PEOPLE…SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG HERE…
YESTERDAY THE CITY OF VANCOUVER OPENED THE DUNSMUIR STREET BIKE LANE…
IT IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO A PROJECT TO CREATE 55 KILO-METERS OF BIKE LANES IN THIS CITY AT A COST OF $25 MILLION DOLLARS…
ALL THIS TO ACCOMMODATE A HANDFULL OF “FAIR WEATHER” CYCLISTS…
WHO NOW BELIEVE THEY NOW OWN THE ROADS OF THIS CITY…
THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CREATE A “DAILY TRAFFIC JAM” OF 20 THOUSAND CARS…
ALL SPEWING MILLIONS OF TONS OF CARBON MONOXIDE…
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME…YELLING INTO THE FACES OF THOSE DRIVERS…”GO GREEN”…
ON THE LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH…THESE SAME BOZOS SHUT DOWN THE CITY…BY STAGING A PROTEST CALLED “CRITAL MASS”…
IT’S ILLEGAL AND INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE…BUT NOBODY EVER GETS ARRESTED…
WHY???
BECAUSE THE LEADER OF THESE “PIN HEADS” IS THE MAYOR OF VANCOUVER GREGOR ROBERTSON…
A MAN WHO CLEARLY DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF VANCOUVER TAXPAYERS WHO PAY HIS SALARY…
ACCORDING TO THE CITY’S OWN CENSUS DATA…96 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN VANCOUVER…
DRIVE CARS TO WORK…
THAT’S 96 PERCENT…
THOSE NUMBERS DO NOT INCLUDE THE 100 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE LOWER MAINLAND…
WHO ALSO WORK IN VANCOUVER AND NEED THIER CARS TO MAKE A LIVING…
AND IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT IT IS HAVING ON THE HOTELS…RESTAURANTS…AND SHOPS…
ALL OF WHICH PAY TAXES AND EMPLOYEE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE…
THE BIKE LANE ON THE BURRARD STREET BRIDGE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE DAMAGE THAT IS BEING DONE TO THIS CITY…
EVERY DAY…TRAFFIC IS BACKED UP IN ALL DIRECTIONS…WHILE THE BIKE LINE REMAINS UN-USED…
ALL THANKS TO A COMPLETELY “CORUPTED” POLITICAL SYSTEM…LED BY A MAYOR WHO HAS CLEARLY SOLD HIS SOUL…TO “SPECIAL INTEREST” GROUPS…
THIS IS THE SAME CLOWN WHO BELIEVES GIVING AWAY “MILLION DOLLAR CONDOS” TO THE HOMELESS IS A GOOD IDEA…
IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS THE CITY OF VANCOUVER WILL BUILD OVER 500 UNITS ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE REAL ESTATE IN NORTH AMERICA AT A COST OF $225 MILLION DOLLARS…
WHILE AT THE SAME TIME…NOT ADDRESSING ANY OF THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM…
STARTING WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION…
THE ANSWER IS TO GET POLITICALLY ACTIVE…
MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD…AND YOUR VOTE IN COUNTED…
THE NEXT VANCOUVER ELECTION IS ONLY A YEAR AWAY…
IT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO “RIGHT” THIS TERRIBLE “WRONG”…
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
UFC
YOU DO NOT NEED TO LOVE SOMETHING TO RESPECT IT…
ON SATURDAY AT GM PLACE….THE UFC WILL FINALLY ARRIVE HERE IN VANCOUVER…
THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT…WITH TICKETS GOING FOR AS MUCH AS $3 THOUSAND DOLLARS A POP…
EVEN ITS CRITICS CAN NOT DEBATE THE SUCCESS OF THIS COMPANY…
IT OWNS ALL THE RECORDS FOR PAY PER VIEW…
GENERATING AS MUCH AS A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR…
ITS PROGRAMING IS SEEN IN 130 COUNTRIES WORLD WIDE…
ITS ATHLETES ARE NOW SEEN ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED…
IT EVEN HAS ITS OWN OFFICIAL BEER…BUD LITE…
PRESIDENT DANA WHITE INSISTS THE UFC IS NOW BIGGER THAN HOCKEY…
AND PREDICTS WILL ONE DAY BE BIGGER THAN SOCCER…
IT’S NOT IMPORTANT…WHETHER OR NOT THAT’S TRUE…
IT’S ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THE UFC…THAT HE CAN SELL IT…
AND IN THERE LIES THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY BUSINESS…
SALES AND MARKETING…
THE UFC HAS FILLED THE VOID…THAT WAS LEFT BY COLLAPSE OF BOXING…
A BLOOD SPORT THAT COMBINES THE “SENSELESS VIOLENCE” OF VIDEO GAMES…WITH THE SCRIPTED AND PRODUCED DRAMA OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING…
THINK OF IT AS…GRAND THEFT AUTO…MEETS…THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY…
THEN THE UFC PACKAGES ITS PRODUCT LIKE A ROCK CONCERT…WITH A GENEROUS MIXTURE OF LIGHTS AND SOUND…
THINK OF THAT AS…THE LOVE CHILD OF…DON KING…VINCE MCMAHON…AND BRUCE ALLEN…
AS WITH EVERY BUSINESS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY…THE UFC TAPS INTO EVERY POSSIBLE STREAM OF REVENUE…
TICKETS FOR LIVE EVENTS…PAY-PER-VIEW…CABLE T.V…DVD’S…VIDEO GAMES…CORPORATE SPONSORS…ACTION FIGURES AND T-SHIRTS…
IF THE UFC CAN STICK A LOGO ON IT…IT’S FOR SALE…
IN THE END…IT DOES NOT MATTER…WHETHER YOU “LOVE” OR “HATE” THIS FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT…
IT ONLY MATTERS IF YOU’RE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT…
BECAUSE WHEN THE SHOW IS OVER SATURDAY NIGHT…THE ONLY TRUE WINNER IS GOING TO BE…THE UFC…
AND HOW DO YOU NOT…RESPECT THAT???
ON SATURDAY AT GM PLACE….THE UFC WILL FINALLY ARRIVE HERE IN VANCOUVER…
THE EVENT IS SOLD OUT…WITH TICKETS GOING FOR AS MUCH AS $3 THOUSAND DOLLARS A POP…
EVEN ITS CRITICS CAN NOT DEBATE THE SUCCESS OF THIS COMPANY…
IT OWNS ALL THE RECORDS FOR PAY PER VIEW…
GENERATING AS MUCH AS A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR…
ITS PROGRAMING IS SEEN IN 130 COUNTRIES WORLD WIDE…
ITS ATHLETES ARE NOW SEEN ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED…
IT EVEN HAS ITS OWN OFFICIAL BEER…BUD LITE…
PRESIDENT DANA WHITE INSISTS THE UFC IS NOW BIGGER THAN HOCKEY…
AND PREDICTS WILL ONE DAY BE BIGGER THAN SOCCER…
IT’S NOT IMPORTANT…WHETHER OR NOT THAT’S TRUE…
IT’S ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THE UFC…THAT HE CAN SELL IT…
AND IN THERE LIES THE KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY BUSINESS…
SALES AND MARKETING…
THE UFC HAS FILLED THE VOID…THAT WAS LEFT BY COLLAPSE OF BOXING…
A BLOOD SPORT THAT COMBINES THE “SENSELESS VIOLENCE” OF VIDEO GAMES…WITH THE SCRIPTED AND PRODUCED DRAMA OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING…
THINK OF IT AS…GRAND THEFT AUTO…MEETS…THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY…
THEN THE UFC PACKAGES ITS PRODUCT LIKE A ROCK CONCERT…WITH A GENEROUS MIXTURE OF LIGHTS AND SOUND…
THINK OF THAT AS…THE LOVE CHILD OF…DON KING…VINCE MCMAHON…AND BRUCE ALLEN…
AS WITH EVERY BUSINESS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY…THE UFC TAPS INTO EVERY POSSIBLE STREAM OF REVENUE…
TICKETS FOR LIVE EVENTS…PAY-PER-VIEW…CABLE T.V…DVD’S…VIDEO GAMES…CORPORATE SPONSORS…ACTION FIGURES AND T-SHIRTS…
IF THE UFC CAN STICK A LOGO ON IT…IT’S FOR SALE…
IN THE END…IT DOES NOT MATTER…WHETHER YOU “LOVE” OR “HATE” THIS FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT…
IT ONLY MATTERS IF YOU’RE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT…
BECAUSE WHEN THE SHOW IS OVER SATURDAY NIGHT…THE ONLY TRUE WINNER IS GOING TO BE…THE UFC…
AND HOW DO YOU NOT…RESPECT THAT???
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Chicago Blackhawks
AT 4 O’CLOCK THIS MORNING THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS ARRIVED HOME WITH THE STANLEY CUP…
THEIR FIRST IN 49 YEARS…
AFTER LANDING…THE PILOT OF THE PLANE OPENED THE WINDON AT THE FRONT OF THE PLANE AND WAVED A BLACKHAWKS FLAG…
THE NEXT STOP WAS RUSH STREET…
ON FRIDAY THE REST CITY WILL GET ITS CHANCE TO CELEBRATE WITH THE CUP…
CHICAGO HAS PLANNED A TICKER TAPE PARADE…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…REPEAT…
SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SALARY CAP…NO DEFENDING CHAMPION HAS MANAGED TO DO THAT…
AND TO SAY THE LEAST…THIS SUMMER THE HAWKS ARE FACING SOME SERIOUS CHALLENGES…
TO START WITH:
FOR NEXT SEASON THE HAWKS ALREADY HAVE $57.5 MILLION COMMITTED TO JUST 14 PLAYERS…
THAT INCLUDES THE NEW CONTRACTS TO…
PATRICK KANE…AT $6.5 MILLION…
JONATHAN TOEWS…AT $6.5 MILLION…AND DUNCAN KEITH…AT $8 MILLION…
THAT’S 21 MILLION FOR 3 PLAYERS WHO COMBINED…MADE LESS THAN $4 MILLION THIS SEASON…
THEY ALSO HAVE 10…COUNT ‘EM 10 FREE AGENTS…
ON THE LIST…JOHN MADDEN…ANDREW LADD…BEN EAGER…ADAM BURRISH AND GOALTENDER ANTI NIEMI…
THE HAWKS ARE ALSO STUCK WITH TWO UNWORKABLE CONTRACTS…
GOALTENDER CRISTOBAL HUET HAS 2 YEARS LEFT AT $5.6 MILLION…PER…
AND DEFENCEMAN BRIAN CAMPBELL HAS 6 YEARS LEFT AT $7.1 MILLION…PER…
THE HAWKS MAY HAVE TO EAT…ONE OR PERHAPS EVEN…BOTH OF THOSE CONTRACTS…
THERE IS ALSO THE REAL POSSIBLITY THE TEAM WILL HAVE TO TRADE EITHER PATRICK SHARP OR DAVE BOLLAND…
JUST TO CREATE SOME CAP SPACE…
NEXT SEASON SHARP WILL MAKE $4.1 MILLION…BOLLAND WILL MAKE $3.4 MILLION…
SINCE THE LOCK OUT EVERY TEAM THAT HAS WON THE CUP HAS FACED THIS PROBLEM…
BUT NONE QUITE LIKE THE BLACKHAWKS…
THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THIS…
IN THE NEW NHL THERE ARE NO DYNASTIES…
WHICH MEANS HOCKEY FANS IN CHICAGO BETTER ENJOY THIS PARTY…BECAUSE IT MAYBE A WHILE…BEFORE THEY GET TO THROW ANOTHER…
THEIR FIRST IN 49 YEARS…
AFTER LANDING…THE PILOT OF THE PLANE OPENED THE WINDON AT THE FRONT OF THE PLANE AND WAVED A BLACKHAWKS FLAG…
THE NEXT STOP WAS RUSH STREET…
ON FRIDAY THE REST CITY WILL GET ITS CHANCE TO CELEBRATE WITH THE CUP…
CHICAGO HAS PLANNED A TICKER TAPE PARADE…
NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART…REPEAT…
SINCE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SALARY CAP…NO DEFENDING CHAMPION HAS MANAGED TO DO THAT…
AND TO SAY THE LEAST…THIS SUMMER THE HAWKS ARE FACING SOME SERIOUS CHALLENGES…
TO START WITH:
FOR NEXT SEASON THE HAWKS ALREADY HAVE $57.5 MILLION COMMITTED TO JUST 14 PLAYERS…
THAT INCLUDES THE NEW CONTRACTS TO…
PATRICK KANE…AT $6.5 MILLION…
JONATHAN TOEWS…AT $6.5 MILLION…AND DUNCAN KEITH…AT $8 MILLION…
THAT’S 21 MILLION FOR 3 PLAYERS WHO COMBINED…MADE LESS THAN $4 MILLION THIS SEASON…
THEY ALSO HAVE 10…COUNT ‘EM 10 FREE AGENTS…
ON THE LIST…JOHN MADDEN…ANDREW LADD…BEN EAGER…ADAM BURRISH AND GOALTENDER ANTI NIEMI…
THE HAWKS ARE ALSO STUCK WITH TWO UNWORKABLE CONTRACTS…
GOALTENDER CRISTOBAL HUET HAS 2 YEARS LEFT AT $5.6 MILLION…PER…
AND DEFENCEMAN BRIAN CAMPBELL HAS 6 YEARS LEFT AT $7.1 MILLION…PER…
THE HAWKS MAY HAVE TO EAT…ONE OR PERHAPS EVEN…BOTH OF THOSE CONTRACTS…
THERE IS ALSO THE REAL POSSIBLITY THE TEAM WILL HAVE TO TRADE EITHER PATRICK SHARP OR DAVE BOLLAND…
JUST TO CREATE SOME CAP SPACE…
NEXT SEASON SHARP WILL MAKE $4.1 MILLION…BOLLAND WILL MAKE $3.4 MILLION…
SINCE THE LOCK OUT EVERY TEAM THAT HAS WON THE CUP HAS FACED THIS PROBLEM…
BUT NONE QUITE LIKE THE BLACKHAWKS…
THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THIS…
IN THE NEW NHL THERE ARE NO DYNASTIES…
WHICH MEANS HOCKEY FANS IN CHICAGO BETTER ENJOY THIS PARTY…BECAUSE IT MAYBE A WHILE…BEFORE THEY GET TO THROW ANOTHER…
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Canadian Soccer
THERE IS ONLY ONE THING IN SPORTS THAT IS WORSE THAN LOSING…
AND THAT IS NOT GIVING A DAMN…
TODAY MARC WEBER OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE WROTE A BRILLIANT STORY THAT DETAILED THE DISASTER…THAT HAS BECOME OUR MEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM…
ON FRIDAY THE WORLD CUP BEGINS IN SOUTH AFRICA…AND FOR THE 6TH STRAIGHT TIME…
CANADA WILL NOT BE INVOLVED…
IT IS NO SECRET THE BLAME BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE CANADAIN SOCCER ASSOCIATION…
A GROUP THAT DEFINES THAT UNIQUE MIXTURE OF “IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE”…
THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING…
IN THE LAST 3 QUALIFYING ATTEMPTS FOR THE WORLD CUP…
CANADA HAS GONE A MISERABLE 2-10-6…
ALTHOUGH THE GREATEST EMBARASSMENT BELONGS TO OUR “UNDER 20 TEAM” THAT HOSTED THE WORLD IN 2007…
A TEAM THAT WENT 0-3 AND FAILED TO SCORE A SINGLE GOAL…
THIS FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAS NEARLY 3 MILLION PEOPLE PLAYING THE GAME…
CANADA HAS 17 TIMES THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS COSTA RICA AND 14 TIMES AS MANY HONDURAS…
COUNTRIES THAT ROUTINELY KICK OUR BUTTS IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING…
CURRENTLY THIS COUNTRY IS RANKED 63RD IN THE WORLD…RIGHT BEHIND MACEDONIA AND IRAN…
DESPITE IT ALL…NOBODY AT THE CANADIAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION EVER LOSES THEIR JOB…
IN THE WORDS OF FORMER NATIONAL GOALKEEPER CRAIG FORREST:
“HALF OF THEM DON’T EVEN KNOW THE GAME…AND THEY’RE NOT ACCOUNTABLE”…
AND THERE IS THE KEY…
A COMPLETE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY…
AND UNTIL THAT CHANGES…NOTHING WILL CHANGE…
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ATHLETES ARE CAPABLE OF…
SIMPLY LOOK TO THE VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS…
THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED “OWN THE PODIUM”…
WE INVESTED IN OUR ATHLETES…WHICH GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD…
THE RESULT WAS 14 GOLD MEDALS…
THE MOST EVER WON BY ANY COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WINTER GAMES…
THE 2014 WORLD CUP WILL BE HELD IN BRAZIL…
AND WHO KNOWS…IF WE LEARN TO GIVE A DAMN…WE MIGHT JUST GET AN INVITATION TO THE PARTY…
AND THAT IS NOT GIVING A DAMN…
TODAY MARC WEBER OF THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE WROTE A BRILLIANT STORY THAT DETAILED THE DISASTER…THAT HAS BECOME OUR MEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM…
ON FRIDAY THE WORLD CUP BEGINS IN SOUTH AFRICA…AND FOR THE 6TH STRAIGHT TIME…
CANADA WILL NOT BE INVOLVED…
IT IS NO SECRET THE BLAME BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE CANADAIN SOCCER ASSOCIATION…
A GROUP THAT DEFINES THAT UNIQUE MIXTURE OF “IGNORANCE AND ARROGANCE”…
THE NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING…
IN THE LAST 3 QUALIFYING ATTEMPTS FOR THE WORLD CUP…
CANADA HAS GONE A MISERABLE 2-10-6…
ALTHOUGH THE GREATEST EMBARASSMENT BELONGS TO OUR “UNDER 20 TEAM” THAT HOSTED THE WORLD IN 2007…
A TEAM THAT WENT 0-3 AND FAILED TO SCORE A SINGLE GOAL…
THIS FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAS NEARLY 3 MILLION PEOPLE PLAYING THE GAME…
CANADA HAS 17 TIMES THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED PLAYERS AS COSTA RICA AND 14 TIMES AS MANY HONDURAS…
COUNTRIES THAT ROUTINELY KICK OUR BUTTS IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING…
CURRENTLY THIS COUNTRY IS RANKED 63RD IN THE WORLD…RIGHT BEHIND MACEDONIA AND IRAN…
DESPITE IT ALL…NOBODY AT THE CANADIAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION EVER LOSES THEIR JOB…
IN THE WORDS OF FORMER NATIONAL GOALKEEPER CRAIG FORREST:
“HALF OF THEM DON’T EVEN KNOW THE GAME…AND THEY’RE NOT ACCOUNTABLE”…
AND THERE IS THE KEY…
A COMPLETE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY…
AND UNTIL THAT CHANGES…NOTHING WILL CHANGE…
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR ATHLETES ARE CAPABLE OF…
SIMPLY LOOK TO THE VANCOUVER WINTER OLYMPICS…
THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED “OWN THE PODIUM”…
WE INVESTED IN OUR ATHLETES…WHICH GAVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD…
THE RESULT WAS 14 GOLD MEDALS…
THE MOST EVER WON BY ANY COUNTRY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WINTER GAMES…
THE 2014 WORLD CUP WILL BE HELD IN BRAZIL…
AND WHO KNOWS…IF WE LEARN TO GIVE A DAMN…WE MIGHT JUST GET AN INVITATION TO THE PARTY…
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Steve Yzerman
THERE WAS MORE PROOF TODAY…THAT IF YOU LIVE LONG ENOUGH…YOU WILL SEE EVERYTHING…
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA THE NHL GENERAL MANAGERS MET…
IT WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL ACT FOR STEVE YZERMAN AS THE NEW GM IN TAMPA BAY…
LAST MONTH YZERMAN SIGNED A 5 YEARS DEAL WITH THE LIGHTNING…
FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS YZERMAN HAS BEEN A DETROIT RED WING…
23 AS A PLAYER…4 AS AN EXECUTIVE…
DETROIT GENERAL MANAGER KEN HOLLAND DESCRIBED THE EXPERIENCE OF SEEING YZERMAN WORKING FOR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION AS…”SURREAL”…
BUT HOLLAND HAS NO DOUBT YZERMAN CAN DO THE JOB…
IN HIS WORDS…”HE’S PAID HIS DUES…HE’S DONE EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PREPARE TO BE A GENERAL MANAGER”…
KEEP IN MIND…3 MONTHS AGO…IT WAS YZERMAN WHO LED CANADA TO AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL HERE IN VANCOUVER…
ALTHOUGH YZERMAN UNDERSTANDS THAT PICKING AN OLYMPIC TEAM…AND RUNNING AN NHL FRANCHISE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS…
IN THAT RESPECT…YZERMAN NOW SAYS THE ONE THING HE LEARNED FROM HIS TIME WITH THE WINGS WAS…”PATIENCE”…
HE’LL NEED IT BECAUSE…TO SAY THE LEAST…THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE…
THE LIGHTNING HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 3 YEARS…AND THIS SEASON WERE 21ST IN ATTENDANCE…
FOR NEXT SEASON…THEY ALREADY HAVE $39 MILLION DOLLARS COMMITTED TO JUST 12 PLAYERS…
INCLUDING THE $10 MILLION THEY’LL PAY TO VINCENT LECAVALIER…
THAT’S A LOT FOR A PLAYER WHO PRODUCED JUST 70 POINTS LAST SEASON…AND STILL HAS ANOTHER 10 YEARS ON HIS CONTRACT…
ALSO NEXT SEASON…MATTIAS OHLUND WILL MAKE $4 MILLION…AND HAS ANOTHER 6 YEARS LEFT ON HIS DEAL…
BUT THE LIGHTNING DO HAVE TWO GREAT YOUNG STARS IN STEVE STAMKOS AND VICTOR HEDMAN…
AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE NUMBER 6 PICK IN THIS YEARS ENTRY DRAFT…
WHICH GETS US BACK…TO THE NEED FOR “PATIENCE”…
BUT AS WITH EVERY JOURNEY…NO MATTER HOW LONG…IT ALL BEGINS WITH A FIRST STEP…
AND TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA…STEVE YZERMAN TOOK HIS…
TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA THE NHL GENERAL MANAGERS MET…
IT WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL ACT FOR STEVE YZERMAN AS THE NEW GM IN TAMPA BAY…
LAST MONTH YZERMAN SIGNED A 5 YEARS DEAL WITH THE LIGHTNING…
FOR THE LAST 27 YEARS YZERMAN HAS BEEN A DETROIT RED WING…
23 AS A PLAYER…4 AS AN EXECUTIVE…
DETROIT GENERAL MANAGER KEN HOLLAND DESCRIBED THE EXPERIENCE OF SEEING YZERMAN WORKING FOR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION AS…”SURREAL”…
BUT HOLLAND HAS NO DOUBT YZERMAN CAN DO THE JOB…
IN HIS WORDS…”HE’S PAID HIS DUES…HE’S DONE EVERYTHING HE COULD TO PREPARE TO BE A GENERAL MANAGER”…
KEEP IN MIND…3 MONTHS AGO…IT WAS YZERMAN WHO LED CANADA TO AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL HERE IN VANCOUVER…
ALTHOUGH YZERMAN UNDERSTANDS THAT PICKING AN OLYMPIC TEAM…AND RUNNING AN NHL FRANCHISE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS…
IN THAT RESPECT…YZERMAN NOW SAYS THE ONE THING HE LEARNED FROM HIS TIME WITH THE WINGS WAS…”PATIENCE”…
HE’LL NEED IT BECAUSE…TO SAY THE LEAST…THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE…
THE LIGHTNING HAVE NOT MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 3 YEARS…AND THIS SEASON WERE 21ST IN ATTENDANCE…
FOR NEXT SEASON…THEY ALREADY HAVE $39 MILLION DOLLARS COMMITTED TO JUST 12 PLAYERS…
INCLUDING THE $10 MILLION THEY’LL PAY TO VINCENT LECAVALIER…
THAT’S A LOT FOR A PLAYER WHO PRODUCED JUST 70 POINTS LAST SEASON…AND STILL HAS ANOTHER 10 YEARS ON HIS CONTRACT…
ALSO NEXT SEASON…MATTIAS OHLUND WILL MAKE $4 MILLION…AND HAS ANOTHER 6 YEARS LEFT ON HIS DEAL…
BUT THE LIGHTNING DO HAVE TWO GREAT YOUNG STARS IN STEVE STAMKOS AND VICTOR HEDMAN…
AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE NUMBER 6 PICK IN THIS YEARS ENTRY DRAFT…
WHICH GETS US BACK…TO THE NEED FOR “PATIENCE”…
BUT AS WITH EVERY JOURNEY…NO MATTER HOW LONG…IT ALL BEGINS WITH A FIRST STEP…
AND TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA…STEVE YZERMAN TOOK HIS…
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Father and Son
FOR A FATHER AND A SON…IT SIMPLY DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS…
SCOTTY BOWMAN AND STAN BOWMAN ARE NOW JUST 2 WINS AWAY FROM SHARING A STANLEY CUP…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…
THESE DAYS SCOTTY IS NOW A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AND STAN IS THE TEAMS GENERAL MANAGER…
2 YEARS AGO SCOTTY LEFT DETROIT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIS SON…
AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO GUARENTEES OF THIS KIND OF SUCCESS….
KEEP IN MIND…THE PREVIOUS SEASON…THE HAWKS HAD FINISHED 10TH IN THE WEST…
AND HAD MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…9 OF THE LAST 10 SEASONS…
BUT THE OWNER OF THE HAWKS ROCKY WIRTZ KNEW HE HAD A GOOD YOUNG TEAM AND HE WANTED A MENTOR IN THE ORGANIZATION…
AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE GOT WHEN HE SIGNED SCOTTY BOWMAN…
A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT IS GOALTENDER ANTTI NIEMI…
AT TRAINING CAMP THE HAWKS WERE DEBATING ON WHETHER TO KEEP…NIEMI OR COREY CRAWFORD…
BETWEEN SCOTTY AND STAN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO WITH NIEMI…
AND IN THE PLAYOFFS NIEMI HAS CARRIED THE HAWKS…
GOING 14-2…WITH A-GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE OF 2.41…
BOWMAN IS ALREADY THE ONLY HEAD COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL…NFL…NBA AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH 3 DIFFERENT TEAMS…
NOW IF CHICAGO GOES ONTO WIN THE CUP…IT WILL BE HIS 12TH CUP WITH 4 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 3 CUP FINALS BOWMAN MADE IT TO…WHILE HE WAS IN ST. LOUIS…
STRANGELY ENOUGH…THIS LATEST RUN ALMOST NEVER HAPPENED…
IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WERE TALKING TO BOWMAN…
BUT IN THE END…NEVER PUT A SERIOUS OFFER ON THE TABLE…
THE END RESULT COULD BE ONE THE BEST “FATHER SON STORIES” IN HOCKEY…
RIGHT UP THERE WITH:
BRETT AND BOBBY HULL…AND GORDIE AND MARK HOWE…
ALL THAT’S MISSING NOW…IS THE STANLEY CUP…
SCOTTY BOWMAN AND STAN BOWMAN ARE NOW JUST 2 WINS AWAY FROM SHARING A STANLEY CUP…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…
THESE DAYS SCOTTY IS NOW A SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS AND STAN IS THE TEAMS GENERAL MANAGER…
2 YEARS AGO SCOTTY LEFT DETROIT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIS SON…
AT THE TIME THERE WERE NO GUARENTEES OF THIS KIND OF SUCCESS….
KEEP IN MIND…THE PREVIOUS SEASON…THE HAWKS HAD FINISHED 10TH IN THE WEST…
AND HAD MISSED THE PLAYOFFS…9 OF THE LAST 10 SEASONS…
BUT THE OWNER OF THE HAWKS ROCKY WIRTZ KNEW HE HAD A GOOD YOUNG TEAM AND HE WANTED A MENTOR IN THE ORGANIZATION…
AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE GOT WHEN HE SIGNED SCOTTY BOWMAN…
A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THAT IS GOALTENDER ANTTI NIEMI…
AT TRAINING CAMP THE HAWKS WERE DEBATING ON WHETHER TO KEEP…NIEMI OR COREY CRAWFORD…
BETWEEN SCOTTY AND STAN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO WITH NIEMI…
AND IN THE PLAYOFFS NIEMI HAS CARRIED THE HAWKS…
GOING 14-2…WITH A-GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE OF 2.41…
BOWMAN IS ALREADY THE ONLY HEAD COACH IN THE HISTORY OF THE NHL…NFL…NBA AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH 3 DIFFERENT TEAMS…
NOW IF CHICAGO GOES ONTO WIN THE CUP…IT WILL BE HIS 12TH CUP WITH 4 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS…
AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 3 CUP FINALS BOWMAN MADE IT TO…WHILE HE WAS IN ST. LOUIS…
STRANGELY ENOUGH…THIS LATEST RUN ALMOST NEVER HAPPENED…
IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WERE TALKING TO BOWMAN…
BUT IN THE END…NEVER PUT A SERIOUS OFFER ON THE TABLE…
THE END RESULT COULD BE ONE THE BEST “FATHER SON STORIES” IN HOCKEY…
RIGHT UP THERE WITH:
BRETT AND BOBBY HULL…AND GORDIE AND MARK HOWE…
ALL THAT’S MISSING NOW…IS THE STANLEY CUP…
Monday, May 31, 2010
Stanley Cup Ratings
THE STANLEY CUP FINALS ARE A HIT…
ON SATURDAY NIGHT…GAME 1 ON NBC…DREW A 6 SHARE…
THE BEST NUMBERS IN THE U.S…FOR AN OPENING GAME OF THE FINALS…SINCE 1999…
AND ARE 12 PERCENT HIGHER THAN GAME 1 LAST YEAR BETWEEN DETROIT AND PITTSBURGH…
CHICAGO LED THE WAY WITH A 35 SHARE…WHILE PHILADELPHIA PULLED A VERY RESPECTABLE 25 SHARE…
GAME ONE ALSO HAD STAR POWER…
IN THE CROWD…VINCE VAUGHN…TONY LA RUSSA…AND REX RYAN…
TONIGHT FOR GAME 2…JOHN CUSACK AND JEREMY PIVEN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE TAMPA BAY RAYS HAVE CAUGHT THE FEVER…
ON SUNDAY THE RAYS FLEW INTO TORONTO TO TAKE ON THE BLUE JAYS…
THEY ARRIVED WEARING BLACK HAWK JERSEYS…WHICH WERE SUPPLIED BY CHICAGO…
IT WAS THE IDEA OF TAMPA BAY MANAGER JOE MADDON…WHO GREW UP AS A ST. LOUIS BLUES FAN…BUT IS NOW CLEARLY PULLING FOR THE HAWKS…
IN THE WORDS OF MADDON…”IT’S COOL”…
BUT WHAT IS REALLY “COOL” WAS THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF GAME ONE ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
TOMAS KOPECKY SCORED MIDWAY THROUGH THE 3RD PERIOD TO GIVE THE HAWKS A 6-5 VICTORY…
11 GOALS…COUNT ‘EM…11 GOALS…
DEFENCE MAY WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS…BUT OFFENCE STILL DRIVES RATINGS…
IT’S NOT LIKE THE NHL HAS NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…
THERE WAS GRETZKY IN L.A. AND MESSIER IN NEW YORK…
BUT IN THE LIGHT OF THE ECONOMIC MESS THE NHL IS DEALING WITH IN CITIES LIKE…
PHOENIX…NASHVILLE…ATLANTA…FLORIDA…AND DALLAS…TO NAME A FEW…
A GREAT STANLEY CUP FINAL…IN TWO GREAT HOCKEY MARKETS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE LEAGUE AND COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR…
ON FRIDAY BETTMAN ONCE AGAIN INSISTED...”THE MARKET IS NOT FLOODED” WITH TEAMS FOR SALE…
KEEP IN MIND THOUGH…THIS IS THE SAME GARY BETTMAN WHO TOLD US A YEAR AGO…THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS IN PHOENIX…
BUT FOR NOW…THE ATTENTION IS ON THE ICE…
AND ONE LOOK AT THE T.V. RATINGS…IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IS WHERE IT IS GOING TO STAY…
AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT WEEK…OR SO…
ON SATURDAY NIGHT…GAME 1 ON NBC…DREW A 6 SHARE…
THE BEST NUMBERS IN THE U.S…FOR AN OPENING GAME OF THE FINALS…SINCE 1999…
AND ARE 12 PERCENT HIGHER THAN GAME 1 LAST YEAR BETWEEN DETROIT AND PITTSBURGH…
CHICAGO LED THE WAY WITH A 35 SHARE…WHILE PHILADELPHIA PULLED A VERY RESPECTABLE 25 SHARE…
GAME ONE ALSO HAD STAR POWER…
IN THE CROWD…VINCE VAUGHN…TONY LA RUSSA…AND REX RYAN…
TONIGHT FOR GAME 2…JOHN CUSACK AND JEREMY PIVEN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE TAMPA BAY RAYS HAVE CAUGHT THE FEVER…
ON SUNDAY THE RAYS FLEW INTO TORONTO TO TAKE ON THE BLUE JAYS…
THEY ARRIVED WEARING BLACK HAWK JERSEYS…WHICH WERE SUPPLIED BY CHICAGO…
IT WAS THE IDEA OF TAMPA BAY MANAGER JOE MADDON…WHO GREW UP AS A ST. LOUIS BLUES FAN…BUT IS NOW CLEARLY PULLING FOR THE HAWKS…
IN THE WORDS OF MADDON…”IT’S COOL”…
BUT WHAT IS REALLY “COOL” WAS THE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF GAME ONE ON SATURDAY NIGHT…
TOMAS KOPECKY SCORED MIDWAY THROUGH THE 3RD PERIOD TO GIVE THE HAWKS A 6-5 VICTORY…
11 GOALS…COUNT ‘EM…11 GOALS…
DEFENCE MAY WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS…BUT OFFENCE STILL DRIVES RATINGS…
IT’S NOT LIKE THE NHL HAS NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE BEFORE…
THERE WAS GRETZKY IN L.A. AND MESSIER IN NEW YORK…
BUT IN THE LIGHT OF THE ECONOMIC MESS THE NHL IS DEALING WITH IN CITIES LIKE…
PHOENIX…NASHVILLE…ATLANTA…FLORIDA…AND DALLAS…TO NAME A FEW…
A GREAT STANLEY CUP FINAL…IN TWO GREAT HOCKEY MARKETS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE LEAGUE AND COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR…
ON FRIDAY BETTMAN ONCE AGAIN INSISTED...”THE MARKET IS NOT FLOODED” WITH TEAMS FOR SALE…
KEEP IN MIND THOUGH…THIS IS THE SAME GARY BETTMAN WHO TOLD US A YEAR AGO…THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS IN PHOENIX…
BUT FOR NOW…THE ATTENTION IS ON THE ICE…
AND ONE LOOK AT THE T.V. RATINGS…IT WOULD APPEAR THAT IS WHERE IT IS GOING TO STAY…
AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT WEEK…OR SO…
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