Are you Ready for some...

Football. It was all football, all the time this past weekend and I was treated to three terrific contests live.

It started with SFU (a university team I help coach) knocking off the second-ranked University of Saskatchewan 27-17 at BC Place on Saturday. Pretty significant win for our team for a couple of reasons. First, SFU hadn't won a game since 2004, and have now won two of three to start the season to jump into a four-way tie for first place in the Canada West. Second, this was the first time the Clan have ever defeated the Huskies; getting over that mental hurdle against a perrenial powerhouse is immeasureable in terms of confidence for these kids. Especially when you consider our guys outscored the Huskies 24-1 in the 2nd half to erase a 16-3 deficit.

Later that night, I witnessed a hard-hitting affair between the Lions and Roughriders under the dome. The Leos won 28-23, the most significant thing to come out of this game was the utter disdain these clubs have for each other. Don't get me wrong; each team has a tonne of respect for the other. But these guys don't like each other and it shows. Rob Murphy and Kelly Bates were pushing and yapping with Scott Schultz and Maurice Lloyd. Tyrone Williams accused Glen January of punching him in the junk. This Saturday's rematch should be a brawl in Regina, and I can't wait to see it.

Sunday I was bookin' it down the I-5 in my speedy RX-8 in order to take in the Seahawks home opener against the 49ers. If you haven't been to an NFL game in Seattle, make plans to change that. The atmosphere is electric, the stadium is gorgeous and each game is choreographed so well from an operations standpoint. The weather was brilliant and so was JT O'Sullivan, the quarterback for my beloved 49ers. I couldn't believe I was watching this undrafted journeyman scorch the Seahawks secondary to the tune of 321 yards. Joe Nedney's winning field goal in overtime capped a perfect day in the Emerald City.
(Sidenote: Alice in Chains played with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra at halftime. They collaborated on Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and it was outstanding.)

So here's what I've got for ya heading into this week:

The Jones Index

There are 27 guys playing in the NFL with the last name Jones. Here's how I rank the cream of the crop right now:
1. Felix Jones (DAL)
2 td's in his first 2 NFL games, one on a kickoff. He's a more explosive and versatile version of Julius Jones, who left Dallas in the offseason.

T-2. Julius Jones (SEA) and Thomas Jones (NYJ)
Think these guys are brothers by any chance? Each has a 100+ yard game this season and each has scored 1 touchdown. The scary part is they are separated by exactly 1 yard rushing through the first tow weeks of the season.

4. Walter Jones (SEA)
Cleared the way for Julius to rack up 127 yards and didn't allow a sack.

5. James Jones (GB)
First TD catch of the season gets James into the Top 5.


Fancy the Freshmen

Looks like a trio of rookies is going to get an extended look at Canucks training camp. Cody Hodgson has been the apple of Mike Gillis' eye since he drafted the 18 year-old in June. Hodgson stood out during prospects' camp and will be given every opportunity to crack the lineup. Same goes for Michael Grabner, although Grabner's a triggerman while Hodgson is all about the dishes. Third on the list of young guns to watch at camp is Jannik Hansen, who the Canucks have been waiting on since that impressive debut in the 2007 playoffs. Hansen was talked up heading into last year's camp, but broke his thumb and spent the rest of the season trying to thumb a ride back to Vancouver.
The interesting speculation has to do with who gets the boot if those youngsters can crack the roster. Gillis has barely whispered Taylor Pyatt's name during the offseason, so I wonder how high he is on the former triplet. Matt Pettinger's name has also been conspicuously absent from discussion, although he's a more natural fit on the 3rd line and could wind up playing with Kesler and Burrows.
Defensively, it looks like Lukas Krajicek's days are numbers. Maybe that's just how I see it, but Gillis said he wanted a tougher team and that's not exactly Krajicek's forte. Rob Davison appears to be the guy brought in to replace Krajicek, as he plays the rough and tumble game that Gillis is looking for. Also keep an eye on Kevin Bieksa as he is potential trade bait. I really like Bieksa's game and hope for the sake of Canucks' fans they keep him, but he's the only top four d-man without a no-trade clause and the Canucks are probably confident that Edler can slide into that slot.

Fall is in the Air...

So here's the summer in a nutshell. Got married, took a bit of time off, started coaching football at SFU. That pretty much sums up the last two months other than slaving away at my job - yeah, I know, it's pretty demanding to talk for a living.

But now, my sports senses have been revitalized. It's September. CFL's in full swing, college football is started and the NFL kicks off. Throw in baseball's stretch drive and NHL training camps and you've got reason to be invigorated if you have any sort of sports pulse whatsoever. Here's what I know right now:

Showtime

With all due respect to the Giants and Redskins scrimmage, the NFL kicks off in earnest on Sunday. Brett Favre makes his Jets' debut in Miami, Aaron Rodgers begins filming The Replacement in Green Bay, Tom Brady starts his rehab from last year's Super Bowl loss against a JV team from Kansas City, while NFL Hollywood (aka the Dallas Cowboys) visits the Dawg Pound in Cleveland (no, that's not where Michael Vick is incarcerated). The best thing about the NFL is that you can make a solid case as to why 22 of the 32 teams have legimate reason to be thinking postseason. Here's who I'm picking to make the playoffs:

AFC NFC
1. New England (13-3) 1. Dallas (14-2)
2. San Diego (12-4) 2. New Orleans (11-5)
3. Jacksonville (11-5) 3. Green Bay (11-5)
4. Pittsburgh (11-5) 4. Seattle (10-6)
5. Indianapolis (11-5) 5. Philadelphia (10-6)
6. Denver (9-7) 6. Carolina (10-6)

I know there are way trendier picks like Minnesota, Buffalo and Cleveland to consider, but I'm playiing a couple of hunches on this one. As for my guys in San Francisco, the 49ers will be better than people expect them to be, but it won't be enough for a playoff spot. I'm saying they win between 6-8 games and are back in the hunt for the postseason in 2009.

Scrambled Dave
Somebody needs to take the ball out of Dave Dickenson's hands. I've trusted this guy's judgment over the facts for the past couple of seasons, but he's been speaking from his heart instead of his head. Dickenson has been placed on the 9-game injured list with post-concussion symptoms following some big hits against the Eskimos on Monday. That outing marked the first real game action for Dave since last November. If you get concussed AGAIN in less than a half of football after resting for nearly ten months, you are not fit to play no matter how much you love the game. If Dicksenson had absolutely no life outside of football and was doomed to wander the earth in vain after his playing days, I might understand him playing until he couldn't stand up anymore. But we're talking about one of the brightest and most thoughtful guys I've ever met in professional sports, and he's got a young a family to boot. His brother is a coach in Calgary. Craig, take away his jersey, please.

Sundin = Pipe Dream
How many different ways does Mats Sundin have to say he's not coming to Vancouver without actually saying it? I can't believe that there are actually some fans who believe this is even a possibility (if any of you are reading this, I have some investment opportunities at a little firm called Enron to talk to you about). Mike Gillils made his best pitch to get Sundin and the big Swede said "no". He said it very politely, and the words were much more complimentary, but it ain't happenin'. Expect a team with much younger faces than you saw last year which should resutl in more excitement if not wins.

I've Still Got a Pulse...

Other than getting married this summer, I've got no real excuse for the lack of activity on this blog. Those of you who've gotten hitched will probably cut me some slack, the rest of you will tell me to shut it. Either way, this blog is more outdated than Bmac's record collection.

I will fire the keyboard up immediately after Labour Day weekend. The Toul Box will be back and better than ever starting next week. Hope you're all enjoying your summer - even though these last few days have felt like winter.

The Young, the Old and the Beautiful

Summer, summer, summer time. I'll just sit right back and unwind.

Looks like summer is just around the corner, which is always a great excuse to quote the Fresh Prince. My bbq and patio are ready to rock, and I'm getting married in less than two months which means theres isn'ta whole lot of time for bloggin' but here goes...

• What looked like a dream matchup for the NHL could quickly turn into a nightmare unless the Penguins can muster some sort of comeback on home ice. Just three years after the NHL lockout, everyone was buzzing with anticipation for a showdown between the Red Wings and Penguins - two teams full of skill and speed, not clutch and grab. The proof that folks were geeked? Versus had its 2nd highest audience EVER for game one of the Stanley Cup, trumped only by Lance Armstrong's final ride at the Tour de France. But that interest is sure to wane (if it hasn't to a certain degree already) if the Pens don't start competing in this series. Blowouts are very rarely compelling, so I'm hoping that the flightless birds can win a pair at the Igloo to push this series to at least six games even though I picked the Wings to win it all at the start of the post season. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have yet to score (along with everyone else in a Pens uniform), but Malkin is far more concerning that Crosby, who at least seems to be generating chances. Malkin looks like a shadow of the player that dominating his competition for the better part of 90 games this season. Is he hurt? Is he tired? Is he just a young player learning what it means to compete on the biggest stage in hockey? Whatever the answer is, you've got a better chance of finding Malkin on the back of a milk carton that in the scoring summary right now.

• Damon Allen will announce his retirement tomorrow and leave the CFL with a very interesting legacy. Statistically, he is the greatest quarterback in the history of the game; he's passed for more yards (72,381) and run for more yards (11,920) than any other pivot to ever lace 'em up. But ask CFL fans where he ranks on the alltime list, and he might not even make the top five. Doug Flutie, Ron Lancaster, Russ Jackson, Warren Moon and Matt Dunigan are often held with more regard in the minds of Canadian football aficionados. The reason? Allen was not nearly consistent enough on a game to game basis for the liking of most fans. When he was having a good day, he was as good or better than any quarterback that has ever played because of his amazing athleticism and veteran poise. I once played in a touch football game against him and watched college level athletes struggle to even put a hand on him as he glided around the field. But when he was off, he made you wonder where he was throwing the ball. My personal opinion? He deserves to be in the discussion of the all-time greats, but he doesn't come out on top. The one thing I will say about Damon Allen - he was money in the Grey Cup. His teams may not have advanced to the league finale as often as they should have, but Allen never disappointed in the CFL's showcase event. He played in 4 Grey Cup games, won them all and was named MVP in 3 of them. Tough to beat that championship resume.

• I don't follow soccer as religiously as the diehards, but I have to admit that I'm stoked for Euro 2008. Part of that has to do with the fact that it's the largest event in the beautiful game next to the World Cup, but part of it has to do with last week's Champion's League Final. I'm neither a supporter of Manchester United nor Chelsea, but any sports fan couldn't help but be captivated by Man U's 6-5 shootout win. That game had it all; goals, chances, animosity, heroes, villains and goats. Falling on penalty kicks might be the toughest way to lose a championship, but it also makes for high drama. You think John Terry (Bill Buckner) is going to sleep much this summer after slipping and hitting the post on what should have been the winning strike for Chelsea? I PVRed the game and will watch it again before Euro '08 gets started next week just to get fired up again. By the way, I'm picking Italy as I do every international event, although I'm concerned that the sqaud isn't hungry enough after winning the World Cup. Yeah, I know; how does a redhead support Italy? My grandma's Italian and you can take it up with her if you want, but I don't like your chances. She's tough.

I Can't Grow a Playoff Beard

Still can't get rid of a couple of bare patches on my face, so it's a good thing I'm just watching the playoffs, not participating in them. I've already spilled enough ink on the Dave Nonis firing, so if you want my take on that situation, check out my Metro Columns from this week.

As for recent rumours on who the next GM in Vancity might be, I keep hearing people whispering the name Mike Gillis. Gillis is a big name agent who has represented the likes of Markus Naslund, Bill Guerin, Curtis Joseph, Bobby Holik, and Pavel Bure just to name a few. He's a tough-as-nails negotiator who successfully sued Alan Eagleson in the 80's after Eagleson tried to cheat him out of over $4ok of Gillis' injury settlement at the end of his NHL career. He doesn't have any GM experience, but he is very connected and obviously a great negotiator.

But I digress since there's actual hockey being played these days. Here's a few things that have jumped out at me in the first week of the postseason:

• For as much as we talk about the veteran goalies needed to take a team to the promised land, it's a pair of still-wet-behind-the-ears puckstoppers that have impressed me the most. Carey Price and Marc-Andre Fleury have both been fantastic thus far. Price isn't that much of a surprise given his superb play at the World Juniors 16 months ago and his stellar form en route to being named MVP in leading Hamilton to a Calder Cup in his first two months of pro hockey last spring. Plus when guys who played with Dryden and Roy think you're ready to backstop the Habs as a rookie, you're doing something right. Fleury, on the other hand, was a big ol' question mark heading into the playoffs. He was great down the stretch but wasn't exactly consistent in lat year's playoffs for the Pens. But he allowed just 5 goals in a first round sweep of the Senators, and if you watched that series, he was a big reason for the broom.

• Can anyone figure out what's going on in the Sharks/Flames series? I haven't seen ol' Mo flip flop this much since Sihota's days in Victoria. Just when you think one team has the other figured out, the struggling squad rises up and snatches control of the series. San Jose's win in the final seconds in Game 4 makes me believe the real Sharks are back to win the series, but that probably means the Flames will look like the '89 Cup winners in Game 5.

• Unlike the way the Flames came back with Mikka Kiprusoff in game 4, I would leave Dominik Hasek on the bench in Detroit. Hasek hasn't inspired any confidence whatsoever in the past two games, and looks to be a bigger hurdle than the Nashville Predators. Chris Osgood was as good or better during the season, and deserves a chance to prove the same in the playoffs.

• If you think that playoff teams have to manufacture dislike for each other, check out the Avs and Wild. Those dudes should be in the Octagon this Saturday for UFC 83 in Montreal. There is genuine rivalry in that series, and the intensity seeps through the television screen. Advil should jump on board to sponsor this first round matchup.

• As pissed off as Canucks' fans are right now, would you rather be in Ottawa? That team was actually expected to do something this year and they were brushed aside like a bantam team by the Penguins in the first round. If you had to deal one of the big three to shake it up in O-town, who would it be? Alfredsson is the oldest, but arguably the most productive of the bunch right now. Spezza's passing could make an allstar out of an average winger, but some are questioning his fire. And Heatley is a sniper to be sure, but was he even dressed in the playoffs? Chances are they'll stay together, but Brian Murray probably isn't resting to comfortably right now in the GM's chair.

One final thing, for those of you who like your rock 'n roll but haven't played Guitar Hero - get in the game. I went to a GH party a few weeks ago and rocked out in a Bret Michaels' costume. And I'm not alone; I've heard a tonne of NHLers and other pro athletes swapping scores and stories in the locker room. Enjoy the pics, grab an' axe and grind!

Case #03-02-08

"Hello, police? Yes, I'd like to report a theft. The Vancouver Canucks just stole two-and-a-half hours of my life this afternoon and I'd like it back."

I know you run the risk of being disappointed with your program selection every tie you sit down in front of the tv, but that loss in Chicago should have been censored. There wasn't even a warning prior to viewing. How do you not even show up for a game at this point of the season? I'm not offended as a Canucks' fan, I'm offended as a sports' fan. Alain Vigneault canceled practice today in Colorado, almost as if to say "go up to your room and think about what you've done".

That said, the Canucks can right a lot of wrongs with a win tomorrow night in Colorado. Given the way they've lost their last three games, the local lads look like big underdogs heading into what should "Welcome Back Foppa" night in Denver. But they did shock all of us back in early November when they went into the Pepsi Center, where the Avs were perfect at the time, and pull out a 4-3 victory. That win was on the heels of what was previously the low point of the season (since trumped by Sunday), a 3-0 loss on home ice to Nashville that saw the Canucks also lose Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa to ugly injuries. Either way, tomorrow's tilt will say a lot about the internal fortitude of this year's group.

As for other stuff...

• Have you ever been this excited about watching a pair of Russians try to outdo each other in order to win the NHL scoring race? I'm as proud a Canadian as you'll find, but the excitement generated by Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin transcends any borders that some of you might have in the hockey world. The latest offering - Ovechkin's first period hat trick en route to a 5 point night that saw him reclaim the lead for the Art Ross Trophy by two points over his countryman. Ovechkin has been must-see-tv for almost three years now and Malkin has vaulted himself into that category in just his second season.
  

• If you get a chance to see CBS golf announcer David Feherty speak in public, find time in your schedule. We interviewed him live on the morning show prior to his address before the PGA of BC and he did not disappoint. I asked him about rumours that he has farting contests on the course with Tiger's caddie Steve Williams during tournaments. He not only confirmed it, he also implicated Tiger himself, saying that you "might be in for a crop dusting" if you pass behind the world's best golfer.

• If Randy Moss hadn't re-signed in new England, he would've been a bigger idiot than he appeared to be in Oakland. The trade to the Patriots probably salvaged his legacy as one of the greatest receivers to ever play the game despite his sometimes unsavory temperament. Moss converted numerous fans that doubted his ability to buy into a team-first approach, but if thinks that he'll enjoy the same type of success wherever he goes, he's mistaken. Yes, there are other quarterbacks that can get him the ball, but there aren't many organizations that will insulate him from media scrutiny the way the Pats did. That may have had as much to do with his success as the offense he played in.
  

• American Gangster - enjoyed watching it on the weekend. Another great performance by Denzel Washington and a very intriguing story about the way Harlem was governed on the streets in the late 60's and early 70's. I'm recommending it if you're looking for a rental any time soon, although I would warn those of you with kids to think twice about the violence and language.

Last but certainly not least, I wanted to post a couple of links based on some emails I received. Some of you asked about my columns on Canucks.com which are published biweeky, so I've set up a new link on the side for those interested. Also, one of my listeners did the Canuck Place Adventure Challenge last year and has set up a blog to let you know what's up with both the race and Canuck Place itself. His name is Malcolm and I would encourage you to check it out when you've got a minute - it's a phenomenal charity and a worthwhile place to contribute to if you have some extra money to give.

www.canuckplaceadventurechallenge.blogspot.com

Frustration in Canuck Nation

Well, you've got your answer to the question "Deal or No Deal?" Canucks' fans. With all due respect to the Matt exchange (Cooke for Pettinger), Vancouver basically stood pat on trade deadline day and that isn't sitting well with most in the lower mainland.

But make no mistake; this is not an isolated incident. The lack of a deal to land a significant upgrade to the Canucks' offense on deadline day is simply the culmination of nine months of waiting for such an announcement. Dave Nonis made it perfectly clear after seeing his club get downed by the Ducks' last spring that three elements were lacking: grit, speed and scoring. Byron Ritchie, Brad Isbister (to a lesser extent) and Aaron Miller upped the sandpaper quotient, while Ryan Shannon and Mason Raymond have increased the team's speed. But nothing was done to address the need for secondary scoring.

That's not to say that Nonis didn't make an effort to do so. He went so far as to knock on Peter Forsberg's door in Sweden as early as last July, and I have no doubt that he tried to acquire both Brad Richards and Olli Jokinen. Unfortunately, none of those efforts yielded the scoring that the Canucks need to give them a legitimate shot at a deep playoff run. Stranger things have happened (like Anaheim and Minnesota in the 2003 Conference Final), but the cards are stacked against the Canucks in the West right now. Should Vancouver contend for a Cup in a year, this will all look like part of the master plan. But based on what last year's team did in getting to the 2nd round, this year's squad deserved a better chance to go further.

Other stuff I don't quite get:

1) Is a 2nd round pick really the best that the Habs could get for Cristobal Huet? Considering the Leafs picked up a 2nd & a 5th rounder for Hal Gill, Bob Gainey and company appear to have been shortchanged by the Capitals. That deal makes the least sense to me out of any that were made at the deadline.

2) Why are people asking the players and the NHLPA to limit no-trade clauses in contracts? And wasn't it also the owners and GMs crying about the big $$ being handed out to players during the NHL lockout? So what do these teams do immediately after the work stoppage - they hand out long-term deals for massive amounts and throw in a few no-trade clauses for good measure. Last time I checked, GMs are also involved in the negotiation process. To quote Brian Burke, "maybe we should just say no [to a few of these conditions] instead of asking a bunch of lawyers in New York to fix things for us". I don't agree with everything you say Burkie, but amen.

3) Is Jason Jimenez suspended or not? I know that we are in the middle of the CFL's off-season, but how big of a joke is it that a ruling has not been made on a guy who committed a transgression last November? Not that there's a game any time soon, but it's this type of foot-dragging on logical issues that gives non-CFL fans another reason to dub it a "bush league". I love the product and admire the skill of the players, but the management of the league drives me insane sometimes.

Final Point: If the Richard Zednik incident made your stomach turn, don't go renting Eastern Promises anytime soon. Great movie that was worthy of the praise it received at the Oscars, but the Russian mob handles their "business" in a very similar manner to the way in which Zednik was nearly fatally wounded.

Back In the Saddle

All right... I've been downright negligent with this blog over the last two months, but that all stops now. Here's what's been happenin'. December was, well, December. Holidays, family, skiing and all the great indulging in good food and drink just like the rest of you.

January, on the other hand, was all over the map. Bmac and I took the show on the road to Mazatlan for a week. Good times were had by all and it looks like we're doing another Mexico trip next year (get your tickets NOW!). Upon my return, I had the first surgery of my life when I had arthroscopy on my right knee. No big deal, just a bit of torn meniscus, but it's pretty cool watching your own surgery. I elected to take a local anesthetic instead of a general, so that I could watch all the slicin' and dicin'. Bottom line, I'm back running again and feelin' good, so here's what's on my mind these days.

Canucks
Call me a homer if you want, but I still think this group makes the playoffs. The resolve I've seen from Markus Naslund to Alex Burrows in the past week makes me think they'll play hard enough to earn the requisite amount of points prior to getting healthy. Once they get a few bodies back, this team makes the post-season cut with Roberto Luongo being the biggest reason.

Shaq
So many people are ripping the Suns decision to trade Shawn Marion and Markus Banks for the Big Diesel. Two things: 1) Marion is extremely talented in every area of the game (despite his grade 3-looking shooting stroke), but he wasn't happy in Phoenix anymore; and 2) the Suns have tried to win in the playoffs without a true center for three straight years and it hasn't worked. Unfortunately, this year wasn't going to be any different. Shaq might not end up being the answer, but kudos to Steve Kerr and Mike D'Antoni for getting a guy that can defend the big-time big men in the West.
footnote: Shaq apparently told Steve Nash, "I won't let you down." He's a tough man to beat when he's motivated.

Roger Clemens
Think he's more pissed at Brian McNamee or Andy Pettite for opening their respective mouths? The Rocket can deny, deny, deny all he wants, but if this "evidence" that McNamee has turned over has any credibility whatsoever, he's in trouble with way more people than the Baseball Writers of America. A spot on the doorstep to Cooperstown sounds a lot more comfortable than one in a jail cell with an angry man named Tito. But Pettite's decision to come clean after he'd been called out for using HGH hurts Clemens as much as anything. Are we to believe that McNamee was telling the truth about one former pinstriper but not the other? What could he possibly have to gain by doing that? Innocent until proven guilty, but my gut tells me that Clemens is paddling against a pretty strong current.

Hugh Hefner
He's 81. His playmate girlfriend is 28. They are trying extremely hard to have a baby and telling anyone who'll listen. God bless America. Is there anyone out there that believes Hef actually wants another kid (he's got 4 already)? I'm thinking this has a whole lot more to do with the trying than the baby itself.

That's all for now, but as always, feel free to drop me a line with your 2 cents.