WELCOME TO THE FUTURE…
TODAY “THE TEAM” AND THE B.C. LIONS SIGNED A NEW 4 YEAR PLAY BY PLAY AGREEMENT…
ONCE YOU GET PASS THE PRESS RELEASE AND THE HAND SHAKING…
TRY AND SEE THIS FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS…THE LATEST IS AN ON GOING BATTLE IN THE SPORTS AND COMMUNICATION BUSINESS…
THE BATTLE GROUND IS…”CONTENT” AND “DELIVERY SYSTEMS”
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY...IT’S ABOUT HOW YOU…THE FAN… EXPERIENCE SPORTS…
“THE TEAM” AND ITS PARENT COMPANY “BELL” ARE IN THE DELIVERY BUSINESS...
IT’S EVERYTHING FROM TSN…TO THE INTERNET…TO THE PHONE IN YOUR POCKET…
AND IT’S WHY YOU CAN NOW BE WALKING DOWN A STREET IN VANCOUVER…AND BE WATCHING THE STANLEY CUP FINAL AT THE SAME TIME…
BUT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND JUST HOW BIG THIS GAME IS…
CHECK THIS OUT…
ACCORDING TO THE TORONTO STAR…
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS IS ATTEMPTING TO BUY MAPLE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT…
WHICH OWNS THE LEAFS…THE RAPTORS…TORONTO FC AND THE AIR CANADA CENTER…
TOTAL VALUE IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $2 BILLION DOLLARS…
THE COMPANY ALREADY OWNS THE BLUE JAYS AND THEIR HOME…ROGERS PLACE…
ROGERS LIKE BELL…IS A COMPANY WITH LOTS OF DELIVERY SYSTEMS…INCLUDING…SPORTSNET…CITY TV…AND A CHAIN OF RADIO STATIONS…INCLUDING “THE FAN 590” IN TORONTO…
IT EXPLAINS WHY LAST SUMMER…ROGERS SPENT MILLIONS TO OUT BID “TELUS” FOR THE NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE HOME OF THE CANUCKS…
WELCOME TO ROGER’S ARENA…
THE REAL VALUE WAS IN THE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS…ANOTHER “DELIVERY SYSTEM” IN NEED OF “CONTENT”…
IN THE END…THE BIG WINNER IS YOU…THE SPORTS FAN…
TECHNOLOGY NOW GIVES YOU…WHAT YOU WANT…WHEN YOU WANT…WHERE YOU WANT…24 AND 7…
QUITE SIMPLY…IT’S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME…AND TO SAY THE LEAST…THE STAKES ARE HIGH…
TODAY “THE TEAM” WAS THE BIG WINNER…AND WE THANK THE LIONS FOR THAT…
BUT COME TOMORROW…WE’LL ALL HAVE TO GET BACK TO…“THE FUTURE”…
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Brian Burke
BE CAREFULL THOSE THINGS YOU WISH FOR…
2 YEARS AGO TODAY…BRIAN BURKE WAS NAMED THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
IT’S STILL NOT CLEAR…HOW EXACTLY A GENERAL MANAGER OF ONE NHL TEAM CAN TRADE HIMSELF TO ANOTHER NHL TEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEASON…
BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY…
AT THE TIME…THIS MARRIAGE HAD ALL THE PROMISE OF WAYNE AND JANET GRETZKY…
NOW IT LOOKS MORE LIKE “TIGER AND ELIN”…
WHEN BURKE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR THE JOB….HE DESCRIBED TORONTO AS A HOCKEY CITY…THIS WAY…
“IF YOU’RE CATHOLIC…THIS IS THE VATICAN”…IT WOULD NOW APPEAR…TORONTO FANS ARE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE MORE FAITH…
LAST SEASON THEY FINISHED 29TH OVER IN THE NHL…WITH A MERE 74 POINTS…
THIS SEASON THEY ARE NOW IN 13TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE AND ON PACE TO FOR A MERE 71 POINTS……
ALL THIS GETS US THE PHIL KESSEL TRADE…
BURKE SURRENDERED 2 FIRST ROUND PICKS AND A SECOND ROUNDER TO BOSTON…
AT THIS RATE…IT WILL COST THE LEAFS…AT LEAST…BACK TO BACK BLUE CHIP DRAFT PICKS…
IN THE MEANTIME…KESSELL CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE…
HE HAS JUST 5 POINTS IN HIS LAST 14 GAMES…
IN HIS FIRST 2 YEARS ON THE JOB…BRIAN BURKE’S LEAFS AT 10 GAMES UNDER .500…
THERE’S ALSO THE ISSUE OF CAP MANAGEMENT…
BURKE HAS SPENT BIG…ESPECIALLY ON FREE AGENTS…
AS A RESULT THE LEAFS HAVE THEIR NOSE FIRMLY PRESSED UP AGAINST THE CAP…
AND AFTER 2 YEARS OF TRYING…HE STILL HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRADE TOMAS KABERLE…
WHO IS ABOUT TO BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THIS…
BRIAN BURKE IS GETTING PAID $18 MILLION OVER 6 YEARS TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
CLEARLY HIS DECISION TO FAST TRACK THAT PROCESS HAS BLOWN UP IN HIS FACE…
KEEP IN MIND…THE TEAM HE WON A CUP WITH IN ANAHEIM…WAS BUILT BY BRIAN MURRAY…
SO UNLESS BURKE CAN FIND ANOTHER WINNING LOTTERY TICKET…AND HAVE 3 FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS SUCH AS CHRIS PRONGER…SCOTT NIEDERMAYER AND TEEMU SELANNE…FALL INTO HIS LAP…
THE LEAFS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE HOCKEY GAMES…AND THE PRESSURE IN GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOUNT…
AND THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH GETTING WHAT YOU WANT…
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LEARN…HOW TO LIVE WITH IT…
2 YEARS AGO TODAY…BRIAN BURKE WAS NAMED THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER OF THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
IT’S STILL NOT CLEAR…HOW EXACTLY A GENERAL MANAGER OF ONE NHL TEAM CAN TRADE HIMSELF TO ANOTHER NHL TEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEASON…
BUT THAT’S ANOTHER STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY…
AT THE TIME…THIS MARRIAGE HAD ALL THE PROMISE OF WAYNE AND JANET GRETZKY…
NOW IT LOOKS MORE LIKE “TIGER AND ELIN”…
WHEN BURKE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR THE JOB….HE DESCRIBED TORONTO AS A HOCKEY CITY…THIS WAY…
“IF YOU’RE CATHOLIC…THIS IS THE VATICAN”…IT WOULD NOW APPEAR…TORONTO FANS ARE GOING TO NEED A LITTLE MORE FAITH…
LAST SEASON THEY FINISHED 29TH OVER IN THE NHL…WITH A MERE 74 POINTS…
THIS SEASON THEY ARE NOW IN 13TH PLACE IN THE EASTERN CONFERENCE AND ON PACE TO FOR A MERE 71 POINTS……
ALL THIS GETS US THE PHIL KESSEL TRADE…
BURKE SURRENDERED 2 FIRST ROUND PICKS AND A SECOND ROUNDER TO BOSTON…
AT THIS RATE…IT WILL COST THE LEAFS…AT LEAST…BACK TO BACK BLUE CHIP DRAFT PICKS…
IN THE MEANTIME…KESSELL CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE…
HE HAS JUST 5 POINTS IN HIS LAST 14 GAMES…
IN HIS FIRST 2 YEARS ON THE JOB…BRIAN BURKE’S LEAFS AT 10 GAMES UNDER .500…
THERE’S ALSO THE ISSUE OF CAP MANAGEMENT…
BURKE HAS SPENT BIG…ESPECIALLY ON FREE AGENTS…
AS A RESULT THE LEAFS HAVE THEIR NOSE FIRMLY PRESSED UP AGAINST THE CAP…
AND AFTER 2 YEARS OF TRYING…HE STILL HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TRADE TOMAS KABERLE…
WHO IS ABOUT TO BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT…
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THIS…
BRIAN BURKE IS GETTING PAID $18 MILLION OVER 6 YEARS TO WIN A STANLEY CUP…
CLEARLY HIS DECISION TO FAST TRACK THAT PROCESS HAS BLOWN UP IN HIS FACE…
KEEP IN MIND…THE TEAM HE WON A CUP WITH IN ANAHEIM…WAS BUILT BY BRIAN MURRAY…
SO UNLESS BURKE CAN FIND ANOTHER WINNING LOTTERY TICKET…AND HAVE 3 FUTURE HALL OF FAMERS SUCH AS CHRIS PRONGER…SCOTT NIEDERMAYER AND TEEMU SELANNE…FALL INTO HIS LAP…
THE LEAFS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOSE HOCKEY GAMES…AND THE PRESSURE IN GOING TO CONTINUE TO MOUNT…
AND THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH GETTING WHAT YOU WANT…
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LEARN…HOW TO LIVE WITH IT…
Monday, November 22, 2010
Vancouver Canucks
BUYING A TICKET TO A CANUCKS GAME…
BRINGS WITH IT THE SAME GUARENTEES…AS BUYING REAL ESTATE IN THIS TOWN…
ABSOLUTELY NONE…
NEVERTHELESS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF FANS WHO SPENT A LOT OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY THIS WEEKEND AT ROGERS ARENA…WAITING FOR THE CANUCKS TO SHOW UP…
IT’S KIND OF LIKE…LINUS AND THE GREAT PUMPKIN…
ON SATURDAY NIGHT THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS WERE ALLOWED TO SCORE 7 UNANSWERED GOALS BEFORE THE CANUCKS FINALLY WOKE UP…
ON SUNDAY…THE PHOENIX COYOTES GOT A TASTE OF ALL THIS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT…
IN 6 OF THE LAST 7 GAMES…THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP AT LEAST…THE FIRST 2 GOALS…
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT…THEY HAVE LOST 5 OF THEM…INCLUDING THE LAST 4 STRAIGHT…
IT IS NO SECRET WHAT THE PROBLEM IS…THE CANUCKS ARE NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH…
NOT EVEN CLOSE…
HOW ELSE CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT…THAT LASTNIGHT THIS TEAM DID NOT DRAW A SINGLE PENALTY…
NOT ONE…
AS A RESULT…THE NHL’S NUMBER 1 POWER PLAY…NEVER SAW THE ICE…
ONCE AGAIN…THE LOCAL MEDIA ARE POINTING A FINGER AT HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…
AND THE QUESTION MUST BE ASKED….”HAVE THE PLAYERS TUNED HIM OUT???”
IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME VIGNEAULT HAS BEEN ON THE FIRING LINE…
BUT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS NOT ONE TO…MAKE DECISION BASED ON CONCERNS OF THE MEDIA OR THE FANS…
IN THE MEANTIME…THERE ARE OTHER WORRIES…
MANNY MALHOTRA HAS NO POINTS IN HIS LAST 7 GAMES…
MASON RAYMOND HAS JUST 4 GOALS THIS SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS HAS JUST 1 GOAL IN HIS FIRST 10 GAMES…SINCE RETURNING FROM HIS SHOULDER INJURY…
AND KEITH BALLARD CAN NOT SEEM TO GET INTO…OR STAY IN…THE LINE UP…
AS ALWAYS…ROBERTO LUONGO IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS STORM…
THAT’S THE PRICE…WHEN YOU ARE THE $10 MILLION DOLLAR MAN…
ON SATURDAY LUONGO GAVE UP 4 GOALS ON 20 SHOTS…AND LASTNIGHT ANOTHER 3 GOALS ON 28 SHOTS…
HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE IS NOW 2.88…THAT’S THE 32ND HIGHEST IN THE NHL…
ADD IT UP AND HOCKEY FANS HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE CONCERNED…
ESPECIALLY…IF THEY’RE INVESTING IN A TICKET
BRINGS WITH IT THE SAME GUARENTEES…AS BUYING REAL ESTATE IN THIS TOWN…
ABSOLUTELY NONE…
NEVERTHELESS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF FANS WHO SPENT A LOT OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY THIS WEEKEND AT ROGERS ARENA…WAITING FOR THE CANUCKS TO SHOW UP…
IT’S KIND OF LIKE…LINUS AND THE GREAT PUMPKIN…
ON SATURDAY NIGHT THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS WERE ALLOWED TO SCORE 7 UNANSWERED GOALS BEFORE THE CANUCKS FINALLY WOKE UP…
ON SUNDAY…THE PHOENIX COYOTES GOT A TASTE OF ALL THIS CHRISTMAS SPIRIT…
IN 6 OF THE LAST 7 GAMES…THE CANUCKS HAVE GIVEN UP AT LEAST…THE FIRST 2 GOALS…
AS YOU WOULD EXPECT…THEY HAVE LOST 5 OF THEM…INCLUDING THE LAST 4 STRAIGHT…
IT IS NO SECRET WHAT THE PROBLEM IS…THE CANUCKS ARE NOT WORKING HARD ENOUGH…
NOT EVEN CLOSE…
HOW ELSE CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT…THAT LASTNIGHT THIS TEAM DID NOT DRAW A SINGLE PENALTY…
NOT ONE…
AS A RESULT…THE NHL’S NUMBER 1 POWER PLAY…NEVER SAW THE ICE…
ONCE AGAIN…THE LOCAL MEDIA ARE POINTING A FINGER AT HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT…
AND THE QUESTION MUST BE ASKED….”HAVE THE PLAYERS TUNED HIM OUT???”
IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME VIGNEAULT HAS BEEN ON THE FIRING LINE…
BUT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS IS NOT ONE TO…MAKE DECISION BASED ON CONCERNS OF THE MEDIA OR THE FANS…
IN THE MEANTIME…THERE ARE OTHER WORRIES…
MANNY MALHOTRA HAS NO POINTS IN HIS LAST 7 GAMES…
MASON RAYMOND HAS JUST 4 GOALS THIS SEASON…
ALEX BURROWS HAS JUST 1 GOAL IN HIS FIRST 10 GAMES…SINCE RETURNING FROM HIS SHOULDER INJURY…
AND KEITH BALLARD CAN NOT SEEM TO GET INTO…OR STAY IN…THE LINE UP…
AS ALWAYS…ROBERTO LUONGO IS AT THE CENTER OF THIS STORM…
THAT’S THE PRICE…WHEN YOU ARE THE $10 MILLION DOLLAR MAN…
ON SATURDAY LUONGO GAVE UP 4 GOALS ON 20 SHOTS…AND LASTNIGHT ANOTHER 3 GOALS ON 28 SHOTS…
HIS GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE IS NOW 2.88…THAT’S THE 32ND HIGHEST IN THE NHL…
ADD IT UP AND HOCKEY FANS HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE CONCERNED…
ESPECIALLY…IF THEY’RE INVESTING IN A TICKET
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wally Buono
IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS…THE HEAD COACH OF THE B.C. LIONS WALLY BUONO WILL MAKE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST DECISIONS OF HIS LIFE…
DOES HE WALK AWAY FROM COACHING AND COMMITT HIS FULL ATTENTION TO THE FRONT OFFICE…
BUONO WAS BORN IN ITALY…
BUT AS KID GROWING UP IN MONTREAL…FOOTBALL QUICKLY BECAME A BIG PART OF HIS LIFE…
IT WAS HIS TICKET TO IDAHO STATE…
HE PLAYED 10 YEARS FOR THE ALOUTTES…WHERE HE WON HIS FIRST 2 GREY CUPS…
FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS…BUONO HAS WORKED THE SIDELINE…WON 4 MORE CUPS AND WAS NAMED THE CFL’S “COACH OF THE YEAR” 3 TIMES…
HE NOW STANDS…AS THE WINNINGEST COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE…
SO…HOW DO YOU SAY GOODBYE TO THAT???
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY…IF THE FIRE THAT HAS DRIVEN YOU THE LAST 5 DECADES…IS GONE…
AND WALLY BUONO IS THE ONLY PERSON…WHO CAN ANSWER THAT…
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW…
MUCH OF THE HEAVY LIFTING WITH THIS TEAM IS DONE…
THIS SEASON THE LIONS WERE THE YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE CFL…
17 STARTERS WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 27…
AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT TRAVIS LULAY FINALLY ARRIVED AS A QUARTERBACK THAT CAN CARRY A TEAM ON HIS BACK…
HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE WESTERN SEMI-FINAL…IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT INJECTS NEW LIFE…
NOT ONLY FOR THE FANS…
BUT ALSO TO A COACH…WHO IS SUDDENLY NOT SO INTERESTED IN COUNTING BIRTHDAYS…
ADD TO ALL THAT…
THE LIONS ARE HOSTING THE GREY CUP NEXT YEARS…
AND ARE GOING INTO A BRAND NEW STADIUM…
HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT TO WATCH ALL THAT…FROM THE PRESS BOX???
IT WILL BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE BUONO MAKES HIS DECISION OFFICIAL…
BUT IN THE END…HE KNOWS IN HIS HEART…
THE ONLY REASON ANY COACH PUTS UP WITH THE RAT RACE…
IS TO GET “THE CHEESE”….
DOES HE WALK AWAY FROM COACHING AND COMMITT HIS FULL ATTENTION TO THE FRONT OFFICE…
BUONO WAS BORN IN ITALY…
BUT AS KID GROWING UP IN MONTREAL…FOOTBALL QUICKLY BECAME A BIG PART OF HIS LIFE…
IT WAS HIS TICKET TO IDAHO STATE…
HE PLAYED 10 YEARS FOR THE ALOUTTES…WHERE HE WON HIS FIRST 2 GREY CUPS…
FOR THE LAST 21 YEARS…BUONO HAS WORKED THE SIDELINE…WON 4 MORE CUPS AND WAS NAMED THE CFL’S “COACH OF THE YEAR” 3 TIMES…
HE NOW STANDS…AS THE WINNINGEST COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEAGUE…
SO…HOW DO YOU SAY GOODBYE TO THAT???
THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY…IF THE FIRE THAT HAS DRIVEN YOU THE LAST 5 DECADES…IS GONE…
AND WALLY BUONO IS THE ONLY PERSON…WHO CAN ANSWER THAT…
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW…
MUCH OF THE HEAVY LIFTING WITH THIS TEAM IS DONE…
THIS SEASON THE LIONS WERE THE YOUNGEST TEAM IN THE CFL…
17 STARTERS WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 27…
AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT TRAVIS LULAY FINALLY ARRIVED AS A QUARTERBACK THAT CAN CARRY A TEAM ON HIS BACK…
HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE WESTERN SEMI-FINAL…IS THE TYPE OF THING THAT INJECTS NEW LIFE…
NOT ONLY FOR THE FANS…
BUT ALSO TO A COACH…WHO IS SUDDENLY NOT SO INTERESTED IN COUNTING BIRTHDAYS…
ADD TO ALL THAT…
THE LIONS ARE HOSTING THE GREY CUP NEXT YEARS…
AND ARE GOING INTO A BRAND NEW STADIUM…
HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT TO WATCH ALL THAT…FROM THE PRESS BOX???
IT WILL BE A FEW DAYS BEFORE BUONO MAKES HIS DECISION OFFICIAL…
BUT IN THE END…HE KNOWS IN HIS HEART…
THE ONLY REASON ANY COACH PUTS UP WITH THE RAT RACE…
IS TO GET “THE CHEESE”….
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Joe Sakic
FORGET DIMAGGIO!!!
“WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE SAKIC???”
A YEAR AGO THE COLORADO AVALANCHE RAISED SAKIC’S NUMBER 19 SWEATER INTO THE RAFTERS…
IN SEPTEMBER HERE IN VANCOUVER…SAKIC WAS INDUCTED INTO THE B.C. SPORTS HALL OF FAME…
TWO VERY RARE SIGHTINGS…OF ONE OF THE GREATEST HOCKEY PLAYERS THE GAME HAS EVER SEEN…
THE NEXT…IS EXPECTED IN 2 YEARS WHEN SAKIC GOES INTO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
IN THE 20 YEARS HE PLAYED IN THE NHL…SAKIC MADE THE ALL STAR TEAM 13 TIMES…
SAKIC IS ONE OF ONLY 6 PLAYERS TO SCORE 600 GOALS AND COLLECT 1,000 ASSISTS…
THE OTHERS ARE…WAYNE GRETZKY…GORDIE HOWE…MARCEL DIONNE…MARK MESSIER…STEVE YZERMAN…AND MARIO LEMIEUX…
HE IS ONE OF ONLY 22 PLAYERS WHO BELONG TO THE “TRIPLE GOLD CLUB”…
TO JOIN…YOU MUST HAVE WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL…A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP…AND A STANLEY CUP…
AND HE’S ONE OF ONLY 4 PLAYERS…TO HAVE CAPTAINED HIS TEAM TO A STANLEY CUP…AND WIN THE HART TROPHY IN THE SAME YEAR…
AT 41 YEARS OF AGE…JOE SAKIC HAS THE KEYS TO THE HOCKEY UNIVERSE…AND YET HE REMAINS OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT…
INSTEAD FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON…HE WILL SPEND HIS TIME COACHING HIS SON’S HOCKEY TEAM…
SAKIC EXPLAINS IT THIS WAY…”I HAD SUCH FUN A YEAR AT HOME LAST YEAR…THAT I WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN”…
THE ONLY INVOLVEMENT HE HAS WITH THE AVALANCHE IS AN INFORMAL ROLE WITH PRESIDENT PIERRE LACROIX…
THE DEAL IS…SAKIC WATCHES THE GAMES…AND IF LACROIX WANTS A SECOND OPINION…HE GIVES JOE A CALL…
NOW ALL THAT…IS NOT TO SAY…JOE SAKIC HAS WALKED AWAY FROM THE GAME…
IT’S JUST…FOR NOW…HIS FAMILY COMES FIRST…
EVEN SAKIC ADMITTS…AT SOME POINT HE WILL WANT BACK IN…
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS…HE WILL MAKE THE SAME COMMITMENT TO MANAGEMENT…THAT HE MADE AS A PLAYER…
SO UNTIL THEN…
THE CLOSEST YOU’LL GET TO JOE SAKIC THESE DAYS…IS LOOKING AT HIS SWEATER AT THE PEPSI CENTER…
OR GOING TO A “BANTAM” HOCKEY GAME…IN LITTLETON COLORADO…
“WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE SAKIC???”
A YEAR AGO THE COLORADO AVALANCHE RAISED SAKIC’S NUMBER 19 SWEATER INTO THE RAFTERS…
IN SEPTEMBER HERE IN VANCOUVER…SAKIC WAS INDUCTED INTO THE B.C. SPORTS HALL OF FAME…
TWO VERY RARE SIGHTINGS…OF ONE OF THE GREATEST HOCKEY PLAYERS THE GAME HAS EVER SEEN…
THE NEXT…IS EXPECTED IN 2 YEARS WHEN SAKIC GOES INTO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
IN THE 20 YEARS HE PLAYED IN THE NHL…SAKIC MADE THE ALL STAR TEAM 13 TIMES…
SAKIC IS ONE OF ONLY 6 PLAYERS TO SCORE 600 GOALS AND COLLECT 1,000 ASSISTS…
THE OTHERS ARE…WAYNE GRETZKY…GORDIE HOWE…MARCEL DIONNE…MARK MESSIER…STEVE YZERMAN…AND MARIO LEMIEUX…
HE IS ONE OF ONLY 22 PLAYERS WHO BELONG TO THE “TRIPLE GOLD CLUB”…
TO JOIN…YOU MUST HAVE WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL…A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP…AND A STANLEY CUP…
AND HE’S ONE OF ONLY 4 PLAYERS…TO HAVE CAPTAINED HIS TEAM TO A STANLEY CUP…AND WIN THE HART TROPHY IN THE SAME YEAR…
AT 41 YEARS OF AGE…JOE SAKIC HAS THE KEYS TO THE HOCKEY UNIVERSE…AND YET HE REMAINS OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT…
INSTEAD FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON…HE WILL SPEND HIS TIME COACHING HIS SON’S HOCKEY TEAM…
SAKIC EXPLAINS IT THIS WAY…”I HAD SUCH FUN A YEAR AT HOME LAST YEAR…THAT I WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN”…
THE ONLY INVOLVEMENT HE HAS WITH THE AVALANCHE IS AN INFORMAL ROLE WITH PRESIDENT PIERRE LACROIX…
THE DEAL IS…SAKIC WATCHES THE GAMES…AND IF LACROIX WANTS A SECOND OPINION…HE GIVES JOE A CALL…
NOW ALL THAT…IS NOT TO SAY…JOE SAKIC HAS WALKED AWAY FROM THE GAME…
IT’S JUST…FOR NOW…HIS FAMILY COMES FIRST…
EVEN SAKIC ADMITTS…AT SOME POINT HE WILL WANT BACK IN…
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS…HE WILL MAKE THE SAME COMMITMENT TO MANAGEMENT…THAT HE MADE AS A PLAYER…
SO UNTIL THEN…
THE CLOSEST YOU’LL GET TO JOE SAKIC THESE DAYS…IS LOOKING AT HIS SWEATER AT THE PEPSI CENTER…
OR GOING TO A “BANTAM” HOCKEY GAME…IN LITTLETON COLORADO…
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Leafs
TODAY THE PREMIER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA GORDON CAMPBELL ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION…
CAMPBELL IS THE VICTIM OF A SELF INFLICTED WOUND…CALLED THE “HST”…
BUT HE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING A VERY BAD WEEK…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS HAVE ALSO CRASHED AND BURNED…
AFTER STARTING THE SEASON WITH 4 STRAIGHT WINS…
HOCKEY FANS IN THAT CITY HAD BECOME EVEN MORE UNBEARABLE THAT USUAL…WHICH IS SAYING A LOT…
GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE HAD BEEN DECLARED A SAVIOR…
AND THERE WAS TALK OF THE PLAYOFFS…
A MYSTICAL LAND…THIS ORGANIZATION HAS NOT BEEN TO…IN NEARLY 7 YEARS…
BUT JUST LIKE A “CHARLIE SHEEN NIGHT ON THE TOWN”…
THIS PARTY DID NOT LAST LONG…
LASTNIGHT OTTAWA HAD ITS WAY…WITH THE LEAFS…
AS A RESULT…TORONTO HAS NOW LOST 6 OF ITS LAST 7…
IN THOSE 7 GAMES…THE TEAM HAS MANAGED JUST 8 GOALS…
AND DURING THAT STREAK…THE LEAFS WENT 167 MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS WITHOUT SCORING…
THE LONGEST DROUGHT SINCE DECEMBER 8TH 1927…
THE FIRST YEAR THE ORGANIZATION PLAYED UNDER THE NAME…THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
ALSO LASTNIGHT…THE LEAFS WERE HANDED “INJURY”…TO “INSULT”…
DION PHANEUF WILL BE GONE FOR AT LEAST A MONTH…AFTER SUFFERING A DEEP CUT TO HIS LEG…
THIS IS THE SAME DION PHANEUF…WHO WAS ROUTINELY GETTING BOOED BY TORONTO FANS…
AS EXPECTED…BURKE WENT INTO DAMAGE CONTROL…
AND ON TUESDAY HE DISCRIBED THE WAY THESE FANS WERE VENTING THEIR FRUSTATION AT “ONE PLAYER” AS…”DISGRACEFUL”…
THE MESSAGE MUST HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH…BECAUSE BY THE END OF THE SECOND PERIOD LASTNIGHT…
THOSE FANS WERE BOOING…THE WHOLE TEAM…
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY EASIER FOR THE LEAFS…
TONIGHT THEY’RE IN WASHINGTON…
OH…SOMEWHERE MEN ARE LAUGHING…AND SOMEWHERE CHILDREN SHOUT…
BUT THERE IS NO JOY IN TORONTO…OR VICTORIA…
THE MIGHTY LEAFS…AND GORDON CAMPBELL HAVE BOTH…STRUCK OUT…
CAMPBELL IS THE VICTIM OF A SELF INFLICTED WOUND…CALLED THE “HST”…
BUT HE’S NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING A VERY BAD WEEK…
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS HAVE ALSO CRASHED AND BURNED…
AFTER STARTING THE SEASON WITH 4 STRAIGHT WINS…
HOCKEY FANS IN THAT CITY HAD BECOME EVEN MORE UNBEARABLE THAT USUAL…WHICH IS SAYING A LOT…
GENERAL MANAGER BRIAN BURKE HAD BEEN DECLARED A SAVIOR…
AND THERE WAS TALK OF THE PLAYOFFS…
A MYSTICAL LAND…THIS ORGANIZATION HAS NOT BEEN TO…IN NEARLY 7 YEARS…
BUT JUST LIKE A “CHARLIE SHEEN NIGHT ON THE TOWN”…
THIS PARTY DID NOT LAST LONG…
LASTNIGHT OTTAWA HAD ITS WAY…WITH THE LEAFS…
AS A RESULT…TORONTO HAS NOW LOST 6 OF ITS LAST 7…
IN THOSE 7 GAMES…THE TEAM HAS MANAGED JUST 8 GOALS…
AND DURING THAT STREAK…THE LEAFS WENT 167 MINUTES AND 39 SECONDS WITHOUT SCORING…
THE LONGEST DROUGHT SINCE DECEMBER 8TH 1927…
THE FIRST YEAR THE ORGANIZATION PLAYED UNDER THE NAME…THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS…
ALSO LASTNIGHT…THE LEAFS WERE HANDED “INJURY”…TO “INSULT”…
DION PHANEUF WILL BE GONE FOR AT LEAST A MONTH…AFTER SUFFERING A DEEP CUT TO HIS LEG…
THIS IS THE SAME DION PHANEUF…WHO WAS ROUTINELY GETTING BOOED BY TORONTO FANS…
AS EXPECTED…BURKE WENT INTO DAMAGE CONTROL…
AND ON TUESDAY HE DISCRIBED THE WAY THESE FANS WERE VENTING THEIR FRUSTATION AT “ONE PLAYER” AS…”DISGRACEFUL”…
THE MESSAGE MUST HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH…BECAUSE BY THE END OF THE SECOND PERIOD LASTNIGHT…
THOSE FANS WERE BOOING…THE WHOLE TEAM…
THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY EASIER FOR THE LEAFS…
TONIGHT THEY’RE IN WASHINGTON…
OH…SOMEWHERE MEN ARE LAUGHING…AND SOMEWHERE CHILDREN SHOUT…
BUT THERE IS NO JOY IN TORONTO…OR VICTORIA…
THE MIGHTY LEAFS…AND GORDON CAMPBELL HAVE BOTH…STRUCK OUT…
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Orland Kurtenbach
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”…
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”…
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!!!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Concussions
WHEN IS THE NHL GOING TO WAKE UP???
TODAY IAN LAPERRIERE OF THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS BECAME THE LATEST PLAYER TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME…
THIS SHOULD NOT COME TO A SURPRISE TO ANYONE…
ON APRIL THE 22ND OF THIS YEAR…LAPERRIERE WAS HIT IN THE FACE IN THE PLAYOFF GAME AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION…
IT SHOULD HAVE ENDED HIS SEASON…
NEVERTHELESS…A FEW DAYS LATER HE WAS CLEARED TO PLAY AND WAS IN THE LINE UP FOR GAME 4 OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL…
NOW HIS SEASON AND HIS CAREER ARE IN DOUBT…
IT’S SAME STORY WITH MARC SAVARD OF THE BOSTON BRUINS…
ON MARCH 7TH…SAVARD WAS BLINDSIDED BY A VICIOUS HIT TO THE HEAD BY MATT COOKE…
HE SUFFERED A GRADE 2 CONCUSSION…
AGAIN…HIS SEASON SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER…
NEVERTHELESS…BY MAY 1ST…SAVARD WAS BACK IN THE LINE UP FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AND NOW HIS FUTURE IS IN DOUBT…
SAVARD ADMITTS WHEN HE RETURNED FOR THE PLAYOFFS “HE WAS NOT READY”…
THAT DECISION MAY COST HIM HIS CAREER…AND A LOT MORE…
IT IS EASY FOR THE TEAMS AND THE LEAGUE TO AVOID ANY RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS ISSUE…
AFTER ALL…ONCE A PLAYER GETS MEDICAL CLEARANCE…AND DOES NOT COMPLAIN…
THEN THE NEED TO WIN IS ALL THAT MATTERS…
THAT HAS TO CHANGE…
LAST YEAR A SURVEY OF THE “NFL” SHOWED THAT 20 PERCENT OF PLAYERS HAVE HIDDEN OR PLAYED DOWN THE EFFECTS OF A CONCUSSION…
IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO THINK THE NHL IS ANY DIFFERENT…
THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CONCUSSIONS INCLUDE…DEMENTIA…DEPRESSION…AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE…
LAST SEASON WILLIE MITCHELL MISSED 48 GAMES AND THE PLAYOFFS WITH A CONCUSSION…
BUT UNLIKE LAPERRIERE AND SAVARD…MITCHELL REFUSED TO RETURN TO THE LINE UP UNTIL HE FULLY RECOVERED…
SO FAR THIS SEASON…HE HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS…
BUT THESE DECISIONS SHOULD NOT COME DOWN TO THE PLAYERS…OR THE TEAMS…
THE NHL NEEDS NEW…STRICKER GUIDELINES…THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE PLAYERS…EVEN IF IT MEANS…
PROTECTING THEM…FROM THEMSELVES…
TODAY IAN LAPERRIERE OF THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS BECAME THE LATEST PLAYER TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME…
THIS SHOULD NOT COME TO A SURPRISE TO ANYONE…
ON APRIL THE 22ND OF THIS YEAR…LAPERRIERE WAS HIT IN THE FACE IN THE PLAYOFF GAME AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION…
IT SHOULD HAVE ENDED HIS SEASON…
NEVERTHELESS…A FEW DAYS LATER HE WAS CLEARED TO PLAY AND WAS IN THE LINE UP FOR GAME 4 OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL…
NOW HIS SEASON AND HIS CAREER ARE IN DOUBT…
IT’S SAME STORY WITH MARC SAVARD OF THE BOSTON BRUINS…
ON MARCH 7TH…SAVARD WAS BLINDSIDED BY A VICIOUS HIT TO THE HEAD BY MATT COOKE…
HE SUFFERED A GRADE 2 CONCUSSION…
AGAIN…HIS SEASON SHOULD HAVE BEEN OVER…
NEVERTHELESS…BY MAY 1ST…SAVARD WAS BACK IN THE LINE UP FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS…
AND NOW HIS FUTURE IS IN DOUBT…
SAVARD ADMITTS WHEN HE RETURNED FOR THE PLAYOFFS “HE WAS NOT READY”…
THAT DECISION MAY COST HIM HIS CAREER…AND A LOT MORE…
IT IS EASY FOR THE TEAMS AND THE LEAGUE TO AVOID ANY RESPONSIBILITY WITH THIS ISSUE…
AFTER ALL…ONCE A PLAYER GETS MEDICAL CLEARANCE…AND DOES NOT COMPLAIN…
THEN THE NEED TO WIN IS ALL THAT MATTERS…
THAT HAS TO CHANGE…
LAST YEAR A SURVEY OF THE “NFL” SHOWED THAT 20 PERCENT OF PLAYERS HAVE HIDDEN OR PLAYED DOWN THE EFFECTS OF A CONCUSSION…
IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO THINK THE NHL IS ANY DIFFERENT…
THE LONG TERM EFFECTS OF CONCUSSIONS INCLUDE…DEMENTIA…DEPRESSION…AND ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE…
LAST SEASON WILLIE MITCHELL MISSED 48 GAMES AND THE PLAYOFFS WITH A CONCUSSION…
BUT UNLIKE LAPERRIERE AND SAVARD…MITCHELL REFUSED TO RETURN TO THE LINE UP UNTIL HE FULLY RECOVERED…
SO FAR THIS SEASON…HE HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS…
BUT THESE DECISIONS SHOULD NOT COME DOWN TO THE PLAYERS…OR THE TEAMS…
THE NHL NEEDS NEW…STRICKER GUIDELINES…THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE PLAYERS…EVEN IF IT MEANS…
PROTECTING THEM…FROM THEMSELVES…
Friday, September 17, 2010
Vancouver Canucks
THE NEW OREANS SAINTS ARE THE DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS…
SINCE 2004…THE BOSTON RED SOX WON…NOT ONLY 1…BUT 2 WORLD SERIES…
AND 6 MONTHS AGO…VANCOUVER HOSTED THE GREATEST WINTER OLYMPICS…EVER…
THOSE WERE 3 THINGS THAT YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED…YOU WOULD NEVER…EVER…SEE IN YOUR LIFE TIME…
YET…ALL 3 HAPPENED…AND ALL HAPPENED IN JUST THE LAST 6 YEARS…
IF SPORTS HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING….IT IS THIS…
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
ON FEBRUARY 10TH 1990…A LITTLE KNOW FIGHTER BY THE NAME OF BUSTER DOUGLAS…GOT INTO THE RING WITH MIKE TYSON…
“THE BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET”…
NOBODY BELIEVED DOUGLAS HAD A PRAYER…INCLUDING THE BOOKIES WHO LISTED HIM AS A…”42 TO 1” LONG SHOT…
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED…DOUGLAS WAS THE NEW HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD…
THE BOOKIES ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE NEW YORK JETS IN SUPER BOWL 3…
THE BALTIMORE COLTS WERE 18 POINT FAVORITES…
BUT JOE NAMATH GUARENTEED A WIN…AND THEN DELIVERED…
ON AUGUST 13TH 1969…THE NEW YORK METS…WERE 9 AND A-HALF GAMES BACK OF THE CHICAGO CUBS…
THE METS CAUGHT FIRE…WON THE PENANT…AND THEN SHOCKED THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES BY WINNING THE WORLD SERIES…
SPEAKING OF MIRACLES…
HEADING INTO THE WINTER GAMES IN 1980…THE SOVIETS HAD WON 8 OF THE PREVIOUS 9 GOLD MEDALS IN MENS HOCKEY…
BUT AFTER THE AMERICANS BEAT SHOCKED THE RUSSIANS 4-3…AL MICHAELS CALLED OUT…
“DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES???”
SO IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THIS…
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO BELIEVE…THAT THIS NHL SEASON…
THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CAN WIN A STANLEY CUP???
YEAH…YEAH!!!...CERTAINLY 40 YEARS OF HEARTBREAK AND DISSAPPOINT CAN LEAVE A FAN…SOMEWHAT…JADED…
BUT…MOST OF THE HOCKEY EXPERTS NOW PICK THIS TEAM TO GO TO THE DANCE…
NEVERTHELESS…IF YOU ARE STILL HAVING SOME TROUBLE GETTING YOUR HEAD AROUND ALL OF THIS…THINK OF IT THIS WAY…
IF BETTY WHITE CAN HOST SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE…
THEN IT “IS” TRUE…”ANYTHING” IS POSSIBLE!!!
SINCE 2004…THE BOSTON RED SOX WON…NOT ONLY 1…BUT 2 WORLD SERIES…
AND 6 MONTHS AGO…VANCOUVER HOSTED THE GREATEST WINTER OLYMPICS…EVER…
THOSE WERE 3 THINGS THAT YOU WERE ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED…YOU WOULD NEVER…EVER…SEE IN YOUR LIFE TIME…
YET…ALL 3 HAPPENED…AND ALL HAPPENED IN JUST THE LAST 6 YEARS…
IF SPORTS HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING….IT IS THIS…
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE…
ON FEBRUARY 10TH 1990…A LITTLE KNOW FIGHTER BY THE NAME OF BUSTER DOUGLAS…GOT INTO THE RING WITH MIKE TYSON…
“THE BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET”…
NOBODY BELIEVED DOUGLAS HAD A PRAYER…INCLUDING THE BOOKIES WHO LISTED HIM AS A…”42 TO 1” LONG SHOT…
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED…DOUGLAS WAS THE NEW HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD…
THE BOOKIES ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE NEW YORK JETS IN SUPER BOWL 3…
THE BALTIMORE COLTS WERE 18 POINT FAVORITES…
BUT JOE NAMATH GUARENTEED A WIN…AND THEN DELIVERED…
ON AUGUST 13TH 1969…THE NEW YORK METS…WERE 9 AND A-HALF GAMES BACK OF THE CHICAGO CUBS…
THE METS CAUGHT FIRE…WON THE PENANT…AND THEN SHOCKED THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES BY WINNING THE WORLD SERIES…
SPEAKING OF MIRACLES…
HEADING INTO THE WINTER GAMES IN 1980…THE SOVIETS HAD WON 8 OF THE PREVIOUS 9 GOLD MEDALS IN MENS HOCKEY…
BUT AFTER THE AMERICANS BEAT SHOCKED THE RUSSIANS 4-3…AL MICHAELS CALLED OUT…
“DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES???”
SO IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THIS…
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY TO BELIEVE…THAT THIS NHL SEASON…
THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CAN WIN A STANLEY CUP???
YEAH…YEAH!!!...CERTAINLY 40 YEARS OF HEARTBREAK AND DISSAPPOINT CAN LEAVE A FAN…SOMEWHAT…JADED…
BUT…MOST OF THE HOCKEY EXPERTS NOW PICK THIS TEAM TO GO TO THE DANCE…
NEVERTHELESS…IF YOU ARE STILL HAVING SOME TROUBLE GETTING YOUR HEAD AROUND ALL OF THIS…THINK OF IT THIS WAY…
IF BETTY WHITE CAN HOST SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE…
THEN IT “IS” TRUE…”ANYTHING” IS POSSIBLE!!!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Eric Tillman
LET ME BEGIN THIS BY MAKING A FEW THINGS PERFECTLY CLEAR…
THE FIRST IS…
2 YEARS AGO ERIC TILLMAN MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE…
WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BOTH A “SLEEP AID” AND “PAIN KILLERS” HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND HIS 16 YEAR OLD BABY SISTER…AND PULLED HER…TOWARD HIM…
THAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT…PLAIN AND SIMPLE…
LAST JANUARY TILLMAN PLEADED GUILTY AND WAS GIVEN AN ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE…
NEVERTHELESS…ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS…TILLMAN MADE NO EXCUSES…
IN HIS WORDS…”I ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY…I AM PROFOUNDLY SORRY…IT’S A REGRET I’LL TAKE TO MY GRAVE”…
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO MAKE PERFECTLY CLEAR IS THIS…
I HAVE KNOWN ERIC TILLMAN FOR 20 YEARS AND CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND…
SO TODAY…I AM HAPPY TO SEE…THAT THE EDMONTON ESKIMOES NAMED HIM…THEIR NEW GENERAL MANAGER…
AND IN DOING SO…HAVE GIVEN HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD HIS CAREER…AND REGAIN HIS LIFE…
SADLY NOT EVERYBODY IN EDMONTON FEELS THAT WAY…
THE NATIONAL POST NOW REPORTS…THAT AN ON LINE SURVEY IN EDMONTON SAYS THAT MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF FANS IN THAT CITY ARE OPPOSED TO THE HIRING…
AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOW THREATENING TO NEVER ATTEND ANOTHER ESKIMO GAME…
THE DOUBLE STANDARD AMOUNGST SOME FANS…IS TO SAY THE LEAST “DISTRUBING”…
THESE ARE THE SAME TYPE OF FANS WHO HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING A PASS TO “ATHLETES” FOR THEIR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT…
THAT LIST INCLUDES THE LIKES OF…
BEN ROETHLISBERGER…
TIGER WOODS…
KOBE BRYANT…AND MIKE TYSON…TO NAME A FEW…
IN A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW…DINO CICCARELLI WILL BE INDUCTED IN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
BASED ON HIS PEFORMANCE ON THE ICE…CICCARELLI HAS EARNED THE HONOR…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…THIS IS THE SAME DINO CICCARELLI WHO AS A PLAYER…WAS BUSTED FOR BOTH INDECENT EXPOSURE…AND ACCUSED OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A 17 YEAR OLD…
IN EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES…THEY WERE ALL GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE…
THAT IS WHAT ERIC TILLMAN GOT TODAY…AND THAT’S ALL THAT HE GOT!!!
SO BEFORE ANY OF US PASS JUDGEMENT…LET’S BACK OFF…AND WAIT TO SEE…WHAT HE DOES WITH IT…
THE FIRST IS…
2 YEARS AGO ERIC TILLMAN MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE…
WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BOTH A “SLEEP AID” AND “PAIN KILLERS” HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND HIS 16 YEAR OLD BABY SISTER…AND PULLED HER…TOWARD HIM…
THAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT…PLAIN AND SIMPLE…
LAST JANUARY TILLMAN PLEADED GUILTY AND WAS GIVEN AN ABSOLUTE DISCHARGE…
NEVERTHELESS…ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS…TILLMAN MADE NO EXCUSES…
IN HIS WORDS…”I ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY…I AM PROFOUNDLY SORRY…IT’S A REGRET I’LL TAKE TO MY GRAVE”…
THE SECOND THING I WANT TO MAKE PERFECTLY CLEAR IS THIS…
I HAVE KNOWN ERIC TILLMAN FOR 20 YEARS AND CONSIDER HIM A FRIEND…
SO TODAY…I AM HAPPY TO SEE…THAT THE EDMONTON ESKIMOES NAMED HIM…THEIR NEW GENERAL MANAGER…
AND IN DOING SO…HAVE GIVEN HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO REBUILD HIS CAREER…AND REGAIN HIS LIFE…
SADLY NOT EVERYBODY IN EDMONTON FEELS THAT WAY…
THE NATIONAL POST NOW REPORTS…THAT AN ON LINE SURVEY IN EDMONTON SAYS THAT MORE THAN 70 PERCENT OF FANS IN THAT CITY ARE OPPOSED TO THE HIRING…
AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOW THREATENING TO NEVER ATTEND ANOTHER ESKIMO GAME…
THE DOUBLE STANDARD AMOUNGST SOME FANS…IS TO SAY THE LEAST “DISTRUBING”…
THESE ARE THE SAME TYPE OF FANS WHO HAVE NO PROBLEM GIVING A PASS TO “ATHLETES” FOR THEIR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT…
THAT LIST INCLUDES THE LIKES OF…
BEN ROETHLISBERGER…
TIGER WOODS…
KOBE BRYANT…AND MIKE TYSON…TO NAME A FEW…
IN A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW…DINO CICCARELLI WILL BE INDUCTED IN THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME…
BASED ON HIS PEFORMANCE ON THE ICE…CICCARELLI HAS EARNED THE HONOR…
BUT KEEP IN MIND…THIS IS THE SAME DINO CICCARELLI WHO AS A PLAYER…WAS BUSTED FOR BOTH INDECENT EXPOSURE…AND ACCUSED OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A 17 YEAR OLD…
IN EVERY ONE OF THESE CASES…THEY WERE ALL GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE…
THAT IS WHAT ERIC TILLMAN GOT TODAY…AND THAT’S ALL THAT HE GOT!!!
SO BEFORE ANY OF US PASS JUDGEMENT…LET’S BACK OFF…AND WAIT TO SEE…WHAT HE DOES WITH IT…
Friday, September 10, 2010
Cody Hodgson
TODAY CODY HODGSON AND THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS GOT THE BAD NEWS…
HODGSON HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED TO PLAY…
IT MEANS HE WILL NOT ATTEND THE PROSPECTS CAMP…
HODGSON AND HIS BAD BACK WILL RE-EVALUATED…AND WE SHOULD KNOW MORE BY NEXT FRIDAY…
NOW BEFORE YOU THROW THIS KID UNDER THE BUS…AND WRITE HIM OFF…
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
CODY HODGSON REMAINS THE CANUCKS NUMBER ONE PROSPECT…
AND KEEPING HIM OFF THE ICE UNTIL HE IS 100 PER CENT IS THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT THING TO DO…
SHOULD FANS BE CONCERNED…ABSOLUTELY!!!
BUT NOW THAT THE DOCTORS KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS…
THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL NOT MAKE A FULL RECOVERY…
KEEP IN MIND…THE TORN MUSCLE IN HIS BACK WAS MISDIAGNOSED FOR 13 MONTHS…
AND BECAUSE OF THAT…HODGSON HAS LOST A FULL YEAR OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT…
NONE OF WHICH WAS HIS FAULT…
MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO REMIND HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…EXACTLY WHAT THE CANUCKS HAVE IN CODY HODGSON…
IN JANUARY OF 2009 HE WON A GOLD MEDAL AT THE WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS…AND WAS THE LEADING SCORER AT THE TOURNAMENT…WITH 16 POINTS IN 6 GAMES…
THAT SEASON HE ALSO COLLECTED 92 POINTS IN 53 GAMES AND WAS NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE YEAR…
BUT…HODGSON HAS YET TO PLAY A SINGLE GAME IN THE NHL…
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM…
ALL 9 PLAYERS WHO WERE TAKEN IN FRONT OF HIM NOW DRESSED FOR THE TEAMS THAT DRAFTED THEM…
INCLUDING STEVEN STAMKOS AND DREW DOUGHTY…
BUT THE ONE THAT REALLY HURTS…IS TYLER MYERS OF THE BUFFALO SABRES…
WHO WAS TAKEN 2 SELECTIONS AFTER HODGSON…
LAST SEASON MYERS WON THE CALDER…AS THE NHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR…
LIKE IT OR NOT…BOTH THE CANUCKS AND THEIR FANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PATIENT…
HODGSON HAS THE “POTENTIAL” TO BECOME ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS THIS ORGANIZATION HAS EVER DRAFTED…
BUT UNTIL HE’S HEATHLY…THAT’S ALL IT IS…”POTENTIAL”…
SO…THE WAITING GAME CONTINUES…
AND IF YOU THINK IT’S TOUGH ON YOU…
TRY AND IMAGINE WHAT CODY HODGSON IS GOING THROUGH
HODGSON HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED TO PLAY…
IT MEANS HE WILL NOT ATTEND THE PROSPECTS CAMP…
HODGSON AND HIS BAD BACK WILL RE-EVALUATED…AND WE SHOULD KNOW MORE BY NEXT FRIDAY…
NOW BEFORE YOU THROW THIS KID UNDER THE BUS…AND WRITE HIM OFF…
LET’S BE CLEAR ABOUT ONE THING…
CODY HODGSON REMAINS THE CANUCKS NUMBER ONE PROSPECT…
AND KEEPING HIM OFF THE ICE UNTIL HE IS 100 PER CENT IS THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT THING TO DO…
SHOULD FANS BE CONCERNED…ABSOLUTELY!!!
BUT NOW THAT THE DOCTORS KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS…
THERE IS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE WILL NOT MAKE A FULL RECOVERY…
KEEP IN MIND…THE TORN MUSCLE IN HIS BACK WAS MISDIAGNOSED FOR 13 MONTHS…
AND BECAUSE OF THAT…HODGSON HAS LOST A FULL YEAR OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT…
NONE OF WHICH WAS HIS FAULT…
MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO REMIND HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY…EXACTLY WHAT THE CANUCKS HAVE IN CODY HODGSON…
IN JANUARY OF 2009 HE WON A GOLD MEDAL AT THE WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS…AND WAS THE LEADING SCORER AT THE TOURNAMENT…WITH 16 POINTS IN 6 GAMES…
THAT SEASON HE ALSO COLLECTED 92 POINTS IN 53 GAMES AND WAS NAMED CHL PLAYER OF THE YEAR…
BUT…HODGSON HAS YET TO PLAY A SINGLE GAME IN THE NHL…
AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM…
ALL 9 PLAYERS WHO WERE TAKEN IN FRONT OF HIM NOW DRESSED FOR THE TEAMS THAT DRAFTED THEM…
INCLUDING STEVEN STAMKOS AND DREW DOUGHTY…
BUT THE ONE THAT REALLY HURTS…IS TYLER MYERS OF THE BUFFALO SABRES…
WHO WAS TAKEN 2 SELECTIONS AFTER HODGSON…
LAST SEASON MYERS WON THE CALDER…AS THE NHL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR…
LIKE IT OR NOT…BOTH THE CANUCKS AND THEIR FANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PATIENT…
HODGSON HAS THE “POTENTIAL” TO BECOME ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS THIS ORGANIZATION HAS EVER DRAFTED…
BUT UNTIL HE’S HEATHLY…THAT’S ALL IT IS…”POTENTIAL”…
SO…THE WAITING GAME CONTINUES…
AND IF YOU THINK IT’S TOUGH ON YOU…
TRY AND IMAGINE WHAT CODY HODGSON IS GOING THROUGH
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Pressure
PRESSURE”…
FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…IT IS “THE” WORD WILL DEFINE THIS SEASON…
TO START WITH…THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS THE CANUCKS PICKED TO WIN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
A BIG REASON FOR THAT IS…HENRIK SEDIN IS LAST SEASON’S WINNER OF BOTH THE HART AND ART ROSS TROPHIES…
LASTNIGHT THE TWINS WERE AT METRO TOWN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR E.A. SPORTS…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…DANIEL AND HENRIK ARE ON THE SWEDISH VERSION OF NHL 11…
AND SHOULD ROBERTO LUONGO CHOOSE TO GIVE UP THE “C”???
THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY HENRIK COULD BE NAMED CAPTAIN…
WHEN ASKED ABOUT ALL THE EXPECTATIONS BOTH PLAYERS ARE NOW FACING???
DANIEL EXPLAINED IT THIS WAY:
“THE PRESSURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE…BUT WE’D MUCH RATHER HAVE THIS KIND OF PRESSURE…THAN THE KIND WE HAD THE FIRST FEW YEARS”…
NO KIDDING!!!
IN THE FIRST 5 YEARS IN VANCOUVER THE SEDINS HAD BEEN LABLED “THE SISTERS”…
IN THOSE DAYS…IT WOULD HAVE EASY TO HAVE DEMANDED A TRADE…
OR SIMPLY BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…AND SIGN WITH ANOTHER TEAM…
INSTEAD THEY CHOOSE TO STAY…
AFTER THE LOCKOUT…BOTH DANIEL AND HENRIK HAD BREAK OUT SEASONS…AND OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS AVERAGED ALMOST 80 POINTS A SEASON…
THEN LAST SEASON…THEY TOOK THEIR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
HENRIK LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING WITH 112 POINTS…
AND DESPITE THE FACT DANIEL MISSED 19 GAMES BECAUSE OF INJURIES…HE STILL MANAGED 85 POINTS…
IN FACT…ONLY ALEXANDER OVECHKIN AVERAGED MORE “POINTS PER GAME” THAN THE SEDINS…
SO NOW WHAT…CAN THEY DUPLICATE THAT PERFORMANCE???
THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THEY CAN…
ON THE 26TH OF THIS MONTH THE TWINS WILL TURN 30…STILL VERY MUCH IN THEIR PRIME…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…THEY SEEM TO BE “IMMUNE” TO OUTSIDE PRESSURE…
AND THAT…SHOULD GIVE HOPE TO CANUCK FANS…THAT MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…THIS SEASON…
THERE “IS” REASON TO BELIEVE!!!
FOR THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS…IT IS “THE” WORD WILL DEFINE THIS SEASON…
TO START WITH…THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS THE CANUCKS PICKED TO WIN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
A BIG REASON FOR THAT IS…HENRIK SEDIN IS LAST SEASON’S WINNER OF BOTH THE HART AND ART ROSS TROPHIES…
LASTNIGHT THE TWINS WERE AT METRO TOWN SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS FOR E.A. SPORTS…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…DANIEL AND HENRIK ARE ON THE SWEDISH VERSION OF NHL 11…
AND SHOULD ROBERTO LUONGO CHOOSE TO GIVE UP THE “C”???
THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY HENRIK COULD BE NAMED CAPTAIN…
WHEN ASKED ABOUT ALL THE EXPECTATIONS BOTH PLAYERS ARE NOW FACING???
DANIEL EXPLAINED IT THIS WAY:
“THE PRESSURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE…BUT WE’D MUCH RATHER HAVE THIS KIND OF PRESSURE…THAN THE KIND WE HAD THE FIRST FEW YEARS”…
NO KIDDING!!!
IN THE FIRST 5 YEARS IN VANCOUVER THE SEDINS HAD BEEN LABLED “THE SISTERS”…
IN THOSE DAYS…IT WOULD HAVE EASY TO HAVE DEMANDED A TRADE…
OR SIMPLY BECOME UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS…AND SIGN WITH ANOTHER TEAM…
INSTEAD THEY CHOOSE TO STAY…
AFTER THE LOCKOUT…BOTH DANIEL AND HENRIK HAD BREAK OUT SEASONS…AND OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS AVERAGED ALMOST 80 POINTS A SEASON…
THEN LAST SEASON…THEY TOOK THEIR GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL…
HENRIK LED THE LEAGUE IN SCORING WITH 112 POINTS…
AND DESPITE THE FACT DANIEL MISSED 19 GAMES BECAUSE OF INJURIES…HE STILL MANAGED 85 POINTS…
IN FACT…ONLY ALEXANDER OVECHKIN AVERAGED MORE “POINTS PER GAME” THAN THE SEDINS…
SO NOW WHAT…CAN THEY DUPLICATE THAT PERFORMANCE???
THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THEY CAN…
ON THE 26TH OF THIS MONTH THE TWINS WILL TURN 30…STILL VERY MUCH IN THEIR PRIME…
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY…THEY SEEM TO BE “IMMUNE” TO OUTSIDE PRESSURE…
AND THAT…SHOULD GIVE HOPE TO CANUCK FANS…THAT MAYBE…JUST MAYBE…THIS SEASON…
THERE “IS” REASON TO BELIEVE!!!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
NHL predictions
IF IT’S TRUE THAT PREDICTIONS ARE FOR GYPIES…
THEN EVERYBODY IN THE SPORTS MEDIA BUSINESS IS BORN WITH A “CRYSTAL BALL”…OR IN SOME CASES…TWO…
THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2010-2011 SEASON…
AND VANCOUVER HOCKEY FANS ARE GOING TO LIKE WHAT THEY READ…
THE MAGAZINE HAS THE CANUCKS AS THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
THE REASONS LISTED INCLUDE HENRIK SEDIN WINNING BOTH THE ART ROSS AND THE HART TROPHIES LAST SEASON…
AND THE FACT HENRIK DID ALL THAT…DESPITE THE FACT DANIEL MISSED 19 GAMES BECAUSE OF INJURIES…
THERE’S RYAN KESLER…WHO WAS NOMINATED FOR THE SELKE…
THE ADDITIONS OF DAN HAMHUIS…KEITH BALLARD AND MANNY MALHOTRA…
THE HOCKEY NEWS IS ALSO NOT READY TO WRITE OFF ROBERTO LUONGO…IN THEIR WORDS…
“HE HAS GAINED A LOT OF DETRACTORS FOR HIS POST SEASON PLAY…BUT HE STILL PUTS UP GOOD NUMBERS IN THE REGULAR SEASON”…
IN THE EAST…NO SURPISE HERE…
THE HOCKEY NEWS LIKES THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS…
BUT THE MAGAZINE DID STICK ITS NECK OUT…EVEN IF ONLY A LITTLE BIT…
IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…IT HAS BOTH ST. LOUIS AND CALGARY MAKING THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON…WITH NASHVILLE AND COLORADO MISSING THE DANCE…
NO QUESTION THE BLUES ARE A MUCH IMPROVED TEAM NOW THAT THEY HAVE JAROSLAV IN GOAL…
BUT OLI JOKINEN HAS ALREADY SHOWN THE FANS IN CALGARY…HE IS NO SAVIOR…
IN THE EAST…THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS TAMPA BAY FINISHING 7TH…WITH BOTH THE RANGERS AND THE SENATORS ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN…
AS FOR THE LIGHTNING…NO QUESTION…GENERAL MANAGER STEVE YZERMAN HAS GREATLY IMPROVED THAT TEAM WITH THE ADDITIONS OF SIMON GAGNE AND PAVEL KUBINA…
BUT THE BIG SURPISE IN THE EAST…COULD VERY WELL BE ATLANTA…THE THRASHERS WERE THE BIG WINNERS IN THE FIRE SALE OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS…LANDING A TOTAL OF 3 PLAYERS…
IN THE END…THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE ALL DO AGREE ON…AND THAT IS…
THE LEAFS WILL MISS THE PLAYOFFS…AGAIN
THEN EVERYBODY IN THE SPORTS MEDIA BUSINESS IS BORN WITH A “CRYSTAL BALL”…OR IN SOME CASES…TWO…
THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS RELEASED ITS ANNUAL PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2010-2011 SEASON…
AND VANCOUVER HOCKEY FANS ARE GOING TO LIKE WHAT THEY READ…
THE MAGAZINE HAS THE CANUCKS AS THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…
THE REASONS LISTED INCLUDE HENRIK SEDIN WINNING BOTH THE ART ROSS AND THE HART TROPHIES LAST SEASON…
AND THE FACT HENRIK DID ALL THAT…DESPITE THE FACT DANIEL MISSED 19 GAMES BECAUSE OF INJURIES…
THERE’S RYAN KESLER…WHO WAS NOMINATED FOR THE SELKE…
THE ADDITIONS OF DAN HAMHUIS…KEITH BALLARD AND MANNY MALHOTRA…
THE HOCKEY NEWS IS ALSO NOT READY TO WRITE OFF ROBERTO LUONGO…IN THEIR WORDS…
“HE HAS GAINED A LOT OF DETRACTORS FOR HIS POST SEASON PLAY…BUT HE STILL PUTS UP GOOD NUMBERS IN THE REGULAR SEASON”…
IN THE EAST…NO SURPISE HERE…
THE HOCKEY NEWS LIKES THE WASHINGTON CAPITALS…
BUT THE MAGAZINE DID STICK ITS NECK OUT…EVEN IF ONLY A LITTLE BIT…
IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…IT HAS BOTH ST. LOUIS AND CALGARY MAKING THE PLAYOFFS THIS SEASON…WITH NASHVILLE AND COLORADO MISSING THE DANCE…
NO QUESTION THE BLUES ARE A MUCH IMPROVED TEAM NOW THAT THEY HAVE JAROSLAV IN GOAL…
BUT OLI JOKINEN HAS ALREADY SHOWN THE FANS IN CALGARY…HE IS NO SAVIOR…
IN THE EAST…THE HOCKEY NEWS HAS TAMPA BAY FINISHING 7TH…WITH BOTH THE RANGERS AND THE SENATORS ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN…
AS FOR THE LIGHTNING…NO QUESTION…GENERAL MANAGER STEVE YZERMAN HAS GREATLY IMPROVED THAT TEAM WITH THE ADDITIONS OF SIMON GAGNE AND PAVEL KUBINA…
BUT THE BIG SURPISE IN THE EAST…COULD VERY WELL BE ATLANTA…THE THRASHERS WERE THE BIG WINNERS IN THE FIRE SALE OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS…LANDING A TOTAL OF 3 PLAYERS…
IN THE END…THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE ALL DO AGREE ON…AND THAT IS…
THE LEAFS WILL MISS THE PLAYOFFS…AGAIN
Friday, August 27, 2010
BC Lions
ONE AND SIX…
NO MATTER HOW YOU DRESS IT UP…
NO MATTER HOW MUCH SUGAR YOU POUR ON IT…
THE B.C. LIONS ARE ONE AND SIX…
AND WHAT HURTS THE MOST…IS THE FACT THEY STILL HAVE NOT WON A SINGLE GAME AT EMPIRE FIELD…
IT’S NO SECRET THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAS BEEN A LACK OF PRODUCTION AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION…
THE TRIO OF CASEY PRINTERS…TRAVIS LULAY AND JARIUS JACKSON HAVE THROWN A GRAND TOTAL OF JUST 3 TOUCHDOWN PASSES…
COMPARE THAT TO ANTHONY CALVILLO OF THE AL’S…WHO HAS THROWN 17…OR HENRY BURRIS OF THE STAMPS WHO…HAS THROWN 16…
PRINTERS WILL GET THE START TONIGHT…HIS FIRST IN OVER A MONTH…
IN HIS FIRST 3 GAMES…PRINTERS HAS COMPLETED JUST 50 OF 88 PASSES…
THAT’S LESS THAN 57 PERCENT…THE LOWEST OF ANY STARTING QUARTERBACK IN THE CFL…
ADD IT UP…AND THE LIONS OFFENCE HAS PRODUCED A MERE 135 POINTS…
THE LOWEST TOTAL IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE…
IN FAIRNESS…THE BLAME DOES NOT BELONG ENTIRELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE QUARTERBACKS…
THE OFFENSIVE LINE HAS BEEN JUST THAT…OFFENSIVE…
AND THERE HAS BEEN AN ENDLESS STRING OF DROPPED PASSES…FUMBLES…AND NEEDLESS PENALITIES…
IT DOES NOT HELP THAT TONIGHT THE LIONS ARE PLAYING THE CALGARY STAMPEDERS…
THE TEAM WITH THE NUMBER ONE RANKED DEFENCE IN THE CFL…
YET…THERE “IS” STILL REASON TO BELIEVE…
3 WEEKS AGO…THE LIONS WERE IN POSITION TO BEAT THESE SAME STAMPEDERS…
THAT WAS UNTIL LATE IN THE THIRD QUARTER…WHEN LULAY THREW HIS 5TH INTERCEPTION IN 3 GAMES…
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS…27-22…THE FINAL…
NEVERTHELESS…OUTSIDE OF THE 2 BLOW OUTS BY SASKATCHEWAN…THE LIONS 4 OTHER LOSES HAVE BEEN BY A TOTAL OF JUST 16 POINTS…
IN OTHER WORDS…4 PLAYS…4 MISTAKES…4 LOSSES…
ELIMINATE THOSE 4 PLAYS…AND THE LIONS COULD VERY WELL BE 5-2…
WHICH MEANS…IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO WRITE OFF THIS TEAM…AT LEAST NOT YET…
BUT STARTING TONIGHT…IT’S TIME FOR THESE PLAYERS TO “PROVE” THEY BELONG ON THIS LEAGUE…
AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS…THE B.C. LIONS ARE STILL…
ONE AND SIX
NO MATTER HOW YOU DRESS IT UP…
NO MATTER HOW MUCH SUGAR YOU POUR ON IT…
THE B.C. LIONS ARE ONE AND SIX…
AND WHAT HURTS THE MOST…IS THE FACT THEY STILL HAVE NOT WON A SINGLE GAME AT EMPIRE FIELD…
IT’S NO SECRET THE BIGGEST PROBLEM HAS BEEN A LACK OF PRODUCTION AT THE QUARTERBACK POSITION…
THE TRIO OF CASEY PRINTERS…TRAVIS LULAY AND JARIUS JACKSON HAVE THROWN A GRAND TOTAL OF JUST 3 TOUCHDOWN PASSES…
COMPARE THAT TO ANTHONY CALVILLO OF THE AL’S…WHO HAS THROWN 17…OR HENRY BURRIS OF THE STAMPS WHO…HAS THROWN 16…
PRINTERS WILL GET THE START TONIGHT…HIS FIRST IN OVER A MONTH…
IN HIS FIRST 3 GAMES…PRINTERS HAS COMPLETED JUST 50 OF 88 PASSES…
THAT’S LESS THAN 57 PERCENT…THE LOWEST OF ANY STARTING QUARTERBACK IN THE CFL…
ADD IT UP…AND THE LIONS OFFENCE HAS PRODUCED A MERE 135 POINTS…
THE LOWEST TOTAL IN THE ENTIRE LEAGUE…
IN FAIRNESS…THE BLAME DOES NOT BELONG ENTIRELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE QUARTERBACKS…
THE OFFENSIVE LINE HAS BEEN JUST THAT…OFFENSIVE…
AND THERE HAS BEEN AN ENDLESS STRING OF DROPPED PASSES…FUMBLES…AND NEEDLESS PENALITIES…
IT DOES NOT HELP THAT TONIGHT THE LIONS ARE PLAYING THE CALGARY STAMPEDERS…
THE TEAM WITH THE NUMBER ONE RANKED DEFENCE IN THE CFL…
YET…THERE “IS” STILL REASON TO BELIEVE…
3 WEEKS AGO…THE LIONS WERE IN POSITION TO BEAT THESE SAME STAMPEDERS…
THAT WAS UNTIL LATE IN THE THIRD QUARTER…WHEN LULAY THREW HIS 5TH INTERCEPTION IN 3 GAMES…
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS…27-22…THE FINAL…
NEVERTHELESS…OUTSIDE OF THE 2 BLOW OUTS BY SASKATCHEWAN…THE LIONS 4 OTHER LOSES HAVE BEEN BY A TOTAL OF JUST 16 POINTS…
IN OTHER WORDS…4 PLAYS…4 MISTAKES…4 LOSSES…
ELIMINATE THOSE 4 PLAYS…AND THE LIONS COULD VERY WELL BE 5-2…
WHICH MEANS…IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO WRITE OFF THIS TEAM…AT LEAST NOT YET…
BUT STARTING TONIGHT…IT’S TIME FOR THESE PLAYERS TO “PROVE” THEY BELONG ON THIS LEAGUE…
AND UNTIL THAT HAPPENS…THE B.C. LIONS ARE STILL…
ONE AND SIX
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)