TONIGHT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS WILL UNVEIL THEIR “RING OF HONOR”…
THE FIRST INDUCTEE WILL BE ORLAND KURTENBACH…THE FIRST CAPTAIN OF THE CANUCKS…
IT’S ALL PART OF A SEASON LONG TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORY OF THIS FRANCHISE…
THE HI-LITE OF WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER THE 11TH…WHEN THE CANUCKS WILL OFFICIALLY RETIRE MARKUS NASLUND’S NUMBER 19…
FROM A MARKETING POINT OF VIEW…THIS IS BRILLIANT…
CELEBRATING YOUR PAST IS JUST GOOD BUSINESS…
IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THAT…SIMPLY LOOK AT THE SUCCESS THE NFL HAS ENJOYED…
THE CHALLENGE FOR GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS TO FIND ENOUGH OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS THAT’S TRULY WORTH CELEBRATING…
AFTER JOINING THE LEAGUE IN 1970…THE CANUCKS MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 6 OF THEIR FIRST 8 YEARS…
AND DID NOT WIN THEIR FIRST PLAYOFF ROUND UNTIL 1982…
FROM 1976 UNTIL 1991 THE CANUCKS SUFFERED THROUGH 15 STRAIGHT LOSING SEASONS…
THAT IS STILL AN NHL RECORD…
DESPITE THE FACT THE CANUCKS HAVE MADE IT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS TWICE…
THOSE RUNS IN 82 AND 94 ARE THE ONLY TIMES IN FRANCHISE HISTORY…THE TEAM HAS ADVANCED PAST THE SECOND ROUND…
AS FOR THE HALL OF FAME…THERE IS ONLY ONE NAME THAT BEARS A CANUCK LOGO…PLAY BY PLAY MAN…JIM ROBSON…
THAT IS UNLESS YOU WANT TO COUNT…CAM NEELY OR MARK MESSIER….
YES…THERE HAS BEEN SOME INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS…
PAT QUINN AND ALAIN VIGNEAULT BOTH WERE NAMED COACH OF THE YEAR…
PAVEL BURE WON THE CALDER…
AND NASLUND TOOK HOME THE PEARSON…
BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL LAST SEASON…THAT THE CANUCKS WITNESSED THEIR GREATEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT…WITH HENRIK WINNING BOTH THE HART AND THE ART ROSS…
WHICH LEADS TO THE QUESTION…IS IT TOO EARLY TO RETIRE NUMBER 33???
IN FACT…IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THIS TEAM HAS ENJOYED SOME OF ITS GREATEST SUCCESS…WINNING 3 OF 4 DIVISION TITLES…
AND NOW HAS A LIGITMATE SHOT TO WIN A CUP…
AFTER 40 YEARS…THESE ARE “THE GOOD OLD DAYS”…
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Roberto Luongo
ROBERTO LUONGO…THE $10 MILLION DOLLAR MAN…
IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT A PLAYER MAKES…
NOW TRY AND EXPLAIN THAT TO THE FANS…
IF YOU DIVIDE HIS SALARY INTO THE NUMBER OF WINS LUONGO IS EXPECTED TO EARN THIS SEASON…
IT TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT $250 THOUSAND DOLLARS A WIN…
BUT THAT NUMBER COULD BE A LOT HIGHER…
IN 5 STARTS LUONGO HAS MANAGED TO PRODUCE JUST 1 WIN…
AT THAT RATE…THE COST PER WIN IS CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS…
SO FAR THIS SEASON HE IS A PERFECT 0 FOR 3 ON THE ROAD…WITH A GOALS-AGAINST-AVERAGE OF 5.29…
LASTNIGHT IN MINNESOTA HE GAVE UP 6 GOALS ON 18 SHOTS…AND WAS PULLED AFTER THE SECOND PERIOD…
GOALTENDERS IN HOCKEY ARE LIKE PITCHERS IN BASEBALL AND QUARTERBACKS IN FOOTBALL…
THE WINS AND LOSSES ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR RESUME…
AND NO WHERE IS THAT MORE PAINFULL THAN IN THE PLAYOFFS…
LAST SPRING THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ONCE AGAIN ENDED THE CANUCKS SEASON…
BUT IT’S MORE ABOUT HOW THEY ENDED THE CANUCKS SEASON…
THE HAWKS WON ALL 3 GAMES IN VANCOUVER…BY A COMBINED SCORE OF 17-7…
LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR ALL IT…
TONIGHT THE CANUCKS ARE IN CHICAGO…
AND ONCE AGAIN…ROBERTO LUONGO WILL GET THE START…
WHAT ADDS TO THIS DRAMA…IS HOW WELL COREY SCHNEIDER IS PLAYING AS HIS BACK UP…
IN 4 PERIODS…SCHNEIDER HAS GIVEN UP JUST 1 GOAL…
BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO DEBATE ABOUT…WHO SHOULD START…
LUONGO IS ON THE FIRST YEAR OF 12 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $64 MILLION DOLLARS…
DESPITE THE INJURIES…STUPID PENALTIES AND THE LACK OF SECONDARY SCORING…
HE IS BEING PAID TO CARRY THIS TEAM…
IT SHOULD NOT MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY HE’S GETTING PAID TO DO THAT…
AND YET…SOMEHOW…IT DOES…
IT SHOULD NOT MATTER WHAT A PLAYER MAKES…
NOW TRY AND EXPLAIN THAT TO THE FANS…
IF YOU DIVIDE HIS SALARY INTO THE NUMBER OF WINS LUONGO IS EXPECTED TO EARN THIS SEASON…
IT TRANSLATES INTO ABOUT $250 THOUSAND DOLLARS A WIN…
BUT THAT NUMBER COULD BE A LOT HIGHER…
IN 5 STARTS LUONGO HAS MANAGED TO PRODUCE JUST 1 WIN…
AT THAT RATE…THE COST PER WIN IS CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS…
SO FAR THIS SEASON HE IS A PERFECT 0 FOR 3 ON THE ROAD…WITH A GOALS-AGAINST-AVERAGE OF 5.29…
LASTNIGHT IN MINNESOTA HE GAVE UP 6 GOALS ON 18 SHOTS…AND WAS PULLED AFTER THE SECOND PERIOD…
GOALTENDERS IN HOCKEY ARE LIKE PITCHERS IN BASEBALL AND QUARTERBACKS IN FOOTBALL…
THE WINS AND LOSSES ARE ATTACHED TO THEIR RESUME…
AND NO WHERE IS THAT MORE PAINFULL THAN IN THE PLAYOFFS…
LAST SPRING THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ONCE AGAIN ENDED THE CANUCKS SEASON…
BUT IT’S MORE ABOUT HOW THEY ENDED THE CANUCKS SEASON…
THE HAWKS WON ALL 3 GAMES IN VANCOUVER…BY A COMBINED SCORE OF 17-7…
LUONGO WAS IN GOAL FOR ALL IT…
TONIGHT THE CANUCKS ARE IN CHICAGO…
AND ONCE AGAIN…ROBERTO LUONGO WILL GET THE START…
WHAT ADDS TO THIS DRAMA…IS HOW WELL COREY SCHNEIDER IS PLAYING AS HIS BACK UP…
IN 4 PERIODS…SCHNEIDER HAS GIVEN UP JUST 1 GOAL…
BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO DEBATE ABOUT…WHO SHOULD START…
LUONGO IS ON THE FIRST YEAR OF 12 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $64 MILLION DOLLARS…
DESPITE THE INJURIES…STUPID PENALTIES AND THE LACK OF SECONDARY SCORING…
HE IS BEING PAID TO CARRY THIS TEAM…
IT SHOULD NOT MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY HE’S GETTING PAID TO DO THAT…
AND YET…SOMEHOW…IT DOES…
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Headshots
HOCKEY HAS TO BE A GREAT GAME…SIMPLY BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO SURVIVE THE COMPLETE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE NHL…
FROM THE SAME PEOPLE WHO GAVE US THE “DEAD PUCK ERA”…
TWO LOCK OUTS…AND THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
NOW COMES “HEAD SHOTS UNLIMITED”…
2 WEEKS INTO THE NHL SCHEDULE AND THERE ARE ALREADY 15 PLAYERS OUT WITH CONCUSSION OR HEAD RELATED INJURIES…
THAT INCLUDES KEITH BALLARD OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
AFTER DECADES OF WATCHING THE CAREERS OF NHL PLAYERS CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF HEADSHOTS…
THE ISSUE FINALLY WAS ADDRESSED LAST SEASON…
BUT ONLY AFTER MARC SAVARD OF THE BRUINS WAS KNOCKED OUT BY A BLINDSIDE HIT BY MATT COOKE…
AND ONLY AFTER THE OWNER OF THE BRUINS…JEREMY JACOBS DEMANDED ACTION…
JACOBS ALSO JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NHL BOARD OF GOVERORS...
IN OTHER WORDS…HE’S GARY BETTMAN’S BOSS…
FOR THE RECORD…SAVARD IS STILL SUFFERING FROM POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME…
PROBLEM IS…THE HEADSHOT RULE ONLY GIVES THE LEAGUE THE POWER TO REVIEW THESE HITS AND APPLY DISCIPLINE…
WHAT IT DOES NOT DO IS CLEARLY DEFINE THE DISCIPLINE…
AND THAT MEANS IT IS STILL BUSINESS AS USUAL…
AS A RESULT…ON MONDAY SHANE DOAN RECEIVED A MERE 3 GAME SUSPENSION FOR HIT BLINDSIDE HIT ON DAN SEXTON…
NOW!!!...TAKE A LOOK AT THE APPROACH BY THE NFL TO SAME PROBLEM…
ON SUNDAY THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DANGEROUS HITS…
THE WORST WAS THE ONE BY DUNTA ROBINSON OF THE FALCONS ON DESEAN JACKSON OF THE EAGLES…
BOTH LEFT THE GAME WITH CONCUSSIONS…
TODAY THE NFL ANNOUNCED NEW TOUGHER RULES ON DANGEROUS HITS…AND THOSE RULES WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THIS WEEKEND…
THE NFL REFERS TO IT AS A “HIGHER STANDARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY”…
SO WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT FOR THE NHL TO DO THE SAME???
SIMPLE…COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN CLEARLY DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE PLAYERS OR THEIR SAFETY…
SO WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE NHL TO FINALLY TAKE THESE HEAD SHOTS SERIOUSLY???
YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE ANSWER
FROM THE SAME PEOPLE WHO GAVE US THE “DEAD PUCK ERA”…
TWO LOCK OUTS…AND THE PHOENIX COYOTES…
NOW COMES “HEAD SHOTS UNLIMITED”…
2 WEEKS INTO THE NHL SCHEDULE AND THERE ARE ALREADY 15 PLAYERS OUT WITH CONCUSSION OR HEAD RELATED INJURIES…
THAT INCLUDES KEITH BALLARD OF THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…
AFTER DECADES OF WATCHING THE CAREERS OF NHL PLAYERS CUT SHORT BECAUSE OF HEADSHOTS…
THE ISSUE FINALLY WAS ADDRESSED LAST SEASON…
BUT ONLY AFTER MARC SAVARD OF THE BRUINS WAS KNOCKED OUT BY A BLINDSIDE HIT BY MATT COOKE…
AND ONLY AFTER THE OWNER OF THE BRUINS…JEREMY JACOBS DEMANDED ACTION…
JACOBS ALSO JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NHL BOARD OF GOVERORS...
IN OTHER WORDS…HE’S GARY BETTMAN’S BOSS…
FOR THE RECORD…SAVARD IS STILL SUFFERING FROM POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME…
PROBLEM IS…THE HEADSHOT RULE ONLY GIVES THE LEAGUE THE POWER TO REVIEW THESE HITS AND APPLY DISCIPLINE…
WHAT IT DOES NOT DO IS CLEARLY DEFINE THE DISCIPLINE…
AND THAT MEANS IT IS STILL BUSINESS AS USUAL…
AS A RESULT…ON MONDAY SHANE DOAN RECEIVED A MERE 3 GAME SUSPENSION FOR HIT BLINDSIDE HIT ON DAN SEXTON…
NOW!!!...TAKE A LOOK AT THE APPROACH BY THE NFL TO SAME PROBLEM…
ON SUNDAY THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DANGEROUS HITS…
THE WORST WAS THE ONE BY DUNTA ROBINSON OF THE FALCONS ON DESEAN JACKSON OF THE EAGLES…
BOTH LEFT THE GAME WITH CONCUSSIONS…
TODAY THE NFL ANNOUNCED NEW TOUGHER RULES ON DANGEROUS HITS…AND THOSE RULES WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THIS WEEKEND…
THE NFL REFERS TO IT AS A “HIGHER STANDARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY”…
SO WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT FOR THE NHL TO DO THE SAME???
SIMPLE…COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN CLEARLY DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE PLAYERS OR THEIR SAFETY…
SO WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE NHL TO FINALLY TAKE THESE HEAD SHOTS SERIOUSLY???
YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE ANSWER
Monday, October 18, 2010
Cory Schneider
6 YEARS…6 YEARS…
THAT’S HOW LONG THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…AND THEIR FANS…HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR CORY SCHNEIDER…
IN 2004 THE CANUCKS DRAFTED SCHNEIDER 26TH OVER ALL…
THE ONLY GOALTENDER THIS ORGANIZATION HAS EVER TAKEN IN THE FIRST ROUND…
AND BECAUSE HIND SIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20…THE CRITICS HAVE BEEN QUICK TO POINT OUT…
FORMER GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS LEFT “MIKE GREEN” ON THE TABLE…
BUT LASTNIGHT SCHNEIDER DID A LOT TO QUITE THOSE CRITICS…
HE STOPPED 32 OF 33 SHOTS…AS THE CANUCKS BEAT CAROLINA 5-1…
IT IS HIS FIRST “NHL WIN” IN ALMOST 2 YEARS…
BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY…SCHNEIDER LOOKED THE PART…
AT 24 HE APPEARS TO HAVE ARRIVED AS A LIGITIMATE BACK UP TO ROBERTO LUONGO…
SOMEONE CAPABLE OF STARTING 25 GAMES…OR MORE…
AFTER TO BACK TO BACK MELTDOWNS IN THE PLAYOFFS…IT HAS BECOME CLEAR TO EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT LUONGO CAN NOT BE EXPECTED TO PLAY OVER 70 GAMES A YEAR…
AND STILL HAVE SOMETHING LEFT…FOR THE POST SEASON…
SINCE HE ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER IN 2006…THERE HAS BEEN A PARADE OF BACK UPS…
DANY SABOURIN…
CURTIS SANFORD…
DREW MACINTYRE…
JASON LABARBERA…AND ANDREW RAYCROFT…
NOT ONE OF THEM WAS ABLE TO WIN ENOUGH GAMES…TO GET INTO DOUBLE DIGETS…
WHICH MEANT…YEAR AFTER YEAR…THE JOB OF SIMPLY MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…RESTED ENTIRELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF LUONGO…
JUDGING FROM LAST NIGHTS PERFORMANCE…THAT MAY NO LONGER BE THE CASE…
SHOULD THIS BE THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT SEASON…THEN IT ALSO GIVES GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS A BIG CHIP TO PLAY AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
NO QUESTION…THIS IS A LOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM JUST ONE GAME…
BUT WAITING 6 YEARS FOR ANYTHING…EVEN FOR A BACK UP GOALTENDER…CAN A MAKE EVEN “THE MEDIA”…GO A LITTLE… “CRAZY”…
THAT’S HOW LONG THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…AND THEIR FANS…HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR CORY SCHNEIDER…
IN 2004 THE CANUCKS DRAFTED SCHNEIDER 26TH OVER ALL…
THE ONLY GOALTENDER THIS ORGANIZATION HAS EVER TAKEN IN THE FIRST ROUND…
AND BECAUSE HIND SIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20…THE CRITICS HAVE BEEN QUICK TO POINT OUT…
FORMER GENERAL MANAGER DAVE NONIS LEFT “MIKE GREEN” ON THE TABLE…
BUT LASTNIGHT SCHNEIDER DID A LOT TO QUITE THOSE CRITICS…
HE STOPPED 32 OF 33 SHOTS…AS THE CANUCKS BEAT CAROLINA 5-1…
IT IS HIS FIRST “NHL WIN” IN ALMOST 2 YEARS…
BUT JUST AS IMPORTANTLY…SCHNEIDER LOOKED THE PART…
AT 24 HE APPEARS TO HAVE ARRIVED AS A LIGITIMATE BACK UP TO ROBERTO LUONGO…
SOMEONE CAPABLE OF STARTING 25 GAMES…OR MORE…
AFTER TO BACK TO BACK MELTDOWNS IN THE PLAYOFFS…IT HAS BECOME CLEAR TO EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT LUONGO CAN NOT BE EXPECTED TO PLAY OVER 70 GAMES A YEAR…
AND STILL HAVE SOMETHING LEFT…FOR THE POST SEASON…
SINCE HE ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER IN 2006…THERE HAS BEEN A PARADE OF BACK UPS…
DANY SABOURIN…
CURTIS SANFORD…
DREW MACINTYRE…
JASON LABARBERA…AND ANDREW RAYCROFT…
NOT ONE OF THEM WAS ABLE TO WIN ENOUGH GAMES…TO GET INTO DOUBLE DIGETS…
WHICH MEANT…YEAR AFTER YEAR…THE JOB OF SIMPLY MAKING THE PLAYOFFS…RESTED ENTIRELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF LUONGO…
JUDGING FROM LAST NIGHTS PERFORMANCE…THAT MAY NO LONGER BE THE CASE…
SHOULD THIS BE THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT SEASON…THEN IT ALSO GIVES GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS A BIG CHIP TO PLAY AT THE TRADING DEADLINE…
NO QUESTION…THIS IS A LOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM JUST ONE GAME…
BUT WAITING 6 YEARS FOR ANYTHING…EVEN FOR A BACK UP GOALTENDER…CAN A MAKE EVEN “THE MEDIA”…GO A LITTLE… “CRAZY”…
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Leafs
WHO IS CLARKE MACARTHUR AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE???
FIRST THINGS FIRST…
MACARTHUR IS A 25 YEAR OLD…FORMER THIRD ROUND DRAFT PICK…WHO SCORED 16 GOALS LAST SEASON FOR BOTH THE BUFFALO SABRES AND THE ATLANTA THRASHERS…
THE THRASHERS WERE SO UNIMPRESSED…THEY WALKED AWAY FROM A ONE YEAR…$2.4 MILLION ARBITRATION AWARD…
AS A RESULT….THIS SUMMER THE BEST MACARTHUR COULD DO WAS TO TAKE A ONE YEAR DEAL FROM THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS FOR A MERE $1.1 MILLION…
HOWEVER LASTNIGHT IN PITTSBURGH…MACARTHUR SCORED 2 GOALS AS THE LEAFS UPSET THE PENGUINS 4-3…
BECAUSE OF THAT…HE NOW LEADS THE NHL IN GOALS AND TORONTO HAS A PEFRECT RECORD OF 3 AND 0…
WHICH GETS US TO THE BIGGER QUESTION…WHY SHOULD WE CARE???
HERE’S WHY:
ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD FOR TORONTO…IS ALWAYS BAD FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY…
SADLY WE DO NOT HAVE “NATIONAL MEDIA”…
AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE ARE FORCED TO DINE ON A CONSTANT DIET OF…”TORONTO…TORONTO…TORONTO”…
IT’S WHY THE LEAFS ARE ON “HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA” EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT…
THIS…DESPITE THE FACT THIS FRANCHISE HAS NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 6 YEARS…HAS NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN 43 YEARS…
THE LAST LEAF TO WIN HART TROHPY WAS TED KENNEDY IN 1955…AND NO LEAF HAS EVER WON THE ART ROSS…
BUT THIS SEASON THE LEAFS HAVE WON THEIR FIRST 3 GAMES…
SO IF A SPACE ALIEN LANDED TODAY IN CANADA…HE OR SHE WOULD BE SAFE TO ASSUME…THERE IS ONLY ONE NHL TEAM IN THIS COUNTRY…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO DIGEST…IS THE REACTION BY GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE…
AFTER LASTNIGHT GAME…BURKE REFERED TO HIS TEAMS START AS…”HUGE”…AND…”A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT”…
GRANTED…BY COMPARISON TO THE 1 WIN THE LEAFS MANAGED IN THEIR FIRST 13 GAMES LAST SEASON…BURKE CERTAINLY HAS REASON TO FEEL RELIVED…
BUT TO USE WORDS SUCH AS “HUGE” AND “MAJOR” AND TO HAVE THAT NONSENSE GO UNCHALLENGED IS COMICAL…
UNFORTUNATELY…UNTIL THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL…
GET USED TO HEARING THE NAME…”CLARKE MACARTHUR”…
FIRST THINGS FIRST…
MACARTHUR IS A 25 YEAR OLD…FORMER THIRD ROUND DRAFT PICK…WHO SCORED 16 GOALS LAST SEASON FOR BOTH THE BUFFALO SABRES AND THE ATLANTA THRASHERS…
THE THRASHERS WERE SO UNIMPRESSED…THEY WALKED AWAY FROM A ONE YEAR…$2.4 MILLION ARBITRATION AWARD…
AS A RESULT….THIS SUMMER THE BEST MACARTHUR COULD DO WAS TO TAKE A ONE YEAR DEAL FROM THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS FOR A MERE $1.1 MILLION…
HOWEVER LASTNIGHT IN PITTSBURGH…MACARTHUR SCORED 2 GOALS AS THE LEAFS UPSET THE PENGUINS 4-3…
BECAUSE OF THAT…HE NOW LEADS THE NHL IN GOALS AND TORONTO HAS A PEFRECT RECORD OF 3 AND 0…
WHICH GETS US TO THE BIGGER QUESTION…WHY SHOULD WE CARE???
HERE’S WHY:
ANYTHING THAT IS GOOD FOR TORONTO…IS ALWAYS BAD FOR THE REST OF THE COUNTRY…
SADLY WE DO NOT HAVE “NATIONAL MEDIA”…
AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE ARE FORCED TO DINE ON A CONSTANT DIET OF…”TORONTO…TORONTO…TORONTO”…
IT’S WHY THE LEAFS ARE ON “HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA” EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT…
THIS…DESPITE THE FACT THIS FRANCHISE HAS NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 6 YEARS…HAS NOT BEEN TO A CUP FINAL IN 43 YEARS…
THE LAST LEAF TO WIN HART TROHPY WAS TED KENNEDY IN 1955…AND NO LEAF HAS EVER WON THE ART ROSS…
BUT THIS SEASON THE LEAFS HAVE WON THEIR FIRST 3 GAMES…
SO IF A SPACE ALIEN LANDED TODAY IN CANADA…HE OR SHE WOULD BE SAFE TO ASSUME…THERE IS ONLY ONE NHL TEAM IN THIS COUNTRY…
WHAT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO DIGEST…IS THE REACTION BY GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE…
AFTER LASTNIGHT GAME…BURKE REFERED TO HIS TEAMS START AS…”HUGE”…AND…”A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT”…
GRANTED…BY COMPARISON TO THE 1 WIN THE LEAFS MANAGED IN THEIR FIRST 13 GAMES LAST SEASON…BURKE CERTAINLY HAS REASON TO FEEL RELIVED…
BUT TO USE WORDS SUCH AS “HUGE” AND “MAJOR” AND TO HAVE THAT NONSENSE GO UNCHALLENGED IS COMICAL…
UNFORTUNATELY…UNTIL THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL…
GET USED TO HEARING THE NAME…”CLARKE MACARTHUR”…
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Cap Issues
IT’S A NUMBERS GAME…
TODAY THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS TRADED SHANE O’BRIEN AND DAN GENDUR TO NASHVILLE…
IN RETURN FOR…RYAN PARENT AND JONAS ANDERSSON…
THEN…THE CANUCKS IMMEDIATELY PLACED PARENT ON WAIVERS…
WELCOME TO ANOTHER DAY…LIVING UNDER A SALARY CAP…
TOMORROW NHL TEAMS MUST DECLARE THEIR ROSTERS…
WHICH MEANS…THE CANUCKS HAVE LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO GET UNDER THE CAP…
THAT’S WHAT ALL THIS MOVEMENT WAS ABOUT…
DO NOT KID YOURSELF…THE CAP IS SERIOUS BUSINESS…
LAST YEAR IT COST CHICAGO GENERAL MANAGER DALE TALLON HIS JOB…
DESPITE BUILDING A STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM…TALLON OVER PAID FOR PLAYERS SUCH AS…BRIAN CAMPBELL AND CRISTOBAL HUET…
AND LAST SUMMER HE FAILED TO QUALIFY RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…KRIS VERSTEEG AND CAM BARKER…
EACH WOUND UP WITH A NEW 3 YEAR DEAL WORTH OVER $9 MILLION…A PIECE…
THE END RESULT WAS…THIS SUMMER…THE HAWKS WERE FORCED TO GUT THEIR TEAM…
BUT TALLON IS HARDLY THE ONLY NHL GM TO MESS UP THE CAP…
EVEN LOU LAMORIELLO IN NEW JERSEY IS IN TROUBLE…
THANKS TO THE KOVALCHUK CONTRACT…THE DEVILS ARE NOW $3 AND HALF MILLION OVER THE CAP…
THEY WOULD LOVE TO UNLOAD BRAIN ROLSTON…BUT AT $5 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS…
THERE ARE NO TAKERS…
IN NEW YORK…WADE REDDEN AND HIS 6 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $39 MILLION…IS NOW IN THE MINORS…
ONCE THE BOSTON BRUINS GET HEALTHY…THEY’LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME WITH MICHAEL RYDER AND HIS $4 MILLION DOLLAR SALARY...
OTHER CAP DISASTERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS INCLUDED…
DALLAS GIVING SEAN AVERY $15 MILLION OVER 4 YEARS…
THE LEAFS SIGNING JEFF FINGERS TO A 4 YEAR DEAL WORTH $14 MILLION…
AND THE OILERS HANDING SHELDON SOURAY A 5 YEAR DEAL WORTH $27 MILLION…
IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT…THE CANUCKS CHALLENGES WITH THE CAP…ARE TO SAY THE LEAST…MINOR…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…STARTING THURSDAY…ALL THE ATTENTION WILL ONCE AGAIN RETURN TO THE GAME THAT IS PLAYED…
“ON THE ICE”…
TODAY THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS TRADED SHANE O’BRIEN AND DAN GENDUR TO NASHVILLE…
IN RETURN FOR…RYAN PARENT AND JONAS ANDERSSON…
THEN…THE CANUCKS IMMEDIATELY PLACED PARENT ON WAIVERS…
WELCOME TO ANOTHER DAY…LIVING UNDER A SALARY CAP…
TOMORROW NHL TEAMS MUST DECLARE THEIR ROSTERS…
WHICH MEANS…THE CANUCKS HAVE LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO GET UNDER THE CAP…
THAT’S WHAT ALL THIS MOVEMENT WAS ABOUT…
DO NOT KID YOURSELF…THE CAP IS SERIOUS BUSINESS…
LAST YEAR IT COST CHICAGO GENERAL MANAGER DALE TALLON HIS JOB…
DESPITE BUILDING A STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM…TALLON OVER PAID FOR PLAYERS SUCH AS…BRIAN CAMPBELL AND CRISTOBAL HUET…
AND LAST SUMMER HE FAILED TO QUALIFY RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…KRIS VERSTEEG AND CAM BARKER…
EACH WOUND UP WITH A NEW 3 YEAR DEAL WORTH OVER $9 MILLION…A PIECE…
THE END RESULT WAS…THIS SUMMER…THE HAWKS WERE FORCED TO GUT THEIR TEAM…
BUT TALLON IS HARDLY THE ONLY NHL GM TO MESS UP THE CAP…
EVEN LOU LAMORIELLO IN NEW JERSEY IS IN TROUBLE…
THANKS TO THE KOVALCHUK CONTRACT…THE DEVILS ARE NOW $3 AND HALF MILLION OVER THE CAP…
THEY WOULD LOVE TO UNLOAD BRAIN ROLSTON…BUT AT $5 MILLION A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS…
THERE ARE NO TAKERS…
IN NEW YORK…WADE REDDEN AND HIS 6 YEAR CONTRACT WORTH $39 MILLION…IS NOW IN THE MINORS…
ONCE THE BOSTON BRUINS GET HEALTHY…THEY’LL HAVE TO DO THE SAME WITH MICHAEL RYDER AND HIS $4 MILLION DOLLAR SALARY...
OTHER CAP DISASTERS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS INCLUDED…
DALLAS GIVING SEAN AVERY $15 MILLION OVER 4 YEARS…
THE LEAFS SIGNING JEFF FINGERS TO A 4 YEAR DEAL WORTH $14 MILLION…
AND THE OILERS HANDING SHELDON SOURAY A 5 YEAR DEAL WORTH $27 MILLION…
IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THAT…THE CANUCKS CHALLENGES WITH THE CAP…ARE TO SAY THE LEAST…MINOR…
THE GOOD NEWS IS…STARTING THURSDAY…ALL THE ATTENTION WILL ONCE AGAIN RETURN TO THE GAME THAT IS PLAYED…
“ON THE ICE”…
Friday, October 1, 2010
Michael Vick
IN HOLLYWOOD…THEY LOVE A COMEBACK…
MICKEY ROURKE AND ROBERT DOWNEY JUNIOR ARE A COUPLE OF GOOD EXAMPLES…
BUT THIS WEEKEND THERE ARE TWO ATHLETES ON CENTER STAGE…BOTH ATTEMPTING TO GET THEIR “LIVES” AND THEIR “CAREERS” BACK…
AT THE RYDER CUP IN WALES IT IS TIGER WOODS…
TODAY WOODS BIRDIED THE 9TH HOLE…AS HE AND STEVE STRICKER LEAD THEIR MATCH BY 1 STROKE…
THE AMERICANS LEAD IN 2 MATCHES…THE EUROPEANS IN JUST ONE…
WHICH MEANS…WOODS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY THIS WEEKEND TO RETURN HOME AS A NATIONAL HERO…
ON SUNDAY IN PHILADELPHIA IT WILL BE MICHAEL VICK IN THE SPOTLIGHT…
A YEAR AGO DONOVAN MCNABB LOBBIED THE EAGLES TO SIGN VICK AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON…
VICK DID 18 MONTHS FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN DOG FIGHTING…
MCNABB IS NOW THE STARTING QUARTERBACK IN WASHINGTON AND WILL MAKE HIS RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA THIS WEEKEND…
BUT THE REAL STORY IS VICK…
ONCE AGAIN THE DEBATE BEGINS OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO FORGIVE HIM FOR HIS CRUEL TREATMENT OF DOGS…
LET’S BE CLEAR…THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT VICK DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE…
ALMOST EVERYBODY DESERVES THAT…
THE ISSUE IS FORGIVENESS…
IT BEGINS WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE VICK WHEN HE SAYS HE’S SORRY…
THIS IS NOT A MAN WHO TURNED HIMSELF IN…
VICK ONLY QUIT TORTURING AND KILLING DOGS…AFTER HE GOT CAUGHT…
ONCE HE HAD SERVED HIS TIME…HE IMMEDIATELY WENT ON 60 MINUTES TO SELL THE PUBLIC ON HIS NEW IMAGE…AND TO PLEAD HIS CASE TO BE RE-INSTATED BY THE NFL…
WHEN HE SAID…HE DESEVERED TO LOSE $135 MILLION DOLLARS…
DID YOU REALLY BUY THAT???
THE WHOLE INTERVIEW SEEMED STAGED…AND THE WORDS HE SPOKE APPEARED TO BE COACHED…
AFTER ALL…WHY DID CBS ALLOW JAMES BROWN ASK THE QUESTIONS???
BROWN IS A SPORTSCASTER…AND NOT A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE 60 MINUTES STAFF…
IN THE PAST WE HAVE WITNESSED SOME GREAT COMEBACKS IN SPORTS…AND CHEERED ON THE LIKES OF JORDAN…ALI AND RUTH…
SHOULD TIGER WOODS GET HIS GAME BACK…HE WILL CERTAINLY JOIN THAT LIST…
BUT MICHAEL VICK???
NO…NOT NOW…NOT EVER!!!
MICKEY ROURKE AND ROBERT DOWNEY JUNIOR ARE A COUPLE OF GOOD EXAMPLES…
BUT THIS WEEKEND THERE ARE TWO ATHLETES ON CENTER STAGE…BOTH ATTEMPTING TO GET THEIR “LIVES” AND THEIR “CAREERS” BACK…
AT THE RYDER CUP IN WALES IT IS TIGER WOODS…
TODAY WOODS BIRDIED THE 9TH HOLE…AS HE AND STEVE STRICKER LEAD THEIR MATCH BY 1 STROKE…
THE AMERICANS LEAD IN 2 MATCHES…THE EUROPEANS IN JUST ONE…
WHICH MEANS…WOODS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY THIS WEEKEND TO RETURN HOME AS A NATIONAL HERO…
ON SUNDAY IN PHILADELPHIA IT WILL BE MICHAEL VICK IN THE SPOTLIGHT…
A YEAR AGO DONOVAN MCNABB LOBBIED THE EAGLES TO SIGN VICK AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON…
VICK DID 18 MONTHS FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN DOG FIGHTING…
MCNABB IS NOW THE STARTING QUARTERBACK IN WASHINGTON AND WILL MAKE HIS RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA THIS WEEKEND…
BUT THE REAL STORY IS VICK…
ONCE AGAIN THE DEBATE BEGINS OVER WHETHER OR NOT TO FORGIVE HIM FOR HIS CRUEL TREATMENT OF DOGS…
LET’S BE CLEAR…THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT VICK DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE…
ALMOST EVERYBODY DESERVES THAT…
THE ISSUE IS FORGIVENESS…
IT BEGINS WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE VICK WHEN HE SAYS HE’S SORRY…
THIS IS NOT A MAN WHO TURNED HIMSELF IN…
VICK ONLY QUIT TORTURING AND KILLING DOGS…AFTER HE GOT CAUGHT…
ONCE HE HAD SERVED HIS TIME…HE IMMEDIATELY WENT ON 60 MINUTES TO SELL THE PUBLIC ON HIS NEW IMAGE…AND TO PLEAD HIS CASE TO BE RE-INSTATED BY THE NFL…
WHEN HE SAID…HE DESEVERED TO LOSE $135 MILLION DOLLARS…
DID YOU REALLY BUY THAT???
THE WHOLE INTERVIEW SEEMED STAGED…AND THE WORDS HE SPOKE APPEARED TO BE COACHED…
AFTER ALL…WHY DID CBS ALLOW JAMES BROWN ASK THE QUESTIONS???
BROWN IS A SPORTSCASTER…AND NOT A REGULAR MEMBER OF THE 60 MINUTES STAFF…
IN THE PAST WE HAVE WITNESSED SOME GREAT COMEBACKS IN SPORTS…AND CHEERED ON THE LIKES OF JORDAN…ALI AND RUTH…
SHOULD TIGER WOODS GET HIS GAME BACK…HE WILL CERTAINLY JOIN THAT LIST…
BUT MICHAEL VICK???
NO…NOT NOW…NOT EVER!!!
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