Stanley Cup

THE STANLEY CUP…
THE GREATEST TROPHY IN SPORTS…
AND WITH IT…ONE OF THE GREATEST TRADITIONS IN SPORTS…
THROUGH OUT THE SUMMER EVERY MEMBER OF THE WINNING TEAM GETS TO A SPEND A WHOLE DAY WITH “THE CUP”…
YESTERDAY IT WAS IN WINNIPEG…WHERE JONATHAN TOEWS WAS GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE CITY…AND THE PROVINCE NAMED A LAKE AFTER HIM…
THIS WEEK IT WILL BE RIGHT HERE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA…
IN ALL THERE WERE 5 MEMBERS OF THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS THAT ARE FROM THIS PROVINCE…
ON WEDNESDAY IN SURRY…COLIN FRASER WILL KICKOFF THE PARTY AT THE “CENTRAL CITY PLAZA”…
ON THURSDAY TROY BROUWER WILL TAKE IT TO NORTH DELTA…
THERE’S A BIG PARADE PLANNED…
ON FRIDAY…BRENT SEABROOK HAS A “PRIVATE EVENT” PLANNED IN TSAWWASSEN…
ON SATURDAY THE CUP WILL BE IN PENTICTION…WHERE DUNCAN KEITH PLANS TO TAKE IT TO THE CHILDRENS WARD OF THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL…
THEN ON SUNDAY…IT’S OFF TO MAPLE RIDGE…ANDREW LADD WILL TAKE IT TO THE CAM NEELY ARENA…
IT’S THE SECOND TIME LADD HAS BROUGHT THE CUP BACK…TO HIS HOME TOWN…
UNFORTUNATELY THE CUP DOES NOT ALWAYS RECEIVE THE RESPECT IT DESERVES…
IN 1905…THE OTTAWA SENATORS LEFT IT OVER NIGHT ON THE RIDEAU CANAL…
THE 1940 NEW YORK RANGERS…URINATED IN IT…
IN 1980…CLARK GILLIES LET HIS DOG EAT OUT OF IT…
IN 1991…IT WOUND UP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MARIO LEMIEUX’S POOL…
IN 1994…THE RANGERS TOOK IT TO BELMOUNT AND LET KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER “GO FOR GIN” EAT OUT OF IT…
AND 2 YEARS AGO…IT WAS PUSHED OFF A TABLE WHILE AT CHRIS CHELIOS’ “CHILI BAR IN DETROIT…
SOMEHOW THE STANLEY CUP HAS SURVIVED IT ALL…AND IN THE MEANTIME…GONE FROM…THE WHITE HOUSE…TO THE TOP OF FISHER PEAK IN CRANBROOK…
IN ALL…IT TRAVELS OVER 100 THOUSAND MILES…EVERY YEAR…
BUT THE REAL MAGIC OF THE CUP…IS SOMETHING THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE EYES OF “THE FANS” WHO FINALLY GET TO SEE IT LIVE AND IN PERSON…
THIS WEEK…HOCKEY FANS IN B.C. WILL GET THEIR TURN…
IN 117 YEARS…IT’S SOMETHING THAT NEVER GETS OLD…

LeBron James

SHAME ON LEBRON JAMES…
SHAME ON THE MIAMI HEAT…
SHAME ON THE NBA…
LASTNIGHT ON NATIONAL TELEVISON LEBRON JAMES PREFORMED ONE OF THE WORST “DOG AND PONY” ACTS IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS…
HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS JOINING HIS FRIENDS DWAYNE WADE AND CHRIS BOSH IN MIAMI…
IN DOING SO HE TURNED HIS BACK ON THE CITY OF CLEVELAND…AND THE FANS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED HIM FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS…
YOU MIGHT THINK SOME ONE WHO GREW UP IN AKRON OHIO WOULD FEEL SOME KIND OF LOYALITY TO THOSE PEOPLE…
YOU WOULD BE WRONG!!!
IN HIS WORDS…”I WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR LEBRON JAMES”…
AFTER MAKING HIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON ESPN…JAMES JUMPED ONTO A PRIVATE JET AND FLEW TO MIAMI…
IN THE MEANTIME…THE FANS BACK IN CLEVELAND SPILLED OUT INTO THE STREETS AND SET FIRE TO HIS NUMBER 23 JERSEY…
TO UNDERSTAND THIS KIND OF ANGRY AND FRUSTRATION…SIMPLY THINK BACK 9 YEARS…TO THE DAY THE VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES PACKED THEIR BAGS AND LEFT FOR MEMPHIS…
SADLY…THERE ARE NOW TWO NBA’S…
THE ELITE…WHICH INCLUDE…THE LAKERS…THE CELTICS…THE MAGIC…THE SPURS…AND NOW THE HEAT…
AND THE “NOT READY FOR NETWORK TELEVISION PLAYERS”…WHICH INCLUDES…PRETTY MUCH THE REST OF THE LEAGUE…
ONE LOOK AT THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS…AND YOU CAN SEE THE TROUBLE THE NBA IS IN…
LAST SEASON ONLY 4 TEAMS SOLD OUT EVERY GAME…
COMPARE THAT WITH THE NHL…WHICH HAD 11 TEAMS SELL OUT EVERY NIGHT…
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONE WORD…”PARITY”…
ACCORDING TO COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN…LAST SEASON…THE NBA LOST $400 MILLION DOLLARS…
THAT DESPITE THE FACT THE LEAGUE GENERATES ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN NATIONAL TELEVSION CONTRACTS…
THE CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT RUNS OUT NEXT SUMMER…AND MOST EXPECT A LOCK OUT…
THE OWNERS MUST REGAIN CONTROL OF THEIR BUSINESS…AND GIVE THE FANS THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT OF ALL…”HOPE”…
WHAT LEBRON JAMES DID LASTNIGHT…MAYBE…”WHAT IS “BEST” FOR LEBRON JAMES”…
BUT MORE UNFORTUNATELY…IT REPRESENTS WHAT IS…“THE WORST”…IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS…

Hockey Season

ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOW…TAKE A DEEP BREATH…
YOU CAN JUST FEEL IT???
AND DO NOT LET THE BRIGHT SUNSHINE AND THE CROWDED BEACHES FOOL YOU…
THIS IS HOCKEY SEASON!!!
AS WE SPEAK…THE PROSPECTS ARE ON THE ICE AT THE NEWLY NAMED ROGERS ARENA…
AND TONIGHT AT 7 O’CLOCK…GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS WILL HOST THE ANNUAL “CANUCKS SUMMER SUMMIT”…
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO THE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS…WHAT THE FRANCHISE HAS PLANNED FOR ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY…
THOSE CELEBRATIONS MAY INCLUDE A NEW JERSEY…
AND TODAY E.J RADEK FROM ESPN OFFICIALLY PICKED “THE CANUCKS” AS “THE” TEAM TO BEAT IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE FOR NEXT SEASON…
WHAT A DIFFERENCE 2 YEARS CAN MAKE…
IN 2008…WHEN GILLIS ARRIVED IN THIS TOWN…THE CANUCKS WERE A TEAM THAT HAD MISSED THE PLAYOFFS 2 OF THE LAST 3 SEASONS…
AT HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE GILLIS MADE IT CLEAR…CHANGES WERE COMING…
IN HIS WORDS…”I DON’T THINK THIS TEAM IS CLOSE”…
THEN GILLIS WENT TO WORK AND BEGAN TO BACK UP HIS WORDS…
HEADING INTO NEXT SEASON…THERE COULD BE A FEW AS 8 PLAYERS LEFT…FROM THE ROSTER MIKE GILLIS INHERITED…
7 OF THOSE 8…INCLUDING THE SEDINS…ARE LOCKED UP TO LONG TERM CONTRACTS…
AND MASON RAYMOND COULD BE SIGNED…BY AS EARLY AS THE END OF THE MONTH…
GILLIS ALSO PROMISED “BOLD MOVES”…
WHICH HE DELIVERED…STARTING WITH MATS SUNDIN…
FOR EVERY PAVOL DEMITRA…THERE HAS BEEN A MIKAEL SAMUELSSON…
AND FOR EVERY MATHIEU SCHNEIDER…THERE HAS BEEN A CHRISTIAN EHRHOFF…
THE CANUCKS ARE ALSO ABOUT TO BENEFIT FROM 2 SOLID DRAFT YEARS…
CODY HODGSON IS NOW A LOCK TO MAKE THIS TEAM…
AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT ARE CLOSE…
INCLUDING…JORDAN SCHROEDER…YANN SAUVE AND ANTON RODIN…
WHILE ALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON…THANKS TO THE SALARY CAP…
THE ELITE OF THE WESTERN CONFERENCE…SUCH AS CHICAGO…SAN JOSE AND DETROIT…
HAVE ALL TAKEN A SERIOUS STEP BACK…
AS A RESULT…THE EXCITEMENT AND THE ANTICIPATION IS EVERY WHERE!!!
AND THERE’S JUST “94” DAYS TO GO…
AIN’T HOCKEY SEASON GREAT???

NHL Free Agency

THE ROLLERCOAST RIDE…ALSO KNOWN AS “THE NHL OFF SEASON”…
HAS AT LEAST ONE MORE “BIG THRILL” BEFORE IT’S OVER…
GET READY FOR FREE AGENCY…
ON JULY 1ST OF LAST YEAR…40 PLAYERS SIGNED NEW DEALS WORTH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS…
SOME OF THE BIG WINNERS INCLUDED…
MATIAS OHLUND GOT $30 MILLION TO PLAY IN TAMPA BAY…
MARTIN HAVLAT WAS PAID $30 MILLION TO RELOCATE TO MINNESOTA…
SO DID MIKE CAMMALLERI TO MOVE TO MONTREAL…
AND THEN THERE WAS MARIAN HOSSA WHO LANDED $60 MILLION IN CHICAGO…
MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THE SEDINS WOULD HAVE EARNED HAD THEY NOT SIGNED ONE DAY BEFORE…
THE BIG PRIZE THIS YEAR IS ILYA KOVALCHUK…
THIS WEEKEND DURING THE DRAFT…THE L.A. KINGS ATTEMPTED TO AQUIRE HIS RIGHTS FROM THE NEW JERSEY DEVILS…
HOWEVER…THE DEVILS STILL BELIEVE THEY CAN SIGN KOVALCHUK BEFORE THURSDAY…
EITHER WAY THE KINGS COULD BE A VERY BIG PLAYER ON JULY THE 1ST…
WORD HAS IT THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING TO SIGN A DEFENCEMAN…
THE SHOPPING LIST INCLUDES…
1) DAN HAMHIUS…
2) SERGIE GONCHAR…
3) PAUL MARTIN…AND…
4) TOMAS KABERLE…
THOSE 4 DEFENCEMEN MAYBE “GROUND ZERO” WHEN THE FEEDING FRENZY BEGINS…
THERE’S TALK THAT IF THE DEVILS CAN NOT GET PAUL MARTIN RE-SIGNED…
THEY WILL TAKE A RUN A SERGIE GONCHAR…
IN THE MEANTIME THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE DETERMINED TO NOT ONLY RE-SIGN GONCHAR…
BUT ALSO LAST WEEK TRADED FOR THE RIGHTS TO DAN HAMHUIS…
AS A RESULT….OVER THE WEEKEND…PITTSBURGH GENERAL MANAGER RAY SHERO SPENT MUCH OF HIS TIME TALKING TO BOTH HAMHUIS AND HIS AGENT…
ALSO OVER THE WEEKEND THE SAN JOSE SHARKS GAVE THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS PERMISSION TO TALK TO GOALTENDER EVGENI NABOKOV…
THE FUN AND GAMES BEGINS IN LESS THAN 72 HOURS…
HOLD ON TIGHT KIDS…BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A DOOZY…

NHL Entry Draft

WHEN THERE IS THIS MUCH SMOKE…THERE HAS TO BE SOME FIRE…
AS WE SPEAK THE NHL ENTRY DRAFT IS GETTING UNDER WAY IN L.A…
HEADING IN…THERE WERE MORE RUMORS FLYING AROUND…
THAN A TIGER WOODS BACHELOR PARTY…
EDMONTON GM STEVE TAMBELLINI HAS BEEN TRYING TO AQUIRE THE 2ND PICK OVER ALL FROM BOSTON…
THE OFFER WAS SAID TO BE…ALEX HEMSKY AND JORDAN EBERLE…
COLUMBUS MAY DEAL THE NUMBER 4 PICK OVER ALL…THE BLUE JACKETS ARE DESPERATE FOR A CENTER…
THE ISLANDERS ARE LOOKING FOR A WINGER…AND MIGHT TRADE THE NUMBER 5 PICK OVER ALL…
HOW’S THIS FOR A TWIST…
FLORIDA GM DALE TALLON HAS BEEN TALKING TO HIS OLD TEAM CHICAGO…ABOUT LANDING KRIS VERSTEEG…
TALLON IS OFFERING THE NUMBER 15 PICK OVER ALL…
HERE IN VANCOUVER…
ALL THE ATTENTION IS ON WHAT GENERAL MANAGER MIKE GILLIS HAS PLANNED…
THERE WERE RUMORS FLOATING AROUND ABOUT THE CANUCKS AQUIRING THE RIGHTS TO DAN HAMHUIS FROM PHILADELPHIA…
WORD HAS IT…HAMHUIS IS NOT GOING TO SIGN WITH ANY TEAM UNTIL AFTER JULY 1ST…
“FORGETABOUTIT”…
THERE WAS ALSO SOME TALK ABOUT THE CANUCKS GOING AFTER ALEXANDER SEMIN OF THE CAPITALS…
SEMIN WILL MAKE $6 MILLION THIS SEASON AND BECOME AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT NEXT SUMMER…
THIS IS ANOTHER…”FORGETABOUTIT”
IT IS MUCH MORE LIKELY…”IF” THE CANUCKS MAKE A DEAL…IT WILL BE TO MOVE DOWN IN THE DRAFT…
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS…THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF VERY GOOD PLAYERS TAKEN AFTER THE 25TH PICK…
THE LIST INCLUDES…MILAN LUCIC…MIKE GREEN…DAVE BOLLAND…DAVID KREJI…CORY PERRY…SHEA WEBER…MIKE CAMMALLERI…AND DUNCAN KEITH…TO NAME A FEW…
AT THIS MOMENT…ALL WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN IS THIS…
THE OILERS HAVE THE FIRST PICK OVER ALL…
AFTER THAT…IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME…UNTIL SOME GM…LIGHTS A MATCH…

Empire Fields

IT WAS LIKE DEVA VU…ALL OVER AGAIN…
YESTERDAY THE B.C. LIONS PLAYED THEIR FIRST HOME GAME…OUT DOORS…IN 28 YEARS…
25 THOUSAND SHOWED UP TO WATCH AN EXIBITION GAME…
ALTHOUGH IN TRUTH…MOST OF THEM SHOWED UP TO EXPERIENCE “EMPIRE FIELD”…
AND IT IS BETTER THAN ADVERTISED…
FROM THE SIGHT LINES…TO THE MUSIC…TO THE CONCESSIONS…TO THE SOUNDS OF THE ROLLER COASTER…FOR MANY US IT REALLY DID FEEL LIKE “WE’D BEEN HERE BEFORE”…
WHAT IS TRULY AMAZING IS THE FACT THE LIONS WERE ABLE TO GET IT BUILT IN 111 DAYS…
IT IS PERFECT…
WELL ALMOST…
THE LIONS DO HAVE ONE PROBLEM…
THE PNE...WHICH IS RUN BY THE CITY OF VANCOUVER…
FOR SOME REASON THE CLOWNS…THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO GOUGE FOOTBALLS $30 DOLLARS TO PARK THEIR CARS…
NOW KEEP IN MIND…
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY ON THE HOOK FOR THE $14.4 MILLION DOLLARS IT TOOK TO BUILD EMPIRE FIELD…
IT’S ALL PART OF THE $458 MILLION TAX PAYERS ARE SPENDING ON RENOVATIONS TO B.C. PLACE…
IN OTHER WORDS…IT’S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF EVERYBODY…IF THE PNE DOES IT’S PART TO ATTRACT AS MANY FOOTBALL FANS AS POSSIBLE TO EMPIRE FIELD…
YOU DO NOT NEED A MASTERS DEGREE IN BUSINESS TO UNDERSTAND THAT AN EMPTY SEAT…NEVER BOUGHT A TICKET…OR A BEER…OR A BAG OF POPCORN…
MOST FANS WHO WENT TO THE GAME ON SUNDAY WERE SHOCKED AT THE PRICE OF PARKING…
IT’S ONE THING FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES TO JACK UP THE PARKING FOR MAJOR EVENTS DOWNTOWN…
IT’S QUITE ANOTHER FOR OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS TO PLAY THE ROLE OF “BANDITS AND THIEVES”…
THE LIONS ARE AWARE OF HOW UPSET THEIR FANS ARE…AND THERE ARE MEETINGS PLANNED…
UNFORTUNATELY…KNOWING THE IQ THAT NOW RUNS THIS CITY…
MAYOR GREGOR ROBERTSON MAY DECIDE….THE ANSWER…IS A “BIKE LANE” FROM HERE TO CHILLIWACK…

Empire Stadium

EMPIRE STADIUM…
FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS IT WAS OUR “FIELD OF DREAMS”…
IT OPENED IN 1954 AS VANCOUVER HOSTED THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES…
AND AS A RESULT…IT BECAME THE SITE OF THE “MIRACLE MILE”…
THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY…TWO MEN HAD MANAGED TO RUN A MILE IN UNDER 4 MINUTES…
ON AUGUST 31ST 1957 ELVIS PLAYED THERE…
IT WAS ONLY 1 OF 3 CONCERTS IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER…WHICH WAS HELD OUTSIDE OF THE U.S…
ON AUGUST 22ND 1964…THE BEATLES HIT TOWN…
ON THAT NIGHT…THE MOST EXPENSIVE SEAT IN THE HOUSE WENT FOR A STAGERING $5.25…
WHEN THE BAND HIT THE STAGE…THE 20 THOUSAND FANS WENT NUTS…
MANAGER BRIAN EPTEIN WAS SO CONCERNED…HE DEMANDED RED ROBINSON GO OUT…STOP THE SHOW AND TRY TO SETTLE DOWN THE CROWD…
BUT WHEN ROBINSON WALKED OUT…JOHN LENNON TOLD HIM IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS TO…QUOTE…”GET THE “F” OFF THE STAGE”
THE SHOW LASTED A MERE 27 MINUTES…
BUT FOR FOOTBALL FANS…
EMPIRE STADIUM BECAME HOME FOR THE B.C. LIONS…
THIS CITY’S FIRST PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE…
A FRANCHISE THAT HAS GIVEN US…
JOE KAPP…WILLIE FLEMING…JIM YOUNG…LEON BRIGHT…MERV FERNANDEZ…DOUG FLUTIE…DARREN FLUTIE…AND GEROY SIMON…
JUST TO NAME A FEW…
IN 1955…EMPIRE STADIUM HOSTED ITS FIRST GREY CUP GAME…
THE FIRST EVER PLAYED WEST OF TORONTO…
IN ALL…EMPIRE WITNESSED 7 CFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES…
WITHOUT IT…THERE WERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO…VANCOUVER WHITECAPS…
NO SOCCER BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP…IN 1979…
AND NO MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER…IN 2011…
BUT THE REAL VALUE OF EMPIRE STADIUM CAN ONLY BE MEASURED IN THE MEMORY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE…
ON SUNDAY AT THE NEW “EMPIRE FIELD”…ALL THOSE MEMORIES WILL RETURN…
LIKE THE MAN SAID…”THIS FIELD…THIS GAME…IT’S A PART OF OUR PAST…PEOPLE WILL COME…PEOPLE WILL MOST DEFINITELY COME”…