KARIYA…
WHO IS RETURNING HOME TO VANCOUVER…
DESPITE MISSING MOST OF THE REGULAR SEASON…KARIYA COULD BE IN THE LINE UP FOR GAME 1…
SOME HOW…SOME WAY…SOME PLAYER WILL SEIZE THE MOMENT…AND LEAD HIS TEAM INTO THE SECOND ROUND…
BUT…IF WE LEARNED ANYTHING ON THE WEEKEND…EXPECT…THE UNEXPECTED…

Northwest Division title

SO WHAT IS A “DIVISIONAL TITLE”…REALLY WORTH???
YES THERE’S SOME PRIDE INVOLVED…FOR BOTH THE PLAYERS AND THE FANS…
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST ROUND COULD RESULT IN AN EXTRA GAME AT GM PLACE…
SO…FOR OWNER FRANCESCO AQUILLINI…THAT’S A BONUS…
BUT IN THE BIG PICTURE…
WINNING THE NORTH WEST DIVISION AND LANDING THE THIRD SEED IN THE PLAYOFFS DOES NOT GUARENTEE ANYTHING…
LAST YEAR BOTH THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS AND THE MINNESOTA WILD WON THEIR DIVISIONS AND BOTH WENT INTO THE PLAYOFFS AS THE NUMBER 3 SEED IN THEIR CONFERENCES…
IN THE FIRST ROUND…THE CAPITALS WERE BOUNCED BY PHILADELPHIA…
AND THE WILD WERE BEATEN BY COLORADO…
IN FACT…SINCE THE LOCK OUT…NOT ONE…NOT ONE…THIRD SEED HAS ADVANCED PAST THE SECOND ROUND…
ALSO LAST YEAR…THE MONTREAL CANADIANS WERE THE NUMBER 1 SEED IN THE EAST…WITH A 104 POINTS…
IN THE SECOND ROUND THE HABS MET THE FLYERS…THE NUMBER 6 SEED…
5 GAMES LATER THE CANADAINS WERE PLAYING GOLF…
EVEN WINNING THE PRESIDENT’S TROPHY…
WHICH GOES TO THE TEAM WITH THE BEST RECORD IN THE REGULAR SEASON…
DOES NOT INSURE SUCCESS IN THE PLAYOFFS…
SINCE 1986…ONLY 7 TEAMS HAVE WON THAT TROPHY AND GONE ONTO WIN THE STANLEY CUP…
NO!!!WHAT TRULY MATTERS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ARE THREE THINGS…
THE FIRST…AND MOST IMPORTANT IS…HEALTH…
THE SECOND IS…GOALTENDING…
AND THE THIRD IS THE OVER ALL PLAY OF THE TEAM…
UP UNTIL LAST WEEK THE CANUCKS WERE THREE FOR THREE…
THAT WAS UNTIL THEY LOST 3 STRAIGHT…AND ROBERTO LUONGO LET IN 13 GOALS…
IN HOCKEY…AS IN LIFE…SUCCESS COMES FROM WORKING ON THOSE THINGS IN YOUR CONTROL…
WHAT THE CANUCKS REALLY NEED TONIGHT…IS TO FIND THEIR GAME…
FOR THE RECORD…
IN THE 40 YEARS…THE CANUCKS HAVE WON 5 DIVISION TITLES…
DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE…FOR ANY OF THEM???

Win and You're in

WIN AND YOU’RE IN…
IT’S THAT SIMPLE FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
THEY ARE NOW JUST ONE VICTORY AWAY FROM CLINCHING A PLAYOFF SPOT…
MUSIC TO THE EARS TO THE FANS WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH…
IN THE LAST 15 YEARS THE CANUCKS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 6 TIMES…
INCLUDING 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AND IN THE 7 SEASONS THEY DID QUALIFY…THEY WERE BOUNCED IN THE FIRST ROUND…4 TIMES…
AND BOUNCED IN THE SECOND ROUND…3 TIMES…
OH…AND THERE’S THE LOCKOUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON…
SO IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT IN THIS CITY…
THE CANUCKS ARE IN FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
THEY HAVE WON 11 STRAIGHT AT HOME…
ROBERTO LUONGO IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE VEZINA…
HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT FOR THE JACK ADAMS…
AND ALEX BURROWS FOR TEAM CANADA…
BUT TODAY THE CANUCKS MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT…
PIERRE LEBRUN OF HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA HAS APOLOGIZED TO THE TEAM…
THREE WEEKS AGO LUBRUN WAS DOING AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERTO LUONGO WHEN SUGGEST THE CANUCKS WERE A “DARK HORSE” IN THE WEST…
HE PLACED THEM BEHIND…SAN JOSE…DETROIT…CALGARY AND CHICAGO…
LUONGO WAS NOT HAPPY…
HE RE-ACTED WITH THIS STATEMENT…”WE KNOW WE CAN COMPETE AND GIVE THESE GUYS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY”…
TODAY LEBRUN WROTE IN HIS COLUMN FOR ESPN…QUOTE…
“MR LUONGO WE OWE YOU AN APOLOGY”…
IT TAKES A LOT GUTS FOR A MAN TO KNOW WHEN HE’S WRONG…AND EVEN MORE TO ADMITT IT…
5 MONTHS AGO…DON TAYLOR PREDICTED THE CANUCKS WOULD NOT EVEN MAKE THE PLAYOFFS…
FOR 76 GAMES TAYLOR HAS REFUSED TO BACK DOWN…
SO TODAY…THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED…
THE FIRST IS…
WILL DON TAYLOR FINALLY ADMITT HE WAS WRONG AND APOLOGIZE???
AND THE SECOND IS…
DO YOU…THE CANUCK NATION…WANT HIM BACK???

Roberto Luongo

REMEMBER WHEN YOUR MOTHER TOLD YOU…
“HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY”…
REMEMBER THAT???
TROUBLE IS…MOM NEVER PLAYED FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
IF SHE HAD…SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU…
”NEVER TELL ANYBODY WHAT YOU’ REALLY THINK!!!”…
ON SATURDAY NIGHT ROBERTO LUONGO APPEARED ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA AS PART OF “AFTER HOURS”…
KEEP IN MIND…
THIS WAS JUST MINUTES AFTER THE CANUCKS HAD BEEN EMBARASSED 5-1 BY PHOENIX…
LUONGO WAS ASKED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE PLANS TO SIGN AN EXTENTION WITH THE CANUCKS AFTER THIS SEASON…
THIS WAS HIS RESPONSE…
“I WANT TO WIN THE CUP…AND WHICHEVER TEAM IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE BEST CHANCE TO DO THAT…IS THE TEAM I WANT TO BE WITH”…
BIG MISTAKE…
LUONGO COULD HAVE RUN OVER SANTA CLAUS…ON CHRISTMAS EVE…AND BE FORGIVEN…
BUT TO SUGGEST…EVEN AFTER A VERY EMBARASSING LOSS…THAT THE ANSWER IS…”MOVING TO ANOTHER TEAM”…
WELL…IN THIS TOWN…THAT IS CAUSE TO BE LABLED A “HERITIC” AND TO BE EXCOMMUNICATED…
HE IS CERTINLY NOT THE FIRST CANUCK “STAR”…TO SPEAK IN THOSE TREASONIST TERMS…
THAT LIST INCLUDES BOTH PAVEL BURE AND MARKUS NASLUND…
AND AS YOU KNOW…BOTH WERE “CAST OUT” BY VANCOUVER HOCKEY FANS…
LET’S BE CLEAR…
LUONGO’S FUTURE IN THIS CITY WILL BE DECIDED BY ONE THING…AND ONE THING ONLY…
HIS PEFORMANCE THIS SPRING…PERIOD!!!
IN THE NEW NHL…THERE HAS BEEN NOT BEEN A SINGLE TEAM…ADVANCE TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL…WITH A $7 MILLION DOLLAR GOALTENDER…
OR $6 MILLION…OR $5 MILLION…OR EVEN $4 MILLION…
IF INDEED THE PRIORITY IS TO WIN A CUP…
THEN THE CANUCKS WILL NEED ALL THE CAP SALARY THEY CAN FIND…
SO…PERHAPS ROBERTO LUONGO SHOULD NOT BE ASKING…
“WHAT CAN THE CANUCKS CAN DO FOR “ME”???”
BUT RATHER…”WHAT “I” CAN DO FOR THE CANUCKS???”
YOU KNOW…MOM WOULD LIKE THAT…

Martin Brodeur

EVEN STEVEN SPIELBERG COULD NOT WRITE AND DIRECT THIS MOVIE…
ON SATURDAY IN MONTREAL…ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA…
IN A SEASON THE CANADIANS ARE CELEBRATING THEIR 100TH BIRTHDAY…
MARTIN BRODEUR WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CATCH PATRICK ROY…FOR MOST WINS…ALL TIME…BY A GOALTENDER…
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 551…
BRODEUR WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MONTREAL…
HE WAS 12 YEARS OLD WHEN ROY BROKE INTO THE NHL AND LED THE CANADAIANS TO THE FIRST OF TWO STANLEY CUPS…
EVEN HOLLYWOOD DOES NOT MAKE A HEROS THAT BIG…
IN HIS CAREER BRODEUR HAS TRADITIONALLY SAVED HIS BEST FOR THE HABS…
HE HAS 34 VICTORIES AGAINST THEM…MORE THAN ANY OTHER NON-DIVISIONAL TEAM…
8 TIMES HE HAS SHUTOUT THE CANADAINS…
AND HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE AGAINST THE HABS IS 1.80…
THE BEST AGAINST ANY TEAM IN THE NHL…
THE DEBATE NOW IS…
WHO’S THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME…BRODEUR OR ROY???
HERE’S WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY…
BRODEUR HAS 3 STANLEY CUPS…1 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL…4 VEZINA TROPHYS…
ROY HAS 4 STANLEY CUPS…3 VEZINA TROPHYS AND 3 CONN SMYTHE TROPHS…
BRODEUR CAREER GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE IS AN AMAZING 2.20…
ROY’S IS 2.54…
BRODEUR HAS 100 SHUTOUTS…
ROY HAS 66…
ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS…BRODEUR IS THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME…
BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR ROY…
IN THE 93 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS ROY DELIVERED…WHAT MAY BE…THE GREATEST PERFORMANCE BY ANY GOALTENDER IN HISTORY…
HE WON 10 STRAIGHT OVERTIME PLAYOFF GAMES TO LEAD THE CANADAINS TO THE STANLEY CUP…
THAT SPRING BRODEUR WAS JUST 21 YEARS OLD AND HAD PLAYED A MERE “4” GAMES IN THE NHL…
TOMORROW NIGHT…ROY WILL BE AT THE GAME ON TO HONOR HIM…
ALL BRODEUR HAS TO DO NOW…IS SUPPLY A HAPPY ENDING…
THAT…AND OF COURSE…FIND ENOUGH TICKETS FOR ALL HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY…

The way we were

“MISTY WATERCOLOR MEMORIES”…
THAT’S ALL THAT’S LEFT OF THE ONCE MIGHTY…ANAHEIM DUCKS…
LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO THESE DUCKS WERE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS…
THE NEIDERMAYER BROTHERS CELEBRATED ON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN…
BRIAN BURKE…SMILED…
IT WAS PERFECT…
NO…IT WAS BETTER THAN PERFECT…
“CAN IT BE…THAT IT WAS ALL SO SIMPLE THEN???”
APPRENTLY SO…
FIRST DUSTIN PENNER SIGNED WITH EDMONTON…
BURKE RE-ACTED BY GETTING INTO A “PISSING CONTEST” WITH EDMONTON GENERAL MANAGER KEVIN LOWE…
BURKE CALLED LOWE…”CLASSLESS AND GUTLESS”…LOWE CALLED BURKE…”A MORON”…
“IF WE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN…TELL ME…WOULD WE???”…
LATER THAT SUMMER… BURKE SIGNED TODD BERTUZZI AND MATHIEU SCHNEIDER TO CONTRACTS WORTH A COMBINED…$10 MILLION A SEASON…
TO FIND ROOM UNDER THE SALARY CAP…THE DUCKS WERE FORCED TO GIVE AWAY ANDY MCDONALD…
LAST SUMMER OWNER HENRY SAMUELI WAS SUSPENDED BY THE NHL FOR LYING TO THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION…
SAMUELI IS NOW FACING 5 YEARS IN PRISON…
“WHAT’S TOO PAINFULL TO REMEMBER…WE SIMPLY CHOOSE TO FORGET”…
IN NOVEMBER…BURKE JUMPED SHIP AND SIGNED A NEW DEAL IN TORONTO…
HE LEFT BEHIND A MESS…
SERIOUS CAP PROBLEMS AND 13 PLAYERS ABOUT TO BECOME “UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS”…
AT THE TRADING DEADLINE THE DUCKS HAD NO OPTION BUT TO CLEAN HOUSE…
CHRIS KUNITZ WENT TO PITTSBURGH…
SAMUEL PAHLSSON WENT TO CHICAGO…
TRAVIS MOEN WENT TO SAN JOSE…
AND BRENDAN MORRISON WENT TO DALLAS…
THE DUCKS ARE NOW IN 12TH PLACE IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
AND…THIS SUMMER THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME VERY TOUGH DECISIONS ON BOTH…CHRIS PRONGER AND SCOTT NEIDERMAYER…
THESE DAYS HOCKEY FANS IN ANAHEIM HAVE ONLY THING THAT CAN EASE THE PAIN…
“HIT IT BARBRA”…

Sports Media

FIRST…LET US BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
IT IS THE BIRTH RIGHT OF EVERY HOCKEY FAN…IN EVERY NHL CITY…TO QUESTION…OUT LOUD…HOW THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THEIR TEAM IS RUNNING THE SHOW…
SECONDLY…IT IS THE BIRTH RIGHT OF EVERY MEMBER OF THE “SPORT MEDIA” TO DO THE EXACT SAME THING…
BUT THERE ARE LIMITS…
THE GOLDEN RULE IS THIS…
“YOU CAN NOT BOO A HOME RUN”…
SATURDAY NIGHT THE CANUCKS HIT A GRAND SLAM WHEN THEY BEAT SAN JOSE 3-1…
THEY’VE NOW WON 4 IN A ROW AND 12 OF THEIR LAST 14…
THE CANUCKS NOW FIND THEMSELVES JUST 8 POINTS BACK OF CALGARY WITH TWO GAMES IN HAND…
STARTING TONIGHT IN LOS ANGELES…16 OF THEIR LAST 18 GAMES…ARE AGAINST TEAMS BELOW THEM IN THE STANDINGS…
ADD IT ALL UP AND…THE CANUCKS HAVE A LIGITMATE SHOT TO WIN THE NORTH WEST DIVISION…
SO TRY AND IMAGINE THE RE-ACTION THIS MORNING FROM GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE AND READ THE COLUMN BY ED WILLIS…
WILLIS RIPPED INTO GILLIS FOR NOT DOING SOMETHING AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
THE ARGUMENT WAS THIS…
THERE ARE 6 FRONT LINE PLAYERS…WHO ARE PLAYING MILES BELOW THEIR MARKET VALUE…
TO WHICH WILLIS POSED THE QUESTION…
“IF NOT THIS SEASON…WHEN?”
THE ARTICLE CONCLUDED THAT MIKE GILLIS HAS WASTED…A “GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY” FOR THE CANUCKS TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
“THAT SON-OF-A-BITCH”…
COME ON EDDIE…LET’S FORM A HALF CRAZED MOB…AND BURN “GILLIS” IN EFFIGY…
THE TRUTH OF MATTER IS THIS…
OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS PEOPLE IN THIS CITY HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO EXPECT THE WORST…AND RARELY HAVE WE BEEN SURPRISED…
BUT…MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…GILLIS KNOWS WHAT HE’S DOING…
MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…THE CANUCKS ARE FOR REAL…
AND MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…WE SHOULD SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS RIDE…
HEY…WORST CASE SENARIO???
WE WILL STILL HAVE ALL THE SUMMER TO QUESTION…”OUT LOUD”…HOW GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS RUNNING THIS SHOW…

Bad Jobs!

WE CAN NOW ADD ANOTHER ENTRY…TO THE LIST OF…
“WORST JOBS IN THE WORLD”…
“HOSTING A RADIO SPORTS TALK SHOW…IN TORONTO”…
IT’S RIGHT NEXT TO…”INJECTING STERIODS INTO THE BUTT OF A-ROD”…
IMAGINE LIVING THIS NIGHTMARE…
YOU WAKE UP EVERY MORNING…GO TO WORK…
AND SPEND YOUR ENTIRE DAY TALKING TO LOSERS…ABOUT…LOSING…
IN THAT TOWN IT ALWAYS BEGINS AND ENDS WITH…“THE LEAFS”…
WHY???
IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS SINCE THE LEAFS LAST MADE THE PLAYOFFS…
AND 42 YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME THEY SAW THE STANLEY CUP FINALS…
THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THE “27TH WORST RECORD” IN THE ENTIRE NHL…
WHAT’S THERE TO TALK ABOUT???
THEN THERE’S THE RAPTORS…
THESE DAYS THE RAPS CAN BE FOUND IN 14TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE…
HELLO…TORONTO???…
THIS IS VANCOUVER CALLING…”THE GRIZZLIES HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP”…
IN FLORIDA…THE BLUE JAYS ARE AT TRAINING CAMP…
LAST SEASON THE JAYS FINISHED 11 GAMES OUT…
IT’S BEEN ALMOST 2 DECADES SINCE THEY WERE IN A PLAYOFF GAME…
“LET IT GO TORONTO”…”LET IT GO”…
AND THEN THERE’S THE ARGO’S…
A TEAM THAT IN 2008 MANAGED TO WIN A GRAND TOTAL OF 4…COUNT ‘EM…4 GAMES…
TOMORROW THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS ARRIVE…ALONG WITH MATS SUNDIN…
THE SAME MATS SUNDIN…WHO DUMPED THEM IN DECEMBER…
THE FANS ARE EXPECTED TO “BOO” HIM…
THAT’S WHAT 13 YEARS BUYS YOU IN TORONTO…
NOT EVEN MIKE MYERS COULD MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE THE LEAFS COULD SOME DAY BECOME WINNERS…
HIS MOVIE “THE LOVE GURU” HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR 7 RAZZIES…
INCLUDING “WORST PICTURE OF THE YEAR”…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE PHONE BOARDS IN TORONTO ARE JAMMED…
YOU’D THINK…SOONER OR LATER…THOSE PEOPLE WOULD GET TIRED OF LOSING…
OR…AT LEAST GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT…
BUT…YOU’D BE WRONG!!!

2010

THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS…
THEY’RE LIKE WATCHING YOUR BRAND NEW MERCEDEZ GOING OVER A THOUSAND FOOT CLIFF…
WITH GARY BETTMAN IN THE FRONT SEAT…
THERE ARE MIXED FEELINGS…
YES…THERE IS EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE EVENT…
LIKE EXPO 86…THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE HELLUVA PARTY…
BUT JUST LIKE WAKING UP NEW YEARS DAY…YOU KNOW THERE’S GOING TO BE SOME PAIN…
THIS “HANGOVER”…WILL COST AT LEAST…$5 BILLION…
THE FACT WE WERE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS…THE SECURITY COSTS AND THE ATHLETES VILLIAGE…IS A COMPETE BETRAIL BY…LOCAL…PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL POLITICIANS…
SHAME ON ALL OF THEM…
SHAME ON ALL OF US... FOR NOT DEMANDING BETTER…
IT’S NOT LIKE WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE MOVIE…
IN 1976…”OLYMPIC STADIUM” IN MONTREAL COST $1 BILLION DOLLARS…
IT TOOK THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 30 YEARS TO PAY IT OFF…
NOBODY CAN SAY HOW MANY YEARS IT WILL TAKE “BRITISH COLUMBIA” TO CLEAR ITS’ DEBT…
HOW’S THAT FOR A LEGACY???
NEVERTHELESS…IT’S NOT ALL BAD NEWS…
THE GAMES WILL GIVE THIS PROVINCE AN ECONOMIC SHOT IN THE ARM…RIGHT AT TIME…WHEN WE NEED ONE…
THEY WILL ALSO LEAVE US WITH AN IMPROVED TRANSIT SYSTEM…AND A NEW CONVENTION CENTER…
“VANOC” HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB IN GETTING THE VENUES READY...
WHICH MEANS…THE WORLD WILL SEE US IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT…
WHICH MEANS…”TOURISM” IN THIS PROVINCE WILL BENEFIT FOR YEARS TO COME…
THE RICH AND FAMOUS WILL GET THEIR SUPER HI-WAY TO WHISTLER…WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THESE GAMES…
THERE WILL BE LOTS TO FEEL PROUD ABOUT…CANADA WILL “OWN THE PODIUM”…
FINALLY THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL SEE…FIRST HAND…WHAT OUR ATHLETES ARE CAPABLE OF…WHEN THEY ARE PROPERLY FUNDED AND ALLOWED ON COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD…
AND FOR HOCKEY FANS…
THE BIGGEST AND BEST TOURNAMENT…EVER…
SO…ENJOY THE GAMES…BATHE IN THEM…AND ABOVE ALL…REMEMBER TO TELL YOUR GRANDCHILDREN…
WHY NOT???
THEY’RE ONES PAYING FOR THEM…

Anything is possible!

THE PHILADELPHIA PHILIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES…
THE ARIZONA CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL…
AND THE UNITED STATES HAS ELECTED ITS FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT…
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!
SO LASTNIGHT WAS IT TOO MUCH TO BELIEVE THE CANUCKS COULD GO INTO SAN JOSE AND WIN A HOCKEY GAME???
APPARENTLY SO!!!
THEY CAME CLOSE…BUT DEVIN SETOGUCHI TIED WITH 40 SECONDS LEFT IN THE THIRD PERIOD…
AND THEN PATRICK MARLEAU WON IT FOR THE SHARKS IN OVERTIME…
AS A RESULT…THIS MORNING THE CANUCKS WOKE UP IN A THREE WAY TIE FOR 8TH PLACE…IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
AND THERE ARE 4 TEAMS NOW WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF THAT LAST PLAYOFF SPOT…
ALL OF THEM…HAVE GAMES IN HAND…
ADD TO THAT…THE CANUCKS DO NOT PLAY AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK…
WHICH MEANS…WHEN THE ALL-STAR BREAK IS FINALLY OVER…
THEY’LL FIND THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE OF THE TIGHTEST PLAYOFF RACES IN NHL HISTORY…
LET’S START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK UP…
RIGHT NOW DALLAS IS IN 12TH PLACE…
BUT THE STARS ARE IN FLORIDA TONIGHT AND AT HOME TO ATLANTA NEXT TUESDAY…
COLORADO IS IN 11TH PLACE…SHOULD THE AVALANCHE WIN THEIR TWO GAMES…THEY CAN CATCH CANUCKS IN THE STANDINGS…
MINNESOTA PLAYS TORONTO ON MONDAY… A WIN ALSO PUTS THE WILD INTO A TIE WITH THE CANUCKS….
COLUMBUS IS IN CALGARY TONIGHT…A WIN GETS THEM TO WITHIN A POINT OF VANCOUVER…
EDMONTON AND ANAHEIM ALSO PLAY NEXT MONDAY…WHICH COULD PUSH BOTH TEAMS 2 POINTS AHEAD OF VANCOUVER…
HERE’S THE MATH…
THERE ARE 8 TEAMS IN THE WEST…FIGHTING FOR THE LAST 4 PLAYOFF SPOTS…
BY NEXT WEDNESDAY ALL 8 OF THOSE TEAMS COULD BE SEPARATED BY A MERE 4 POINTS…
THE CANUCKS HAVE 38 GAMES REMAINING…15 OF THOSE GAMES ARE WITH THOSE OTHER 7 TEAMS…
AS A DISSAPOINTING AS LASTNIGHT WAS FOR CANUCKS FANS…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…THE FATE OF THEIR SEASON IS STILL VERY MUCH IN THEIR OWN HANDS…
REMEMBER…ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…