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 Either way, this blog is more outdated than Bmac's record collection.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.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
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:
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!
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!
Monday, March 03, 2008
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...
www.canuckplaceadventurechallenge.blogspot.com
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.
www.canuckplaceadventurechallenge.blogspot.com
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
NEGLIGENT!
That's a nice way of putting it. Man, between the morning show, Canucks' games and a couple of columns, I've found a way to utilize the most minutes on most days. That being said, there's no excuse for not blogging for over a month, so instead of apologizing any longer, here's what's on my mind:
There's no I in Team
While the team concept is still the one that wins championships, this era of parity in the NHL has me ore interested in individuals than teams. The salary cap appears to have snuffed out any hopes of a dynasty although if the Pats can do it in the NFL, theoretically it should be possible in hockey as well. My point is this - I'm more interested in seeing an elite player than an elite team these days because the gap between individuals is bigger than the one between teams. The worst team in the league has at least a chance of beating the Stanley Cup champs because the salary cap limits how many great players you can keep together. It also means teams are forced to sign guys who make the league minimum in order to get under the cap, and these are the players that end up on the wrong side of highlight packs when they face elite talent. An era that was designed to keep teams competitive may also end up bringing back the forgotten idea of real Superstars.
Guaranteed Regurgitation
Is there anything more played out than the "guaranteed win" by a player leading into a game or a series? I'm not talking about promotions that minor league ball teams do in order to get fans out to the yard; at least those clubs are putting their money where their mouths are. I'm talking about guys like the Steelers' Anthony Smith, who "guaranteed" a win over New England this Sunday. How many times have we heard this from athletes who barely ever back it up? Joe Namath, Mark Messier... pretty short list of guys who actually step up. And what do the rest of them say when they fall flat of their faces? "I was just trying to motivate the team." Here's an idea - pick off Tom Brady twice on Sunday and take one of those to the house. I "guarantee" that will motivate your team a hell of a lot more than some empty promise with absolutely no repercussions.
Minority Report
Is the National League becoming a farm system for the AL? Yes, I'm well aware that the Cardinals and the Marlins have won World Series titles in the last five years, but all of the big names seem to be flocking to where the designated hitters hang out. The Yankees, the Red Sox, the Tigers, the Angels... they all have star power that is so rare in the NL. Don't get me wrong; I was pulling for the Rockies just like a lot of you were. But it's like going from Harry Rosen to the Bay. You can still find some nice things at the Bay, but you have to look a LOT harder.
That's it for now, but jump in with your own thoughts and I'll be posting again sooon.
There's no I in Team
While the team concept is still the one that wins championships, this era of parity in the NHL has me ore interested in individuals than teams. The salary cap appears to have snuffed out any hopes of a dynasty although if the Pats can do it in the NFL, theoretically it should be possible in hockey as well. My point is this - I'm more interested in seeing an elite player than an elite team these days because the gap between individuals is bigger than the one between teams. The worst team in the league has at least a chance of beating the Stanley Cup champs because the salary cap limits how many great players you can keep together. It also means teams are forced to sign guys who make the league minimum in order to get under the cap, and these are the players that end up on the wrong side of highlight packs when they face elite talent. An era that was designed to keep teams competitive may also end up bringing back the forgotten idea of real Superstars.
Guaranteed Regurgitation
Is there anything more played out than the "guaranteed win" by a player leading into a game or a series? I'm not talking about promotions that minor league ball teams do in order to get fans out to the yard; at least those clubs are putting their money where their mouths are. I'm talking about guys like the Steelers' Anthony Smith, who "guaranteed" a win over New England this Sunday. How many times have we heard this from athletes who barely ever back it up? Joe Namath, Mark Messier... pretty short list of guys who actually step up. And what do the rest of them say when they fall flat of their faces? "I was just trying to motivate the team." Here's an idea - pick off Tom Brady twice on Sunday and take one of those to the house. I "guarantee" that will motivate your team a hell of a lot more than some empty promise with absolutely no repercussions.
Minority Report
Is the National League becoming a farm system for the AL? Yes, I'm well aware that the Cardinals and the Marlins have won World Series titles in the last five years, but all of the big names seem to be flocking to where the designated hitters hang out. The Yankees, the Red Sox, the Tigers, the Angels... they all have star power that is so rare in the NL. Don't get me wrong; I was pulling for the Rockies just like a lot of you were. But it's like going from Harry Rosen to the Bay. You can still find some nice things at the Bay, but you have to look a LOT harder.
That's it for now, but jump in with your own thoughts and I'll be posting again sooon.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Spare Some Change?
Some things will never change; Kid Rock just got arrested again for a fight in a Waffle House. But for the love of Tom Brady (who's as close to the other guy as you can get right now), can somebody change some of these rules that are tarnishing their respective games? These tweaks seem so obvious to me that I can't understand why they haven't happened yet:
NHL: 4 or 5 minutes for Blood
Is this not the most illogical rule in hockey? If a player is cut by a high-stick the penalty is more severe despite the perceived intent. So I can try to lift a guy's stick, miss and wind up in the box for twice as long as a player who's clearly reckless with the lumber? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. How about doling out minutes based on the actual action instead of the result? Last time I checked, you don't get five minutes in the sin bin if you rip a guy's sweater when you hold him.
CFL: Conceding Safeties and The Rouge
So let me get this straight. We create a rule that forces a team to return the ball every time it's kicked, but we still allow punters to take a knee in the endzone so that the opposition doesn't get good field position? It's boring, fans hate it and it doesn't truly reward a team for pinning it's opponent deep. Yeah, I know that you get two points and the ball as well, but if you're not going to amend the safety rule, at least make midfield the automatic field position instead of your own 40. That would make coaches think twice about conceding the deuce. And as for awarding a single point on a missed field goal, gimme a break. You shouldn't be rewarded for failing.
NFL: Allowing Coaches to call Timeouts
This rule is what's allowed the bench bosses to call timeouts a fraction of a second before a kicker attempts a field goal. If a team can get the snap and kick off before we actually hear the whistle, there's a problem. I'm not saying you shouldn't be able to freeze the kicker, but make a player on the field call for a break. Is it that tough for a coach to signal in to his team that he wants a timeout in that situation? I guarantee those timeouts get called a couple of seconds earlier, and we don't have to sit there and wonder if the game-winning attempt we just saw was legit. What happens when one of these kickers or holders gets hurt on a play that doesn't even count?
MLB: Instant Replay
I'm not talking about taking away the strike zone from the umpires. But we've had two cases in the last two weeks of players hitting homeruns and not being awarded the roundtripper. Sure, baseball is already a long game, but if the umps blow a big call on the basepads that can affect the score and the cameras catch it, I think you need the ability to get it right. Especially in the postseason. If they can do it in tennis, I think they should be able to do it in baseball.
NBA: Too Many Timeouts
Other than the 30 coaches in the Association, find me someone that doesn't agree with this one. Newsflash: these guys have all played the game since they could stand upright. They know the ball needs to go in the hoop if they're losing. Please stop sucking the life out of the little drama that currently exists in the NBA. I know it's a lot to ask to coach up your team in practice or signal something from the bench, but how about we let the guys on the court decide which play to run. Otherwise, we'll just hand you suits an X-box controller and duke it out in cyberspace.
NHL: 4 or 5 minutes for Blood
Is this not the most illogical rule in hockey? If a player is cut by a high-stick the penalty is more severe despite the perceived intent. So I can try to lift a guy's stick, miss and wind up in the box for twice as long as a player who's clearly reckless with the lumber? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. How about doling out minutes based on the actual action instead of the result? Last time I checked, you don't get five minutes in the sin bin if you rip a guy's sweater when you hold him.
CFL: Conceding Safeties and The Rouge
So let me get this straight. We create a rule that forces a team to return the ball every time it's kicked, but we still allow punters to take a knee in the endzone so that the opposition doesn't get good field position? It's boring, fans hate it and it doesn't truly reward a team for pinning it's opponent deep. Yeah, I know that you get two points and the ball as well, but if you're not going to amend the safety rule, at least make midfield the automatic field position instead of your own 40. That would make coaches think twice about conceding the deuce. And as for awarding a single point on a missed field goal, gimme a break. You shouldn't be rewarded for failing.
NFL: Allowing Coaches to call Timeouts
This rule is what's allowed the bench bosses to call timeouts a fraction of a second before a kicker attempts a field goal. If a team can get the snap and kick off before we actually hear the whistle, there's a problem. I'm not saying you shouldn't be able to freeze the kicker, but make a player on the field call for a break. Is it that tough for a coach to signal in to his team that he wants a timeout in that situation? I guarantee those timeouts get called a couple of seconds earlier, and we don't have to sit there and wonder if the game-winning attempt we just saw was legit. What happens when one of these kickers or holders gets hurt on a play that doesn't even count?
MLB: Instant Replay
I'm not talking about taking away the strike zone from the umpires. But we've had two cases in the last two weeks of players hitting homeruns and not being awarded the roundtripper. Sure, baseball is already a long game, but if the umps blow a big call on the basepads that can affect the score and the cameras catch it, I think you need the ability to get it right. Especially in the postseason. If they can do it in tennis, I think they should be able to do it in baseball.
NBA: Too Many Timeouts
Other than the 30 coaches in the Association, find me someone that doesn't agree with this one. Newsflash: these guys have all played the game since they could stand upright. They know the ball needs to go in the hoop if they're losing. Please stop sucking the life out of the little drama that currently exists in the NBA. I know it's a lot to ask to coach up your team in practice or signal something from the bench, but how about we let the guys on the court decide which play to run. Otherwise, we'll just hand you suits an X-box controller and duke it out in cyberspace.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
All I Want Before Christmas...
If you like sports, this is the best time of the year. Hockey starts up, the CFL is in full swing, the NFL season has begun to take shape and playoff baseball is underway. With that in mind, here's what I'm praying for in each of the aforementioned leagues.
- Meltdown in Cowtown: I'm not sure there's anything more anticipated than Mike Keenan's first verbal dousing of the Flames. At some point the Flames will go through a drought of some sorts (every team does), and Iron Mike will explode. You think the media is Calgary is happy to have this guy replace flatliner Jim Playfair?
- UFC '07 - Ultimate Football Championship: If there is a God of Football, the Lions and Riders will hook up in the West Final in November. BC's fiesty 37-34 win in Saskatchewn was not only the best game of the CFL season, it was also the testiest (insert Jeff Pilon/AJ Gass joke here). There's nothing better than two really good teams that don't like each other, and the battle to represent the West in the Grey Cup could be a streetfight with highlights.
- Winners Only: IF the Patriots and Cowboys win this week, it sets up a matchup of 5-0 teams in week 6. If the Pats win that game and the rest on their October sked, they'll head into Indianapolis where the Colts may also be undefeated. All of the dominoes have to fall into place, but to see Moss vs TO in Dallas and then Brady vs Manning with perfect records on the line... you will need a taser to get me away from the LCD.
- The Bronx is Burning: If Alex Rodriguez rips it up in the postseason, will the fans forget all of his poor past playoffs? It would be just like Yankees' fans to worship at the A-Rod altar after verbally burning effigies of him on radio talk shows and in the New York dailies. It'd be nice to see the Yankees NOT win the World Series, but for A-Rod to hit .500 in October. Then who will they blame?
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A Simple Plan
Here was a rule in my high school and probably yours as well. If you were going to have a party at your house, you checked to see if anyone else was having a party that same night. That way, you didn't end up with chips, dips and dorks in a virtually empty house on that rare Saturday night when your parents were out of town. Pretty simple, right?
So why do so many teams have trouble with their scheduling?
I know. There's building availability and broadcasters to worry about, but some of these games just boggle your mind.
For example... the Vancouver Giants want a packed house for their home opener this year. They'll raise their Memorial Cup banner and blow the doors off with their game presentation. So why would the Giants allow the WHL to slot them at the same time and on the same night that the Lions host the Calgary Stampeders in a pivotal West division showdown? Sure it's a Saturday night and both games should be well-attended, but a lot of people who attend Lions games also go to the Giants. Why should they have to choose? Plus, for a game like that, you want all of the media focus on your team. Instead, it will be split.
It's like the braintrust in Montreal deciding to play last Sunday's Lions/Als game at the same time the NFL kicked off it's opening weekend. Great decision; I'm sure no one will be watching the most popular league in North America that day. How many viewers and potential fans were lost? Could the game not have been played on Saturday or Friday? It's going to be tough to get a date with a girl when you show up with your good-looking, successful, single friend that she's always had a crush on. Same principle applies here.
Sure I understand that at some point you have to say "we're not going to let other events dictate what we do", but these examples seem pretty straight forward to me. And that's why I won't schedule my big press conferences to coincide with any of Britney's Comeback Tour dates. I need the publicity.
So why do so many teams have trouble with their scheduling?
I know. There's building availability and broadcasters to worry about, but some of these games just boggle your mind.
For example... the Vancouver Giants want a packed house for their home opener this year. They'll raise their Memorial Cup banner and blow the doors off with their game presentation. So why would the Giants allow the WHL to slot them at the same time and on the same night that the Lions host the Calgary Stampeders in a pivotal West division showdown? Sure it's a Saturday night and both games should be well-attended, but a lot of people who attend Lions games also go to the Giants. Why should they have to choose? Plus, for a game like that, you want all of the media focus on your team. Instead, it will be split.
It's like the braintrust in Montreal deciding to play last Sunday's Lions/Als game at the same time the NFL kicked off it's opening weekend. Great decision; I'm sure no one will be watching the most popular league in North America that day. How many viewers and potential fans were lost? Could the game not have been played on Saturday or Friday? It's going to be tough to get a date with a girl when you show up with your good-looking, successful, single friend that she's always had a crush on. Same principle applies here.
Sure I understand that at some point you have to say "we're not going to let other events dictate what we do", but these examples seem pretty straight forward to me. And that's why I won't schedule my big press conferences to coincide with any of Britney's Comeback Tour dates. I need the publicity.
Monday, August 27, 2007
The 3 C's: Convick, Cuts and Canucks
What's up cyber sports fans? Spent the past week getting used to my new schedule as a regular columnist for Metro here in Vancouver, but now that I know the ropes, I'm good to fit it all in on a regular basis. Here's what's on my mind these days:
1) Michael Vick came across as being fairly genuine at his press conference today, but it's going to take some time before he can convince me and the rest of the general public that he's actually sorry. Time heals all wounds, and Vick had better use that time (most likely in the slammer) to actually UNDERSTAND what he did wrong. Right now, most of us just think you're sorry you got caught, Mike. That can change, but not overnight. Start thinking about what you want to represent when you get out of prison while you hammer out those license plates.
2) I love the CFL. But only in the Canadian Football League would a team honor two guys that were cut in training camp just three months earlier. That's the case with former Ti-Cats Mike Morreale and Rob Hitchcock, who will be saluted during this weekend's Labour Day game at Ivor Wynne. What's the message here? "Guys, you're not good enough to play on this team, but damn, you used to be good!" Here's an idea: don't bring them to camp. If you're really not sure that these "all-time greats" can even make the roster, do the right thing by telling them before they get the axe. If one of the other 7 teams really believes they can still play, they'll find a camp to go to. And to honor them just three months later seems way too weird.
3) People are already complaining about the Canucks' new look before the jersey unveiling on Wednesday. They're upset that Johnny Canuck wasn't used and that the Orca logo is still involved instead of the stick in the rink. They're more focussed on the logo than the overall look of the jersey. Have you seen the jerseys the Canucks have worn for most of their existence? Their yellow jerseys were some of the worst in the history of sports. This team had a third jersey that appeared to be salmon in colour. And the most recent ones were passable, but barely. Canucks' fans should just thank their lucky stars that management decided to use the blue, green and white colour scheme. To me, the logo isn't that big of a deal if you've got good colours, as long as it isn't so offside that it draws all of the attention (and this one doesn't). And as for those who can't believe that the stick-in-the-rink isn't the primary logo, are you looking at the same thing I am? I'm all about simplicity, but it's just not a great logo.
That's it for now, I'll check in with you later in the week. By the way, the movie Superbad is Super Good. Not really suitable for the minors in crowd, but I laughed out loud too many times to count.
1) Michael Vick came across as being fairly genuine at his press conference today, but it's going to take some time before he can convince me and the rest of the general public that he's actually sorry. Time heals all wounds, and Vick had better use that time (most likely in the slammer) to actually UNDERSTAND what he did wrong. Right now, most of us just think you're sorry you got caught, Mike. That can change, but not overnight. Start thinking about what you want to represent when you get out of prison while you hammer out those license plates.
2) I love the CFL. But only in the Canadian Football League would a team honor two guys that were cut in training camp just three months earlier. That's the case with former Ti-Cats Mike Morreale and Rob Hitchcock, who will be saluted during this weekend's Labour Day game at Ivor Wynne. What's the message here? "Guys, you're not good enough to play on this team, but damn, you used to be good!" Here's an idea: don't bring them to camp. If you're really not sure that these "all-time greats" can even make the roster, do the right thing by telling them before they get the axe. If one of the other 7 teams really believes they can still play, they'll find a camp to go to. And to honor them just three months later seems way too weird.
3) People are already complaining about the Canucks' new look before the jersey unveiling on Wednesday. They're upset that Johnny Canuck wasn't used and that the Orca logo is still involved instead of the stick in the rink. They're more focussed on the logo than the overall look of the jersey. Have you seen the jerseys the Canucks have worn for most of their existence? Their yellow jerseys were some of the worst in the history of sports. This team had a third jersey that appeared to be salmon in colour. And the most recent ones were passable, but barely. Canucks' fans should just thank their lucky stars that management decided to use the blue, green and white colour scheme. To me, the logo isn't that big of a deal if you've got good colours, as long as it isn't so offside that it draws all of the attention (and this one doesn't). And as for those who can't believe that the stick-in-the-rink isn't the primary logo, are you looking at the same thing I am? I'm all about simplicity, but it's just not a great logo.
That's it for now, I'll check in with you later in the week. By the way, the movie Superbad is Super Good. Not really suitable for the minors in crowd, but I laughed out loud too many times to count.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Those Taking Ames are Way off Target
Am I the only one who can't believe all of the uproar about Mike Weir's selection to the President's Cup team? I know they're celebrating out East, but why is everyone in the West bitching about Stephen Ames not getting the nod ahead of Weir?
International captain Gary Player made the choice, saying he was basing it on history, not just recent history. He cited Weir's performance at the past 3 President's Cups, the fact that he has won 7 times on tour and there's that major that Weir won as well. I think they call it the Masters.
But all day today I hear people whining about the fact that Ames isn't on the squad. They throw out all of the stats from this year; the money list, the world rankings, the comparative performance in the majors and scream, "INJUSTICE!!".
But this is anything but a penalty stroke on Player's part. The bottom line is this: both Weir and Ames had an opportunity to play themselves onto this team and neither did it. The top 10 international players automatically qualify, and both finished well out of the top 10. Ames was 16th while Weir was 20th. So if you want to complain that Weir hasn't played well enough to tee it up in Montreal this Fall, then use the same argument for Ames. I don't hear anybody in Canada talking about Andres Romero, the kid from Argentina who nearly won the British Open and was the 12th ranked player among internationals. If you want to cry about Weir being on the team, use Romero as your poster boy for getting screwed, not Ames.
And you actually believe that "Eastern bias" or marketing of the event came into account, you're on the pipe. Gary Player isn't from Toronto, he's from South Africa. And as for ticket sales, Tiger Woods was going to pack the place even if there wasn't a Canadian competing. Get real.
I would have been fine with Ames getting picked just as I'm fine with Weir. Personally, I actually am more partial to Ames than Weir as a person. But this is the reason the captain has some discretion. So that his hands aren't tied after the top 10 and he can take whatever factors he feels are important into account.
Gary Player had a choice to make and he made it. I'm pretty sure he's more concerned about winning this tournament more than selling tickets. Canada should be happy that there's a Canadian on the team, not complaining about the Canuck that was selected.
International captain Gary Player made the choice, saying he was basing it on history, not just recent history. He cited Weir's performance at the past 3 President's Cups, the fact that he has won 7 times on tour and there's that major that Weir won as well. I think they call it the Masters.
But all day today I hear people whining about the fact that Ames isn't on the squad. They throw out all of the stats from this year; the money list, the world rankings, the comparative performance in the majors and scream, "INJUSTICE!!".
But this is anything but a penalty stroke on Player's part. The bottom line is this: both Weir and Ames had an opportunity to play themselves onto this team and neither did it. The top 10 international players automatically qualify, and both finished well out of the top 10. Ames was 16th while Weir was 20th. So if you want to complain that Weir hasn't played well enough to tee it up in Montreal this Fall, then use the same argument for Ames. I don't hear anybody in Canada talking about Andres Romero, the kid from Argentina who nearly won the British Open and was the 12th ranked player among internationals. If you want to cry about Weir being on the team, use Romero as your poster boy for getting screwed, not Ames.
And you actually believe that "Eastern bias" or marketing of the event came into account, you're on the pipe. Gary Player isn't from Toronto, he's from South Africa. And as for ticket sales, Tiger Woods was going to pack the place even if there wasn't a Canadian competing. Get real.
I would have been fine with Ames getting picked just as I'm fine with Weir. Personally, I actually am more partial to Ames than Weir as a person. But this is the reason the captain has some discretion. So that his hands aren't tied after the top 10 and he can take whatever factors he feels are important into account.
Gary Player had a choice to make and he made it. I'm pretty sure he's more concerned about winning this tournament more than selling tickets. Canada should be happy that there's a Canadian on the team, not complaining about the Canuck that was selected.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
What I Think I Know...
Man, mix a busy week with the Lions with a vacationing co-host, and you quickly realize there's not much time to blog! Sorry for the two-week hiatus, but here's what I think know right now:
1) If last week's loss was as bad as the BC Lions are going to look all year, the rest of the CFL is in trouble. The Roughriders have been the next best team in the league to the Leos thus far, but could only manage a 21-9 win at BC Place. Hey, I know that a win is a win, but the Lions had 2 QB's, their top run-stopping linebacker, 2 starters in the secondary and a starting slotback on the shelf. And they were still in this game until the final minutes. Watch out if they get healthy - especially if they get Dave Dickenson back. The Leos are still a league-best 5-1 out of the gate...
2) I'm sick of the yearly Holdout Harem in the NFL. Brady Quinn finally signed a contract today after missing 10 days of training camp. Am I the only one who watched him free-fall on draft day? Why would he not get his a$$ to training camp ASAP and prove that he was overlooked instead of busting bicep curls in the gym? Jamarcus Russell continues to play hardball with Al Davis even though Daunte Culpepper just swiped his gig as opening day starter in Oakland. Hey, I know these guys (and the other holdouts) had great college stats and combine scores. But we've seen "can't miss" prospects implode numerous times before. Maybe instead of trying to nail down another $50K in your ROOKIE CONTRACT, these guys should bust a call to Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith or Tim Couch and try to figure out what went wrong for them. If you're as good as you think you are, prove it.
3) Hate him if you want, but Rory Sabbatini is good for golf. Sure he's called out Tiger on a couple of occasions this year and been put in his place (including getting smoked on the weekend at the Bridgestone), but that smacktalk is the only thing that's brought out the best in Tiger all year. Face it - Tiger Woods is at a point in his career where NOBODY presents a consistent challenge for him. When Phil Mickelson is at his best (which is seemingly NEVER in the past year), he might be the only guy with enough talent to give Tiger a run for his money. But dominance can very easily lead to complacency; if there's no one there to push you (OR PUSH YOUR BUTTONS), you don't push yourself as hard. I hope Sabbatini continues to spout off. It stirs up the PGA which is far too vanilla on most occasions, and it might be the only thing that pushes Tiger to amaze us in the near future.
4) Gary Bettman officially hates Jim Balsillie. How else do you explain the quick and tidy purchase of the Tampa Bay Lightning by a group headed up by Doug Maclean? As far as the public knew, the Lightning weren't for sale (the Preds are), there weren't multiple offers (there are for the Preds) and the sale appears to be smooth and easy for less money than Balsillie was offering for the Nashville franchise. Yes, you'd better drink the Kool-Aid the NHL is serving up because Bettman isn't about to lend a helping hand to those that aren't using theirs to pat him on the back.
5) Tom Brady continues to lead the list of athletes I'd want to change places with for a month or two. He just turned 30 the other day and check this out:
- He's already won 3 Super Bowl (and 2 Super Bowl MVP's)
- His past and present girlfriends include actress Bridget Monahan and supermodel Gisele
- He's just been named World's Best Dressed Man by Esquire Magazine
Throw in the fact that he plays the most challenging position in all of sports in a great city like Boston, and what else do you want?
That's it for now, but you know there's still more stuff I think I know... I just don't know it yet.
1) If last week's loss was as bad as the BC Lions are going to look all year, the rest of the CFL is in trouble. The Roughriders have been the next best team in the league to the Leos thus far, but could only manage a 21-9 win at BC Place. Hey, I know that a win is a win, but the Lions had 2 QB's, their top run-stopping linebacker, 2 starters in the secondary and a starting slotback on the shelf. And they were still in this game until the final minutes. Watch out if they get healthy - especially if they get Dave Dickenson back. The Leos are still a league-best 5-1 out of the gate...
2) I'm sick of the yearly Holdout Harem in the NFL. Brady Quinn finally signed a contract today after missing 10 days of training camp. Am I the only one who watched him free-fall on draft day? Why would he not get his a$$ to training camp ASAP and prove that he was overlooked instead of busting bicep curls in the gym? Jamarcus Russell continues to play hardball with Al Davis even though Daunte Culpepper just swiped his gig as opening day starter in Oakland. Hey, I know these guys (and the other holdouts) had great college stats and combine scores. But we've seen "can't miss" prospects implode numerous times before. Maybe instead of trying to nail down another $50K in your ROOKIE CONTRACT, these guys should bust a call to Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith or Tim Couch and try to figure out what went wrong for them. If you're as good as you think you are, prove it.
3) Hate him if you want, but Rory Sabbatini is good for golf. Sure he's called out Tiger on a couple of occasions this year and been put in his place (including getting smoked on the weekend at the Bridgestone), but that smacktalk is the only thing that's brought out the best in Tiger all year. Face it - Tiger Woods is at a point in his career where NOBODY presents a consistent challenge for him. When Phil Mickelson is at his best (which is seemingly NEVER in the past year), he might be the only guy with enough talent to give Tiger a run for his money. But dominance can very easily lead to complacency; if there's no one there to push you (OR PUSH YOUR BUTTONS), you don't push yourself as hard. I hope Sabbatini continues to spout off. It stirs up the PGA which is far too vanilla on most occasions, and it might be the only thing that pushes Tiger to amaze us in the near future.
4) Gary Bettman officially hates Jim Balsillie. How else do you explain the quick and tidy purchase of the Tampa Bay Lightning by a group headed up by Doug Maclean? As far as the public knew, the Lightning weren't for sale (the Preds are), there weren't multiple offers (there are for the Preds) and the sale appears to be smooth and easy for less money than Balsillie was offering for the Nashville franchise. Yes, you'd better drink the Kool-Aid the NHL is serving up because Bettman isn't about to lend a helping hand to those that aren't using theirs to pat him on the back.
5) Tom Brady continues to lead the list of athletes I'd want to change places with for a month or two. He just turned 30 the other day and check this out:
- He's already won 3 Super Bowl (and 2 Super Bowl MVP's)
- His past and present girlfriends include actress Bridget Monahan and supermodel Gisele
- He's just been named World's Best Dressed Man by Esquire Magazine
Throw in the fact that he plays the most challenging position in all of sports in a great city like Boston, and what else do you want?
That's it for now, but you know there's still more stuff I think I know... I just don't know it yet.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...
Well, we finally have our answer - THIS is what it takes for Gary Bettman to look good as Commissioner of the NHL:
- the NBA Gambling Scandal which has called into question the integrity of the entire operation; the dress code doesn't seem like such a big deal right now, does it?
- Michael Vick's despicable (allegedly) actions related to dogfighting; the NFL hasn't had any recent legal problems amongst its players, right?
- Bud Selig's refusal (until Tuesday night) to be in attendance for Barry Bonds allegedly tainted homerun record chase
Yep, as long as a firestorm hits every other pro sport in the US, Bettman comes up smelling like roses. Well, sort of... Gary is facing some allegations himself (which he has denied, not surprisingly). Jim Balsillie, the guy who put up $238 million to buy the Predators, and his lawyer aren't real happy with the way things went down in Nashville. In fact, Balsillie's lawyer has accused Bettman of emailing Preds' owner Craig Leipold and telling him not to continue dealing with Balsillie.
Is that really something that Bettman should be doing? Just because he wants to keep that franchise buried in Nashville or at least somewhere south of the 49th, should he actually be influencing the decision of the owner of a private franchise? Kind of makes you wonder what Bettman has promised Leipold since Balsillie's bid was worth $50 MILLION MORE than the highest competing offer.
I'm not exactly Warren Buffett, but if someone wants to buy my car for $500 more than the other guy who's interested, I'm already trying to figure out just how loud I'll be able to crank up my new surround sound system. Something stinks here, and it's not Bettman's breath. Especially when you consider that Bettman could easily find a way to block the sale in the end. We've already seen how much power he wields among the NHL Board of Governors when the voting came down on the current unbalanced schedule.
But all of this is flying under the radar right now because Sidney Crosby isn't into dogfighting, Bill McCreary isn't fixing playoff games, and Martin Brodeur isn't accused of being on the juice as he looks to rewrite every goaltending record in the book.
Yep, all Bettman needs is a year full of soap operas in the NFL, NBA and MLB and he'll probably be in line for a contract extension.
- the NBA Gambling Scandal which has called into question the integrity of the entire operation; the dress code doesn't seem like such a big deal right now, does it?
- Michael Vick's despicable (allegedly) actions related to dogfighting; the NFL hasn't had any recent legal problems amongst its players, right?
- Bud Selig's refusal (until Tuesday night) to be in attendance for Barry Bonds allegedly tainted homerun record chase
Yep, as long as a firestorm hits every other pro sport in the US, Bettman comes up smelling like roses. Well, sort of... Gary is facing some allegations himself (which he has denied, not surprisingly). Jim Balsillie, the guy who put up $238 million to buy the Predators, and his lawyer aren't real happy with the way things went down in Nashville. In fact, Balsillie's lawyer has accused Bettman of emailing Preds' owner Craig Leipold and telling him not to continue dealing with Balsillie.
Is that really something that Bettman should be doing? Just because he wants to keep that franchise buried in Nashville or at least somewhere south of the 49th, should he actually be influencing the decision of the owner of a private franchise? Kind of makes you wonder what Bettman has promised Leipold since Balsillie's bid was worth $50 MILLION MORE than the highest competing offer.
I'm not exactly Warren Buffett, but if someone wants to buy my car for $500 more than the other guy who's interested, I'm already trying to figure out just how loud I'll be able to crank up my new surround sound system. Something stinks here, and it's not Bettman's breath. Especially when you consider that Bettman could easily find a way to block the sale in the end. We've already seen how much power he wields among the NHL Board of Governors when the voting came down on the current unbalanced schedule.
But all of this is flying under the radar right now because Sidney Crosby isn't into dogfighting, Bill McCreary isn't fixing playoff games, and Martin Brodeur isn't accused of being on the juice as he looks to rewrite every goaltending record in the book.
Yep, all Bettman needs is a year full of soap operas in the NFL, NBA and MLB and he'll probably be in line for a contract extension.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
I Can See Clearly Now?
In the last 21 months, Dave Dickenson has had his bell rung so often you'd think Quasimodo was lining up against him on a nightly basis. And after this latest concussion in Saskatchewan, the question must be asked: Should Dickenson retire?
This isn't a Buck Pierce campaign. In fact, the question is posed out of respect for Dickenson, as he is far more than a quarterback, a football player or a professional athlete. He is an extremely cerebral individual who could take on a variety of careers upon retirement. He is a husband. He is a father.
But only Dickenson knows just how foggy his CFL future is. Sure there are tests that will be performed to evaluate just how long the road to recovery will be, but only DD can truly gauge how efficiently his mind is functioning. And after talking to Hall of Famer Matt Dunigan, who was forced to retire after countless concussions, the only thing that is clear about head injuries is that honesty has to be the best policy. There is simply too much at stake to play the tough-guy role in trying to get back on the field at all costs. In fact, Dunigan finally told his doctor in Hamilton to treat him the way he would treat his own son when it came to advising the strong-willed pivot about getting back under centre. And though he did hang 'em up at that point, he still suffers the effects of a career filled with head-shots.
But after talking with Dickenson on Monday, I don't believe he should call it quits just yet. He is one of the smartest players I've ever met on and off the field, and he understands what is at stake if he puts on that jersey again. That said, I believe Dickenson should talk to his family and decide when enough is enough. If he suffers another noggin-knocker this season, he should call it quits. Life is way to short to forget about while you're still living.
This isn't a Buck Pierce campaign. In fact, the question is posed out of respect for Dickenson, as he is far more than a quarterback, a football player or a professional athlete. He is an extremely cerebral individual who could take on a variety of careers upon retirement. He is a husband. He is a father.
But only Dickenson knows just how foggy his CFL future is. Sure there are tests that will be performed to evaluate just how long the road to recovery will be, but only DD can truly gauge how efficiently his mind is functioning. And after talking to Hall of Famer Matt Dunigan, who was forced to retire after countless concussions, the only thing that is clear about head injuries is that honesty has to be the best policy. There is simply too much at stake to play the tough-guy role in trying to get back on the field at all costs. In fact, Dunigan finally told his doctor in Hamilton to treat him the way he would treat his own son when it came to advising the strong-willed pivot about getting back under centre. And though he did hang 'em up at that point, he still suffers the effects of a career filled with head-shots.
But after talking with Dickenson on Monday, I don't believe he should call it quits just yet. He is one of the smartest players I've ever met on and off the field, and he understands what is at stake if he puts on that jersey again. That said, I believe Dickenson should talk to his family and decide when enough is enough. If he suffers another noggin-knocker this season, he should call it quits. Life is way to short to forget about while you're still living.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
I Spy With My little Eye...
As I try to settle back into the North American lifestyle after 3 weeks in Europe, here's some random observations from my first week back on the job:
- Good on Dave Nonis for NOT signing Bill Guerin. Could he have improved the Canucks offence? Yep. Could he have been a good triggerman for the Sedins? Yessiree. But there is NO WAY that he fits either the Canucks' salary structure nor their future plans at $4.5 million per season. Yeah, Canucks' fans, I know that you want to see Nonis do something bigger than signing Byron Ritchie and Brad Isbister. But mark my words, he will do something and my gut says that you'll see a trade before the end of the summer in an effort to upgrade the offense.
- Over the past 20 games or so, the BC Lions have had the most dominating defense that I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE CFL. I'm an offensive guy and love nothing more than seeing points go up on the board, but I am blown away by the BC D. This defense gave up 30+ points only ONCE last year (32, week 2 vs Sask) and have allowed 20 points or less in 7 of their last 8 games at home dating back to last season. And here's the scary thing: I think they're even better this year than they were in '06.
- Barry Bonds continues to amaze me with his utter lack of respect for the people who fork out their hard-earned cash to pay his salary. The ONLY people in North America who don't boo the guy every time he wakes up in the morning are San Francisco Giants fans. Yet Bonds won't even attempt to repay them by taking part in tomorrow's Homerun Derby IN SAN FRANCISCO. Any other ballpark and I give him a pass. But turning down the derby at Pac Bell Park is the equivalent of dropping his pants at home plate and mooning the crowd, especially after San Fran fans stuffed ballot boxes to make sure he was in the Mid Season Classic.
- Maybe Canada should have played its FIFA U-20 World Cup matches at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby instead of in Edmonton. Everyone who's been to a match agrees that Swangard has never looked better and that the event has been first-class all the way in Burnaby. Hopefully that leads to more internationals at Swangard while we wait for Greg Kerfoot and company to cut through the ridiculous red tape that city officials throw at them as they attempt to build a new waterfront stadium in downtown Vancouver. Safe injection sites, no problem. Brand new stadium on someone else's dime, not so fast there, buddy. Kind of makes you wonder.
- Tony Parker and Eva Longoria got married in Paris earlier this weekend. She is by far the most interesting person to put on a Spurs uniform since Dennis Rodman. If Parker can keep both her and Greg Popovich happy, I say send him in to make peace in the Middle East.
- Good on Dave Nonis for NOT signing Bill Guerin. Could he have improved the Canucks offence? Yep. Could he have been a good triggerman for the Sedins? Yessiree. But there is NO WAY that he fits either the Canucks' salary structure nor their future plans at $4.5 million per season. Yeah, Canucks' fans, I know that you want to see Nonis do something bigger than signing Byron Ritchie and Brad Isbister. But mark my words, he will do something and my gut says that you'll see a trade before the end of the summer in an effort to upgrade the offense.
- Over the past 20 games or so, the BC Lions have had the most dominating defense that I'VE EVER SEEN IN THE CFL. I'm an offensive guy and love nothing more than seeing points go up on the board, but I am blown away by the BC D. This defense gave up 30+ points only ONCE last year (32, week 2 vs Sask) and have allowed 20 points or less in 7 of their last 8 games at home dating back to last season. And here's the scary thing: I think they're even better this year than they were in '06.
- Barry Bonds continues to amaze me with his utter lack of respect for the people who fork out their hard-earned cash to pay his salary. The ONLY people in North America who don't boo the guy every time he wakes up in the morning are San Francisco Giants fans. Yet Bonds won't even attempt to repay them by taking part in tomorrow's Homerun Derby IN SAN FRANCISCO. Any other ballpark and I give him a pass. But turning down the derby at Pac Bell Park is the equivalent of dropping his pants at home plate and mooning the crowd, especially after San Fran fans stuffed ballot boxes to make sure he was in the Mid Season Classic.
- Maybe Canada should have played its FIFA U-20 World Cup matches at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby instead of in Edmonton. Everyone who's been to a match agrees that Swangard has never looked better and that the event has been first-class all the way in Burnaby. Hopefully that leads to more internationals at Swangard while we wait for Greg Kerfoot and company to cut through the ridiculous red tape that city officials throw at them as they attempt to build a new waterfront stadium in downtown Vancouver. Safe injection sites, no problem. Brand new stadium on someone else's dime, not so fast there, buddy. Kind of makes you wonder.
- Tony Parker and Eva Longoria got married in Paris earlier this weekend. She is by far the most interesting person to put on a Spurs uniform since Dennis Rodman. If Parker can keep both her and Greg Popovich happy, I say send him in to make peace in the Middle East.
Monday, June 25, 2007
TRAVELLIN' MAN
Time to check in from Europe, so here's the Coles Notes: Arrived in Vienna on June 9th and have been wandering around the continent ever since. Here's an extremely brief rundown of the journey to date...
AUSTRIA
Vienna's a great city. Tonnes of sightseeing to do and a lot of it is guarenteed to impress. Stephansdome, the Rathaus and Schonbrun have been my favorites to date. They also play American football here - my QB from UBC, Shawn Olson, is the co-head coach of the team (and this year's Offensive Coordinator at SFU). Not bad entertainment as their fans get into the game and they have a cool beergarden afterwards. I was also served the largest plate of ribs I have ever seen in Vienna, as well as the largest Cordon Bleu. They may have to roll me home.
Salzburg is also very cool. Way different geography than Vienna, and way different feel. My buddy AC and I visited the brewery in Salzburg so that was our "Sound of Music". It was, like most breweries in Europe, started by monks, so we deemed it a religious experience. Salzburg is also on the German border and very near to "The Eagle's Nest", which was built as a prvate retreat for Hitler. Instead of destroying it, they kept it as a historic site (not a tribute, but more for tourist and info purposes). Make time to go there as it is right on top of a mountain and worth the visit if only for the views.
GERMANY
Only had a couple of days here, but they were good ones. Munich is the self-proclaimed home of beer and a visit to the Beer Museum and Hofbrauhaus seemed to validate that. We also made a quick trip to Neushwanstein, the reallife castle that the castle at Disneyland is based on. The guy who had it built in the mid-late 1800's was declared insane, but this pad must have been the inspiration for MTV's "Cribs" - it is PIMPIN'!!!!!
CZECH REPUBLIC - PRAGUE
Again, only a short visit, but well worth it. The Castle and Cathedral that defines it is intimidating to say the least, and the views from the Great South tower in St Vitus Cathedral made the 287 stairs worth the trip (although AC might disagree as a 6'4", 300lb man doesn't easliy fit up a small winding staircase!). The river and accompanying bridges provide welcome vistas of the historical part of Prague, and the narrow, winding streets make it a cool place to get lost. Did not see Jan Bulis here - obviously a major disappointment.
No more time to post but I will update you on Croatia and Italy when I get a chance. back in saddle on July 3rd, so until then... CIAO!
AUSTRIA
Vienna's a great city. Tonnes of sightseeing to do and a lot of it is guarenteed to impress. Stephansdome, the Rathaus and Schonbrun have been my favorites to date. They also play American football here - my QB from UBC, Shawn Olson, is the co-head coach of the team (and this year's Offensive Coordinator at SFU). Not bad entertainment as their fans get into the game and they have a cool beergarden afterwards. I was also served the largest plate of ribs I have ever seen in Vienna, as well as the largest Cordon Bleu. They may have to roll me home.
Salzburg is also very cool. Way different geography than Vienna, and way different feel. My buddy AC and I visited the brewery in Salzburg so that was our "Sound of Music". It was, like most breweries in Europe, started by monks, so we deemed it a religious experience. Salzburg is also on the German border and very near to "The Eagle's Nest", which was built as a prvate retreat for Hitler. Instead of destroying it, they kept it as a historic site (not a tribute, but more for tourist and info purposes). Make time to go there as it is right on top of a mountain and worth the visit if only for the views.
GERMANY
Only had a couple of days here, but they were good ones. Munich is the self-proclaimed home of beer and a visit to the Beer Museum and Hofbrauhaus seemed to validate that. We also made a quick trip to Neushwanstein, the reallife castle that the castle at Disneyland is based on. The guy who had it built in the mid-late 1800's was declared insane, but this pad must have been the inspiration for MTV's "Cribs" - it is PIMPIN'!!!!!
CZECH REPUBLIC - PRAGUE
Again, only a short visit, but well worth it. The Castle and Cathedral that defines it is intimidating to say the least, and the views from the Great South tower in St Vitus Cathedral made the 287 stairs worth the trip (although AC might disagree as a 6'4", 300lb man doesn't easliy fit up a small winding staircase!). The river and accompanying bridges provide welcome vistas of the historical part of Prague, and the narrow, winding streets make it a cool place to get lost. Did not see Jan Bulis here - obviously a major disappointment.
No more time to post but I will update you on Croatia and Italy when I get a chance. back in saddle on July 3rd, so until then... CIAO!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
The Final Countdown
Yes, that's right. I'm off to Europe as of tomorrow night. A nice jaunt through the Central part of the Continent will undoubtedly find me refreshed as we kick off another CFL season and begin preparations for the Canucks' defense of the Pacific Division crown.
But before I begin my reenactment of the role of Rusty in European Vacation, a few final thoughts.
- So what has the Ducks' win taught us about the "New NHL"? Not much. Carolina won the first post-hiatus Cup with a completely different type of team than Anaheim. The Canes were loaded up front, feasible on the back-end, and wet behind the ears in goal. The formerly Mighty Fowl had a former Conn Smythe winner in net, a pair of Norris trophy winners, and a potpourri of talent for forwards. All we know is that there is NO SECRET FORMULA involved in winning a Stanley Cup, but it sure helps to stay healthy. That should be good news around the NHL, as team's that don't have [insert asset here] aren't condemned to the basement on opening night. Teams and fans can be optimistic for completely different reasons.
- Did the NBA's competition committee OD on stupid pills? They just rejected the idea of amending the rule that landed Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw in the stands for Game 5 of the Western semi against the Spurs. Apparently, getting stopped by your coaches before you even get near a scrum that has formed because your best player was just clobbered in a moment of senseless frustration is a still a suspendable offence. Next up for the committee: forming a rule that would limit the size of chalk cloud that players like Kevin Garnett and Lebron James could create when drying their hands before a game. Those fumes could be toxic, right?
- The guy who ratted out Michael Vick last week actually tried to make a case for dogfighting. He says that people support the UFC, so they should give dogfighting a chance. Hey jackass: the fighters in UFC are choosing to step into the ring; they aren't being bred to kill another member of their species. And no one has ever died in the Octagon. Please take a long walk off a short pier.
And with that brief offering, I'm off to Europe. I'll keep you posted on my travels every once in awhile, as I don't want a massive wave of depression to strike the Lower Mainland.
Keep it safe, keep it real, and keep on rockin' in the free world.
But before I begin my reenactment of the role of Rusty in European Vacation, a few final thoughts.
- So what has the Ducks' win taught us about the "New NHL"? Not much. Carolina won the first post-hiatus Cup with a completely different type of team than Anaheim. The Canes were loaded up front, feasible on the back-end, and wet behind the ears in goal. The formerly Mighty Fowl had a former Conn Smythe winner in net, a pair of Norris trophy winners, and a potpourri of talent for forwards. All we know is that there is NO SECRET FORMULA involved in winning a Stanley Cup, but it sure helps to stay healthy. That should be good news around the NHL, as team's that don't have [insert asset here] aren't condemned to the basement on opening night. Teams and fans can be optimistic for completely different reasons.
- Did the NBA's competition committee OD on stupid pills? They just rejected the idea of amending the rule that landed Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw in the stands for Game 5 of the Western semi against the Spurs. Apparently, getting stopped by your coaches before you even get near a scrum that has formed because your best player was just clobbered in a moment of senseless frustration is a still a suspendable offence. Next up for the committee: forming a rule that would limit the size of chalk cloud that players like Kevin Garnett and Lebron James could create when drying their hands before a game. Those fumes could be toxic, right?
- The guy who ratted out Michael Vick last week actually tried to make a case for dogfighting. He says that people support the UFC, so they should give dogfighting a chance. Hey jackass: the fighters in UFC are choosing to step into the ring; they aren't being bred to kill another member of their species. And no one has ever died in the Octagon. Please take a long walk off a short pier.
And with that brief offering, I'm off to Europe. I'll keep you posted on my travels every once in awhile, as I don't want a massive wave of depression to strike the Lower Mainland.
Keep it safe, keep it real, and keep on rockin' in the free world.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Kobe's Beef
By now you've heard the news. Kobe Bryant says he wants off of the Lake Show. He says he feels betrayed by the organization as a "Lakers Insider" went on record with the "Kobe forced Shaq out of LA" blast. Kobe also says he was lied to about the direction the team was going when he resigned.
Let me break this down for you. Kobe Bryant isn't going anywhere. In fact, I don't think he wants to go anywhere.
For starters, he's wanted to be "the man" in LA the whole time. Bryant today revealed that owner Jerry Buss told him that there was no way that he was going to resign Shaq in 2004; that it was simply way too much money for a player of Shaq's age and physical condition. That may be true, but Kobe didn't exactly stand up and say, "You can't get rid of him. If he goes, I go." Instead, Kobe resigned with the Lakers after weighing offers from other teams around the league that summer.
As for the lying about rebuilding the team, I think he's telling the truth, but actions speak louder than words. Shaq was traded Miami for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a 1st round pick BEFORE Kobe put pen to paper on his deal in LA. Did he think that trio was going to bring another championship to LA? Yet there was Kobe, signing his contract shortly after the trade, and that contract has further hamstrung the Lakers. At an average of nearly $20 million per year for Kobe with a luxury tax threshold of around $60 million at the time, how were the Lakers going to pay any quality players to play with him?
The result? A predictable 3 years of frustration. The Lakers have been a fringe playoff team ever since, and now Kobe says he wants out. Well, it's not going to happen.
First of all, there's no one outside of Dwayne Wade and Lebron James that would be equal value for Kobe. And the thought of getting a few players back and making the team better is noble, but star power sells seats in LA.
This is about one thing - getting Jerry West back in the fold. West might be the only executive in the league that Kobe trusts right now, and his history of success is well documented. West's return would spell the end for the Lakers current GM, Mitch Kupchak, and based on the deals he's made since the summer of 2004, he deserves to be shown the door. Like trading Caron Butler (you remember him from the Shaq deal) to the Wizards for Kwame Brown. Butler has become an all-star, while Brown has been both injured and insignificant.
So don't worry, Kobe fans. You don't need to retire that yellow #24 jersey just yet. Expect Bryant to be there when the season starts in late October. Just don't expect to see the same front office.
Let me break this down for you. Kobe Bryant isn't going anywhere. In fact, I don't think he wants to go anywhere.
For starters, he's wanted to be "the man" in LA the whole time. Bryant today revealed that owner Jerry Buss told him that there was no way that he was going to resign Shaq in 2004; that it was simply way too much money for a player of Shaq's age and physical condition. That may be true, but Kobe didn't exactly stand up and say, "You can't get rid of him. If he goes, I go." Instead, Kobe resigned with the Lakers after weighing offers from other teams around the league that summer.
As for the lying about rebuilding the team, I think he's telling the truth, but actions speak louder than words. Shaq was traded Miami for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant and a 1st round pick BEFORE Kobe put pen to paper on his deal in LA. Did he think that trio was going to bring another championship to LA? Yet there was Kobe, signing his contract shortly after the trade, and that contract has further hamstrung the Lakers. At an average of nearly $20 million per year for Kobe with a luxury tax threshold of around $60 million at the time, how were the Lakers going to pay any quality players to play with him?
The result? A predictable 3 years of frustration. The Lakers have been a fringe playoff team ever since, and now Kobe says he wants out. Well, it's not going to happen.
First of all, there's no one outside of Dwayne Wade and Lebron James that would be equal value for Kobe. And the thought of getting a few players back and making the team better is noble, but star power sells seats in LA.
This is about one thing - getting Jerry West back in the fold. West might be the only executive in the league that Kobe trusts right now, and his history of success is well documented. West's return would spell the end for the Lakers current GM, Mitch Kupchak, and based on the deals he's made since the summer of 2004, he deserves to be shown the door. Like trading Caron Butler (you remember him from the Shaq deal) to the Wizards for Kwame Brown. Butler has become an all-star, while Brown has been both injured and insignificant.
So don't worry, Kobe fans. You don't need to retire that yellow #24 jersey just yet. Expect Bryant to be there when the season starts in late October. Just don't expect to see the same front office.
Monday, May 21, 2007
And They're Off
If you, like me, have been critical of the NHL's shortsighted decision to go with NBC instead of ESPN the past couple of seasons, then your frustration probably reached new levels on Saturday.
Here's the scene. Game 5: Ottawa and Buffalo heading to overtime in what could be a series clinching win for the Senators. While this is great from a hockey fan's perspecitve, NBC execs don't exactly see it that way. That's because they're committed to televising the Preakness, the second leg of Horse Racing's Triple Crown. The two events are now going to overlap.
The decision is simple for the Peacock. We're off to the Preakness. Why? Because it gets better ratings and brings in far more advertising money than the NHL. Fair enough. I can understand the rationale.
What I can't understand is why the problem even exists. Because the ONLY reason that the hockey game was being played at 2pm Eastern time (11am Pacific) is that NBC wanted it that way. And that's why you didn't get your Hockey NIGHT in Canada. NBC wanted an afternoon game, so they got it.
"Well, that makes sense," you respond. "NBC probably pays big money for the TV rights, so they have the right to influence the schedule." That's when I inform you that NBC pays absolutely nothing for the rights. In fact, the only way the NHL gets money from NBC is if the Peacock makes money off of hockey. Then they throw a few coins into the NHL's hat as they pass by a begging Bettman on the corner.
Did we miss the overtime here in Canada? No. We still had CBC.
But here's why you should be pissed off. Because unlike NBC, YOU ARE CURRENTLY PAYING THE NHL MONEY FOR BROADCAST RIGHTS. CBC pays tens-of-millions of dollars every year (soon it will be $100 million/year) for the right to televise Hockey Night in Canada. Guess who funds CBC? You do, Joe Taxpayer. But despite the fact that CBC is lining the NHL's pockets and NBC pays NOTHING, Bettman has allowed our friends south of the border to dictate the schedule.
So let me get this straight. NBC decides to cut to the Preakness because horse racing makes them more money than hockey. So why would the NHL not allow CBC to have the final say on the time of game 5? After all, the Corp is paying the bills so shouldn't they be given the right to make some of those millions back by airing the game at the most lucrative time?
It's an absolute joke. To allow a station to alter your schedule at the most important time of the year and then they don't even air the conclusion of the game... well, quite frankly it's exactly what you saw those beautiful equines drop all over the track at the Preakness on Saturday.
Here's the scene. Game 5: Ottawa and Buffalo heading to overtime in what could be a series clinching win for the Senators. While this is great from a hockey fan's perspecitve, NBC execs don't exactly see it that way. That's because they're committed to televising the Preakness, the second leg of Horse Racing's Triple Crown. The two events are now going to overlap.
The decision is simple for the Peacock. We're off to the Preakness. Why? Because it gets better ratings and brings in far more advertising money than the NHL. Fair enough. I can understand the rationale.
What I can't understand is why the problem even exists. Because the ONLY reason that the hockey game was being played at 2pm Eastern time (11am Pacific) is that NBC wanted it that way. And that's why you didn't get your Hockey NIGHT in Canada. NBC wanted an afternoon game, so they got it.
"Well, that makes sense," you respond. "NBC probably pays big money for the TV rights, so they have the right to influence the schedule." That's when I inform you that NBC pays absolutely nothing for the rights. In fact, the only way the NHL gets money from NBC is if the Peacock makes money off of hockey. Then they throw a few coins into the NHL's hat as they pass by a begging Bettman on the corner.
Did we miss the overtime here in Canada? No. We still had CBC.
But here's why you should be pissed off. Because unlike NBC, YOU ARE CURRENTLY PAYING THE NHL MONEY FOR BROADCAST RIGHTS. CBC pays tens-of-millions of dollars every year (soon it will be $100 million/year) for the right to televise Hockey Night in Canada. Guess who funds CBC? You do, Joe Taxpayer. But despite the fact that CBC is lining the NHL's pockets and NBC pays NOTHING, Bettman has allowed our friends south of the border to dictate the schedule.
So let me get this straight. NBC decides to cut to the Preakness because horse racing makes them more money than hockey. So why would the NHL not allow CBC to have the final say on the time of game 5? After all, the Corp is paying the bills so shouldn't they be given the right to make some of those millions back by airing the game at the most lucrative time?
It's an absolute joke. To allow a station to alter your schedule at the most important time of the year and then they don't even air the conclusion of the game... well, quite frankly it's exactly what you saw those beautiful equines drop all over the track at the Preakness on Saturday.
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