THE IDEAL GREY CUP HALFTIME SHOW.
The 100th Grey Cup is set for Sunday November 25th in Toronto. Rather than predict which teams will be involved, I'm more interested in finding out who will be performing at halftime. As of this writing, there has been no announcement as to who will be appearing at the sold-out Rogers Centre. Usually, there's a big buzz. What fabulous act will grace the stage at Canada's National Drunk? Who knows, but the criteria is simple. Be Canadian and, most importantly, be GOOD. So, as a public service to all of those Canadians who enjoy music and football and having a good time, I asked my Facebook friends, most of whom love to have a good time, to suggest their ideal halftime show. If anyone reading this knows anyone connected with the arm of the Grey Cup organizing committee that's responsible for the halftime entertainment, please pass it along. Now, the results, courtesy of a few hundred of my Facebook Friends.
1. Rush . But they're already booked in Phoenix Arizona that night.
2. Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, BARK, Lee Harvey Osmond) Available.
3 The Tragically Hip. Available.
4. Burton Cummings. Available.
5. Neil Young. Available. Hmmmm.
6. Justin Bieber. Available. Hmmmm
7. Sheepdogs Booked in Quebec City with Yukon Blonde.
8. Viletones. Don't think they're booked anywhere. Perhaps available.
9. Kim Mitchell. Playing Metro Toronto Convention Centre the night before. Available.
10. Shuffle Demons. Available.
And there you have it. An all-star collection of Canadian talent. Honourable mention to Elvis Costello/Diana Krall (we gave them half-credit) Triumph, The Trews, April Wine, Stompin' Tom Connors, Harlan Pepper, Brian Melo, Our Lady Peace, Rough Trade.
So now it's up to the Grey Cup Festival Organizers. You don't really think it'll be Justin Bieber and Neil Young do you? I'd kind of like to see Tom Wilson and Lee Harvey Osmond tear it up on Grey Cup Sunday. And if the Hip aren't busy that night, that would make a helluva double bill. I mean, how much more Canadian can you get?
Raise your hand if you thought Detroit's Justin Verlander was going to absolutely smoke the San Francisco Giants last night. My hand is up. How can this guy totally dominate hitters all year long AND in the first two rounds of the playoffs, yet can't get anybody out with two outs in the 3rd inning? Maybe it's because Pablo Sandoval (a.k.a. Kung Fu Panda) hit three homers last night, two of them off Verlander. Maybe it's because the Tigers had an extraordinarily long rest after sweeping the Yankees and can't find their mojo. Luckily, the Tigers have an abundance of starting pitching, including Max Scherzer, Anibel Sanchez and Doug Fister (Fister? I don't even know her.) Unfortunately, the Giants seem incredibly opportunistic, and have the Big "M" going for them. Momentum. It's scary to watch. Marco Scutaro? Barry Zito? Is this 2002 all over again? I worry greatly Tigers fans. I really do.
Excellent column by Richard Griffin in today's Toronto Star. While I'm thinking of musical acts for the Grey Cup, he's thinking about the long-term future of the Bluejays. He has a list of managerial candidates, and it's a pretty good one. Except he doesn't include Ozzie Guillen on the shortlist. He'd rather the Jays go with someone who WANTS to be here long term. But every manager the Jays ever signed WANTED to be here. What this team needs is someone who knows how to win, not is going to learn how to win. A man who can take control of the team by making intelligent baseball decisions at critical moments. That's the key. I'll bet you Farrell and his coaching staff lost the Jays 5 games this year because of dumb baserunning. Maybe more. Rally killing outs at 3rd and home with nobody out and a big inning brewing. A good manager never lets that happen. If I'm a player on the Jays, I want to learn how to win from a winner. Who on the Jays is a winner? Nobody. Not one current Bluejay has played on a World Series winner. Only Jeff Mathis, Colby Rasmus, Carlos Villenueva, Aaron Laffey, Darren Oliver and JA Happ have been to the playoffs before. Somebody needs to step up and teach this team how to win. Go and get a Winner.
Wednesday 24 October 2012
FAREWELL TO IVOR WYNNE AND NASSAU COUNTY COLISEUM
When it comes to sports venues, I'm not really a sentimental guy. Oh, I understand certain collectors want items such as the toilet from Leafs dressing room at Maple Leaf Gardens or other such artifacts. Not me. These buildings are nothing but bricks and mortar, or steel and concrete. Take Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton. They're going to start tearing it down soon after the Cats play their last home game on Saturday. People are being asked for their memories. Here's mine.
In the late 70s, Harold Ballard owned both the Ticats and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a bombastic bear of a man, who intimidated a good many people, including your humble reporter, who was a young radio broadcaster at the time. Just off the press box at Ivor Wynne was a washroom. I happened to be doing my business there prior to a game (Number one) when Mr. Ballard took the urinal beside me. After a cursory look between us, we both stared at the wall ahead when I noticed something dripping on my shoe. It was Ballard. He was peeing on me. Now, if you've ever tried to stop a pee because someone is relieving themself on your shoe, you know how tough it is. I'm pretty sure Ballard did this on purpose because I was in the habit of mocking the Ticats and the Leafs in those days. So there you go. My memory of Ivor Wynne Stadium is the owner of the team peeing on my shoe.
My vivid memory of the Long Island Veterans Memorial Colseum, home of the New York Islanders (who are moving to Brooklyn) is quite different. When I was working for Global TV, we had the rights to the mid-week Maple Leaf games. I was the host of the show, and Joe Bowen and Harry Neale did play by play and colour. One night when the Leafs were in Long Island, a wicked snowstorm blanketed the East Coast and Bowen's flight was cancelled. Two hours to airtime, and I found out I would be doing the play by play. Nervous! I went up to the booth, studied my notes, and just before the broadcast began, got a call from my producer who told me that they had gotten an experienced play by play guy, Chuck Kaiton from the Hartford Whalers, to do the game, and that I was to go downstairs for the opening of the show. I was pissed. I went downstairs, did the opening to the show, and then went for a beer. And then another. And then another. I was also a cigarette smoker at the time, and went outside for a butt. But when I tried to get back in, a security guard wouldn't let me because I didn't have my ID. I protested, and, somewhat inebriated and aggravated, tried to shove my way past security. Oh Oh. They took me to the security office, tried to call my producer in the truck, but couldn't reach him because the game was going on. Meanwhile, as they were getting near the end of the period, I knew they would be throwing to me down in the studio for the intermission interview, only I wasn't there. With about 2 minutes left in the period, I made a break for it, dashing past the security officer behind the desk and then sprinting down the hallway towards the Leafs dressing room. I ran into the dressing room, hid in the trainers room, and then when the period was over, slipped into the studio next door, expecting to find the cops waiting for me. Luckily, there was no security, but at the end of the game, they tried to come and take me off the team bus. These security goons were serious. Thank God for the late Leaf coach Pat Burns, an ex cop.. He told the security guys they had no right to board the bus, told the bus driver to close the doors, and off we sped into the night. I believe they still have my face on a "Wanted" poster at that arena. I have never gone back.
Tuesday 23 October 2012
DO YOU MIND IF I GO AND WORK FOR THE COMPETITION?
Suppose you were the head of sales for Coca Cola, based in Atlanta, and you got an offer to take the same position at Pepsi, which is located in suburban New York City. You tell your boss you've always dreamed of going to New York, and would Coke allow you to talk to them? "No" says the boss. "You're honouring your contract and putting all your efforts into selling more Coke". I doubt it. The guy at Coke would immediately say, "Good Luck" and show you the door. No way does he let you stay at Coke when he KNOWS you're pining for Pepsi. You don't want to be there, and they need to find your replacement pretty soon, so "adios".
So why would Bluejays GM Alex Anthopoulos, knowing that John Farrell desperately coveted the Red Sox job a year ago, allow him to run his team in 2012? Why didn't he install a "no compete" clause in Farrell's deal? That way, if Farrell really wanted to go to Boston, he'd have to pay the Jays to let him out of his deal OR stay away from the game for one full year. The Jays could've hired a new manager going forward for 2012, and Farrell would have to sit on the sidelines for the whole year instead of managing against the Jays.. We found out today at the Farrell press conference, that AA and Jays president Paul Beeston "knew where my heart was" (Boston) a long time ago, yet inexplicably allowed him to manage the Jays this year. If his heart wasn't in it, why didn't the Jays change course and find a manager whose heart WAS in it?
As angry as I am with Farrell, I am more displeased with the Jays front office. They totally blew it with regards to Farrell. They should've said "Look, if you want to go to Boston, we won't stop you, but you've got to buy out your own contract and let us find the right guy for the job". Instead, they allowed Farrell to manage a team he didn't like, didn't care about and didn't want to be a part of in the future. What more do you need? They should've cut him loose a long time ago. Instead, they're going to spend the next few months figuring out who should get the job. Do us a favour Jays. Make sure you get the RIGHT guy this time.
I hate pre-season exhibition games. No matter what the sport. You may recall back in the spring when the Bluejays went 24-7, and everybody was talking about how great Eric Thames and Travis Snider and Ricky Romero and Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus were playing. Optimism was sky high. The end result after 162 games was, to say the least, disappointing. Now, fast forward to the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers. More talent than any team in the NBA, save for Miami. Kobe, Superman, Nash, Gasol, World Peace. And that's just the starting five. But they're 0-6 in the preseason and folks are worried. Why? Because even though it's preseason, it's a game. Fans pay good money to watch. The media casts a critical eye. The preseason is a harbinger for many. Not me. I understand that the coaching staff needs to see different players in certain situations. Guys who are hurt play limited minutes in exhibition games. Nobody gives 100% (unless he's in danger of getting cut), and most importantly, there is absolutely NO incentive to win a preseason game. So stop worrying about it. When the regular season begins, and it will ON TIME this year for the NBA, then you can start worrying. But I doubt the Lakers will start out 0-6. If they do, you've got a heckuva story.
"The Giants win the pennant". Last night, the San Francisco Giants, whose manager Bruce Bochy was skewered by your humble reporter in a column last week, beat St. Louis in game 7 to advance to the World Series. The Giants were down 3-1 in the series, and looked dead. But the beauty of the post season is that the home team in baseball gets the first two and the last two games of the series at home. And the Giants took advantage of the crowd and the right arm of Matt Cain (who tossed a perfect game earlier this year) to defeat the Redbirds. Now it's the Giants and Tigers in the World Series. Good pitching beats good hitting. I'll take the Tigers in 7 games.
Oh yeah, no hockey in sight and a lot of players have nothing to do but work on their golf games. My spies tell me that a few of the New York Rangers were up at Devil's Pulpit the other day, golfing in October for the first time.....ever. Oh well, at least it's good for the hand-eye coordination.
Suppose you were the head of sales for Coca Cola, based in Atlanta, and you got an offer to take the same position at Pepsi, which is located in suburban New York City. You tell your boss you've always dreamed of going to New York, and would Coke allow you to talk to them? "No" says the boss. "You're honouring your contract and putting all your efforts into selling more Coke". I doubt it. The guy at Coke would immediately say, "Good Luck" and show you the door. No way does he let you stay at Coke when he KNOWS you're pining for Pepsi. You don't want to be there, and they need to find your replacement pretty soon, so "adios".
So why would Bluejays GM Alex Anthopoulos, knowing that John Farrell desperately coveted the Red Sox job a year ago, allow him to run his team in 2012? Why didn't he install a "no compete" clause in Farrell's deal? That way, if Farrell really wanted to go to Boston, he'd have to pay the Jays to let him out of his deal OR stay away from the game for one full year. The Jays could've hired a new manager going forward for 2012, and Farrell would have to sit on the sidelines for the whole year instead of managing against the Jays.. We found out today at the Farrell press conference, that AA and Jays president Paul Beeston "knew where my heart was" (Boston) a long time ago, yet inexplicably allowed him to manage the Jays this year. If his heart wasn't in it, why didn't the Jays change course and find a manager whose heart WAS in it?
As angry as I am with Farrell, I am more displeased with the Jays front office. They totally blew it with regards to Farrell. They should've said "Look, if you want to go to Boston, we won't stop you, but you've got to buy out your own contract and let us find the right guy for the job". Instead, they allowed Farrell to manage a team he didn't like, didn't care about and didn't want to be a part of in the future. What more do you need? They should've cut him loose a long time ago. Instead, they're going to spend the next few months figuring out who should get the job. Do us a favour Jays. Make sure you get the RIGHT guy this time.
I hate pre-season exhibition games. No matter what the sport. You may recall back in the spring when the Bluejays went 24-7, and everybody was talking about how great Eric Thames and Travis Snider and Ricky Romero and Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus were playing. Optimism was sky high. The end result after 162 games was, to say the least, disappointing. Now, fast forward to the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers. More talent than any team in the NBA, save for Miami. Kobe, Superman, Nash, Gasol, World Peace. And that's just the starting five. But they're 0-6 in the preseason and folks are worried. Why? Because even though it's preseason, it's a game. Fans pay good money to watch. The media casts a critical eye. The preseason is a harbinger for many. Not me. I understand that the coaching staff needs to see different players in certain situations. Guys who are hurt play limited minutes in exhibition games. Nobody gives 100% (unless he's in danger of getting cut), and most importantly, there is absolutely NO incentive to win a preseason game. So stop worrying about it. When the regular season begins, and it will ON TIME this year for the NBA, then you can start worrying. But I doubt the Lakers will start out 0-6. If they do, you've got a heckuva story.
"The Giants win the pennant". Last night, the San Francisco Giants, whose manager Bruce Bochy was skewered by your humble reporter in a column last week, beat St. Louis in game 7 to advance to the World Series. The Giants were down 3-1 in the series, and looked dead. But the beauty of the post season is that the home team in baseball gets the first two and the last two games of the series at home. And the Giants took advantage of the crowd and the right arm of Matt Cain (who tossed a perfect game earlier this year) to defeat the Redbirds. Now it's the Giants and Tigers in the World Series. Good pitching beats good hitting. I'll take the Tigers in 7 games.
Oh yeah, no hockey in sight and a lot of players have nothing to do but work on their golf games. My spies tell me that a few of the New York Rangers were up at Devil's Pulpit the other day, golfing in October for the first time.....ever. Oh well, at least it's good for the hand-eye coordination.
Monday 22 October 2012
FARRELL: GOOD RIDDANCE.
I hate to say "I told you so", but didn't I mention over a year ago that John Farrell was the wrong guy for the Jays job? If he seemed distracted during the 2012 season, it's probably because he was thinking too much about the Red Sox job. Why else would he draft all Red Sox players in his Rotisserie baseball league? I'll bet he kept calling Edwin Encarnacion "Big Papi", and probably referred to the Gardner Expressway as the Mass Turnpike too. Maybe that's why it appeared as if the Jays were losing focus this year. Their manager was dreaming of New England Clam Chowdah and not paying attention to little details, like what his players were wearing on the field and what kind of message he was sending to the fan base. No, in the end, we were all "lame duck" fans, while Farrell plotted his imminent departure. We got taken for a ride. While using Toronto as a "stepping stone" to Beantown, Farrell also retarded the progress of many of his players, including Brett Lawrie, Ricky Romero, Yunel Escobar and Colby Rasmus. Rather then discipline them or make them sit out a game or two, he just let them be. And how did that work out? As for compensation, the Jays got the player with the worst on-base percentage of any regular in the majors, Mike Aviles. He's a 31 year old utility infielder who had a .282 OBP, but he'll be cheaper than Kelly Johnson and is probably the same type of a player. Great. Something to look forward to (not). As for the Jays next manager, maybe Bobby Valentine would like to come here. He can't do worse than Farrell.
I've seen teams find new ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but I don't think I've ever seen a team lose because of a slippery kicking tee. That's what happened to the Hamilton Ti-Cats on Saturday when they had a chance for the game winning 30 yard field goal in the snow against Calgary. Unfortunately, sure handed Andy Fantusz, the holder, couldn't properly put the ball on the slippery kicking tee and no kick was even attempted. Had the Cats tried this on second down and failed, they would've had another shot at it, but coach George Cortez didn't consider that there might be a problem with the weather, and maybe they should play it safe. As for the Cats playoff chances, they are slim and none, and slim just left town.
Went to Woodbine yesterday with several family members, three of whom were celebrating a birthday. A good time was had by all, especially my Aunt, Uncle and two cousins, who had never been to the track before. I had to explain the various nuances of handicapping and betting, and they were so excited, they barely took time to eat lunch. It's amazing to see somebody who has never WON money win a bet on a horse. Even though it was only a few bucks, it was as if they had won the lottery. The excitement, the jumping around, the running to the cashier to collect 2 dollars and 90 cents. What a great day. Big crowd on hand at Woodbine for the Bunty Lawless Stakes. We even got our picture taken down in the winners circle.
We celebrated my wife's birthday on Saturday by going shopping at Mississauga Square One. Now, normally we go to about a dozen shoe stores, and they're all pretty much the same. You walk in, and the sales clerk goes right to the woman to show her what's what, while the guy finds a place to sit, or lean or look awkward. Kind of like those Wiserhood commercials. But on this day, at Brown's Shoes, a young lady actually asked me, the husband, if everything was OK and if she could get me anything. That has never happened to me before in a woman's shoe store. It's as if the guys are invisible to staff. I mean, what are we, the one's who decide which pair of boots our wives like? Hardly. But the fact that this girl recognized that maybe the husband would like to be part of the process impressed me. More businesses should be like that. Her name is Joanna and if the company doesn't know it yet, she made my experience at Brown's a good one. I'll go back there for excellent customer service. Oh yeah, and the boots she recommended were the absolute right choice.
I hate to say "I told you so", but didn't I mention over a year ago that John Farrell was the wrong guy for the Jays job? If he seemed distracted during the 2012 season, it's probably because he was thinking too much about the Red Sox job. Why else would he draft all Red Sox players in his Rotisserie baseball league? I'll bet he kept calling Edwin Encarnacion "Big Papi", and probably referred to the Gardner Expressway as the Mass Turnpike too. Maybe that's why it appeared as if the Jays were losing focus this year. Their manager was dreaming of New England Clam Chowdah and not paying attention to little details, like what his players were wearing on the field and what kind of message he was sending to the fan base. No, in the end, we were all "lame duck" fans, while Farrell plotted his imminent departure. We got taken for a ride. While using Toronto as a "stepping stone" to Beantown, Farrell also retarded the progress of many of his players, including Brett Lawrie, Ricky Romero, Yunel Escobar and Colby Rasmus. Rather then discipline them or make them sit out a game or two, he just let them be. And how did that work out? As for compensation, the Jays got the player with the worst on-base percentage of any regular in the majors, Mike Aviles. He's a 31 year old utility infielder who had a .282 OBP, but he'll be cheaper than Kelly Johnson and is probably the same type of a player. Great. Something to look forward to (not). As for the Jays next manager, maybe Bobby Valentine would like to come here. He can't do worse than Farrell.
I've seen teams find new ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but I don't think I've ever seen a team lose because of a slippery kicking tee. That's what happened to the Hamilton Ti-Cats on Saturday when they had a chance for the game winning 30 yard field goal in the snow against Calgary. Unfortunately, sure handed Andy Fantusz, the holder, couldn't properly put the ball on the slippery kicking tee and no kick was even attempted. Had the Cats tried this on second down and failed, they would've had another shot at it, but coach George Cortez didn't consider that there might be a problem with the weather, and maybe they should play it safe. As for the Cats playoff chances, they are slim and none, and slim just left town.
Went to Woodbine yesterday with several family members, three of whom were celebrating a birthday. A good time was had by all, especially my Aunt, Uncle and two cousins, who had never been to the track before. I had to explain the various nuances of handicapping and betting, and they were so excited, they barely took time to eat lunch. It's amazing to see somebody who has never WON money win a bet on a horse. Even though it was only a few bucks, it was as if they had won the lottery. The excitement, the jumping around, the running to the cashier to collect 2 dollars and 90 cents. What a great day. Big crowd on hand at Woodbine for the Bunty Lawless Stakes. We even got our picture taken down in the winners circle.
We celebrated my wife's birthday on Saturday by going shopping at Mississauga Square One. Now, normally we go to about a dozen shoe stores, and they're all pretty much the same. You walk in, and the sales clerk goes right to the woman to show her what's what, while the guy finds a place to sit, or lean or look awkward. Kind of like those Wiserhood commercials. But on this day, at Brown's Shoes, a young lady actually asked me, the husband, if everything was OK and if she could get me anything. That has never happened to me before in a woman's shoe store. It's as if the guys are invisible to staff. I mean, what are we, the one's who decide which pair of boots our wives like? Hardly. But the fact that this girl recognized that maybe the husband would like to be part of the process impressed me. More businesses should be like that. Her name is Joanna and if the company doesn't know it yet, she made my experience at Brown's a good one. I'll go back there for excellent customer service. Oh yeah, and the boots she recommended were the absolute right choice.
Friday 19 October 2012
WHAT'S WRONG WITH A 50-50 SPLIT?
Come on now! You hockey guys are pretty close to making a deal, aren't you? So let's split the revenues down the middle, agree to negotiate the minutia of the CBA in good faith while the games are being played, and start the season already. That way we can concentrate on the Crosby's and Ovechkin's and push Messrs. Fehr and Bettman into a conference room to hammer out the final details. A 50-50 split is a partnership, something the two sides need to establish if there can be any hope of a successful, profitable relationship down the road.
In the meantime, basketball fans are getting ready for what will be a full 82 game schedule after last year's 66 game sprint-to-the-finish in the NBA. The league has tons of cache with the likes of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard joining the Lakers, Linsanity trying his luck in Houston, Lebron and company looking to defend their title, and the Toronto Raptors hoping to win over fans with a new look. I'm going to give coach Dwayne Casey a pass from last year because of the compressed schedule and his inability to evaluate his new team without the benefit of a training camp, even though I skewered him on the air many times because he rode Andrea Bargnani too hard until the big guy broke down. Twice.
This year's edition of the Raptors is fraught with weak spots, but that's also the case with a lot of other teams in the East. At the point, you've got Kyle Lowry and Jose Calderon, with John Lucas III available as well. Not too concerned about that group.. At the shooting guard, I'm worried about Demar DeRozan, who is not a very good shooter, especially from 3 point land. He is the key this year, along with Bargnani, who seems solid at the 4 spot, provided he stays healthy (see left calf problems). Landry Fields is a similar player to DeRozan and is more of a swingman who can drop the occasional 3. Look for him to alternate between the 2 and 3, depending on DeRozan's performance. Up front, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis are similar players and will take time away from each other while Linas Kleiza will get some time at the 3, provided he's healthy (don't get me started) Rookie Jonas Valanciunas will take some pounding in the paint, but looks like a future star. He'll need some back up from Aaron Gray, Jamal Magloire and Amir. Rookie Terrence Ross will need some time to develop as a shooting guard, and will likely be the guy at the very end of the bench. If Casey can get this group to play tough defense, they could win 40 games. If not, they'll be hard pressed to win 30.
I'm afraid this years World Series will be a bit of a dud, just like the Championship series this year. The Yankees were swept by Detroit in a terrible series (but good for Yankee haters). St. Louis really has San Francisco in a tough spot, up 3 games to one with a chance to win the series at home tonight. All that drama from the early part of the playoffs has faded, with pitching becoming the key element. Detroit's starters are so good, we can overlook their shaky bullpen. St. Louis has the experience of last year's World Series run. If the Cards win tonight, I'm going to pick Detroit to win the World Series in six games, with Justin Verlander as the MVP. There. I said it and I feel better now.
Have a great weekend!
Come on now! You hockey guys are pretty close to making a deal, aren't you? So let's split the revenues down the middle, agree to negotiate the minutia of the CBA in good faith while the games are being played, and start the season already. That way we can concentrate on the Crosby's and Ovechkin's and push Messrs. Fehr and Bettman into a conference room to hammer out the final details. A 50-50 split is a partnership, something the two sides need to establish if there can be any hope of a successful, profitable relationship down the road.
In the meantime, basketball fans are getting ready for what will be a full 82 game schedule after last year's 66 game sprint-to-the-finish in the NBA. The league has tons of cache with the likes of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard joining the Lakers, Linsanity trying his luck in Houston, Lebron and company looking to defend their title, and the Toronto Raptors hoping to win over fans with a new look. I'm going to give coach Dwayne Casey a pass from last year because of the compressed schedule and his inability to evaluate his new team without the benefit of a training camp, even though I skewered him on the air many times because he rode Andrea Bargnani too hard until the big guy broke down. Twice.
This year's edition of the Raptors is fraught with weak spots, but that's also the case with a lot of other teams in the East. At the point, you've got Kyle Lowry and Jose Calderon, with John Lucas III available as well. Not too concerned about that group.. At the shooting guard, I'm worried about Demar DeRozan, who is not a very good shooter, especially from 3 point land. He is the key this year, along with Bargnani, who seems solid at the 4 spot, provided he stays healthy (see left calf problems). Landry Fields is a similar player to DeRozan and is more of a swingman who can drop the occasional 3. Look for him to alternate between the 2 and 3, depending on DeRozan's performance. Up front, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis are similar players and will take time away from each other while Linas Kleiza will get some time at the 3, provided he's healthy (don't get me started) Rookie Jonas Valanciunas will take some pounding in the paint, but looks like a future star. He'll need some back up from Aaron Gray, Jamal Magloire and Amir. Rookie Terrence Ross will need some time to develop as a shooting guard, and will likely be the guy at the very end of the bench. If Casey can get this group to play tough defense, they could win 40 games. If not, they'll be hard pressed to win 30.
I'm afraid this years World Series will be a bit of a dud, just like the Championship series this year. The Yankees were swept by Detroit in a terrible series (but good for Yankee haters). St. Louis really has San Francisco in a tough spot, up 3 games to one with a chance to win the series at home tonight. All that drama from the early part of the playoffs has faded, with pitching becoming the key element. Detroit's starters are so good, we can overlook their shaky bullpen. St. Louis has the experience of last year's World Series run. If the Cards win tonight, I'm going to pick Detroit to win the World Series in six games, with Justin Verlander as the MVP. There. I said it and I feel better now.
Have a great weekend!
Thursday 18 October 2012
WHEN MANAGERS SCREW UP.
If good pitching beats good hitting, wouldn't it make sense to jump on a good pitcher if he's in trouble and go for a big inning? I think so. That's what should have happened in the top of the third inning in St. Louis yesterday. . The Giants had just scored the first run of the game, and had runners at first and third with one out. Hunter Pence up, and Buster Posey is the runner at first. You want to stay out of a double play here, and score at least one more run against Kyle Lohse. Ball one. Ball two. Any good manager figures Lohse has to throw a strike so start the runner at first and hope Pence makes good contact. Bruce Bochy is not a good manager. He didn't send the runner and Pence hit a medium speed grounder to short, which became a 6-4-3 double play. Inning over. Giants only get one run. Cardinals score 2 more in the bottom of the 3rd en route to a 3-1 win. Had Bochy started the runner, the grounder isn't hit hard enough to turn two because Posey is almost at the bag, so you can only get one and the run scores. 2-0, runner at second and hot hitting Brandon Belt coming up. This is why it's so important to have a manager that can make the right decisions in the heat of the moment. Bochy's indecision cost his team at least one run, and more importantly, a chance to win a game in St. Louis. He let Lohse off the hook and didn't take advantage of his own players abilities to execute.
This is why John Farrell is not the manager for the Bluejays. And this may also be why Ron Washington won't be the manager of the Texas Rangers for much longer. When a critical point in a game takes place, and sometimes it's in the first inning, a good manager must recognize an opportunity to score multiple runs. Especially when he's got a good pitcher out there, like Matt Cain. Wouldn't you feel good with Matt Cain out there and a 3-0 lead? I would. But when Bochy elected to play it safe in the third by not starting the runner, he sent the wrong message to his players and Giants fans. If you take a chance early in a game and it doesn't work out, you've got time to come back. But if you fail to seize an opportunity to really put the hammer down, and it comes back to bite you in the ass, you can't blame the players. You didn't give them an opportunity to execute. Bochy failed his team, and it may ultimately cost him his job if the Giants don't come back to win this series.
Ron Washington should've won the World Series with Texas last year, but he had the wrong guy, Nelson Cruz, playing right field with two outs in the 9th and the Rangers on the verge of winning. That was a monster managerial mistake which allowed St. Louis to come back and win the series. This year Washington's infatuation with certain players and his inability to manage properly in close games cost the Rangers down the stretch, and they ended up blowing a 5 game lead with 8 games to play. Washington insisted on playing Josh Hamilton when he shouldn't have. He used Michael Young way too often and didn't allow a couple of the younger prospects to get any playing time, even though Young's numbers were terrible. Washington will not be back with the Rangers. He may end up in Toronto. I hope not. He doesn't know what he's doing, and we've already got a guy like that managing the club.
a tailor made double play ball that ended the inning with the Giants ONLY up 1-0. In the bottom of the third, the Cardinals got a two run homer from Matt Carpenter, and that was the winning margin. Had Bochy started Posey on the 2-0 count, the Cards wouldn't have been able to force him at second, which means a run scores to make it 2-0 and you've got Posey at 2nd with hot hitting Brandon Belt coming up. It could've been 3-0, but Bochy's boner meant the Giants came away with just one, and that wasn't enough to win on this night. Ron Washington is in trouble in Texas because he can't manage. It's been painfully obvious.
If good pitching beats good hitting, wouldn't it make sense to jump on a good pitcher if he's in trouble and go for a big inning? I think so. That's what should have happened in the top of the third inning in St. Louis yesterday. . The Giants had just scored the first run of the game, and had runners at first and third with one out. Hunter Pence up, and Buster Posey is the runner at first. You want to stay out of a double play here, and score at least one more run against Kyle Lohse. Ball one. Ball two. Any good manager figures Lohse has to throw a strike so start the runner at first and hope Pence makes good contact. Bruce Bochy is not a good manager. He didn't send the runner and Pence hit a medium speed grounder to short, which became a 6-4-3 double play. Inning over. Giants only get one run. Cardinals score 2 more in the bottom of the 3rd en route to a 3-1 win. Had Bochy started the runner, the grounder isn't hit hard enough to turn two because Posey is almost at the bag, so you can only get one and the run scores. 2-0, runner at second and hot hitting Brandon Belt coming up. This is why it's so important to have a manager that can make the right decisions in the heat of the moment. Bochy's indecision cost his team at least one run, and more importantly, a chance to win a game in St. Louis. He let Lohse off the hook and didn't take advantage of his own players abilities to execute.
This is why John Farrell is not the manager for the Bluejays. And this may also be why Ron Washington won't be the manager of the Texas Rangers for much longer. When a critical point in a game takes place, and sometimes it's in the first inning, a good manager must recognize an opportunity to score multiple runs. Especially when he's got a good pitcher out there, like Matt Cain. Wouldn't you feel good with Matt Cain out there and a 3-0 lead? I would. But when Bochy elected to play it safe in the third by not starting the runner, he sent the wrong message to his players and Giants fans. If you take a chance early in a game and it doesn't work out, you've got time to come back. But if you fail to seize an opportunity to really put the hammer down, and it comes back to bite you in the ass, you can't blame the players. You didn't give them an opportunity to execute. Bochy failed his team, and it may ultimately cost him his job if the Giants don't come back to win this series.
Ron Washington should've won the World Series with Texas last year, but he had the wrong guy, Nelson Cruz, playing right field with two outs in the 9th and the Rangers on the verge of winning. That was a monster managerial mistake which allowed St. Louis to come back and win the series. This year Washington's infatuation with certain players and his inability to manage properly in close games cost the Rangers down the stretch, and they ended up blowing a 5 game lead with 8 games to play. Washington insisted on playing Josh Hamilton when he shouldn't have. He used Michael Young way too often and didn't allow a couple of the younger prospects to get any playing time, even though Young's numbers were terrible. Washington will not be back with the Rangers. He may end up in Toronto. I hope not. He doesn't know what he's doing, and we've already got a guy like that managing the club.
a tailor made double play ball that ended the inning with the Giants ONLY up 1-0. In the bottom of the third, the Cardinals got a two run homer from Matt Carpenter, and that was the winning margin. Had Bochy started Posey on the 2-0 count, the Cards wouldn't have been able to force him at second, which means a run scores to make it 2-0 and you've got Posey at 2nd with hot hitting Brandon Belt coming up. It could've been 3-0, but Bochy's boner meant the Giants came away with just one, and that wasn't enough to win on this night. Ron Washington is in trouble in Texas because he can't manage. It's been painfully obvious.
Wednesday 17 October 2012
THE ULTIMATE CON.
I'm angry with Lance Armstrong. Can I get back all those hours I spent reading about him, watching him, admiring him? He could've been a Nobel Peace prize winner for what he did. He fought cancer and went on to win 7 straight Tour De France championships AND led the Lance Armstrong Foundation which raised money for cancer research. Mother Teresa, step aside. And then it all came tumbling down. He's a cheater. He got away with it for YEARS. And it's not that he only cheated the dirtiest, filthiest sport on the planet, cycling. Who cares about those guys? It's that he cheated me and millions of other suckers who thought he was a great man. Not a great cyclist. A great MAN. A winner. A leader. A hero. There, I said it. Hero. We love our heroes, don't we? Brave souls. Courage of a lion. Those who fight for their country. Those who risk their own lives to protect others. Those who overcome tremendous odds and succeed. Those who give us all hope.
I wore that yellow bracelet for a couple of years because of Lance Armstrong. I believed. There are tons of pictures of me with that bracelet, believing Lance Armstrong was a man I'd really like to meet. In fact, he was THE man I wanted to meet. Heck, when he was engaged to Sheryl Crow, most guys just wanted to BE Lance Armstrong. But he was a cheater. He was a con man. He was a phony. And now the house of cards is falling down all around him. Nike, which gave A-Rod the benefit of the doubt after he ADMITTED he did steroids, did not want to be associated with Armstrong anymore. Had he come clean (pun intended), Nike might've given him a break too, the way they did when he developed testicular cancer in 1996 and stuck by him when other sponsors bailed. This time Nike couldn't do it. They knew he was dirty. They knew that any association with Armstrong was going to be a PR nightmare.
Armstrong has never failed a drug test, but that hasn't stopped dozens of former teammates and other first-hand observers from testifying that he did drugs and had the most sophisticated masking agents and such in the world. The suggestion that he was the mob boss of a worldwide doping ring does have some merit. After all, who else but the 7 time champion cheater would have the best drugs AND the best masking agents?
There are no comparisons here. Barry Bonds was a bad guy, a steroid user, a cheater and a liar. But I never admired him, and I doubt many others did. Same with Roger Clemens. Marion Jones, the U.S. track star who won 5 gold medals at the 2000 Olympics, admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs, and had to forfeit all her medals. Armstrong still believes he is the rightful owner of those 7 consecutive Tour De France titles, but he has been officially stripped of them and banned for life from the sport. Got that? Banned for life for what he did. Banned for life because he cheated us all.
His legacy will live on. "Livestrong", the bright yellow sportswear is worn around the world, along with the omnipresent bracelets, of which I own several. Make that owned. They're going into the garbage because I now see them for what they really are. Cheap and meaningless.
I'm angry with Lance Armstrong. Can I get back all those hours I spent reading about him, watching him, admiring him? He could've been a Nobel Peace prize winner for what he did. He fought cancer and went on to win 7 straight Tour De France championships AND led the Lance Armstrong Foundation which raised money for cancer research. Mother Teresa, step aside. And then it all came tumbling down. He's a cheater. He got away with it for YEARS. And it's not that he only cheated the dirtiest, filthiest sport on the planet, cycling. Who cares about those guys? It's that he cheated me and millions of other suckers who thought he was a great man. Not a great cyclist. A great MAN. A winner. A leader. A hero. There, I said it. Hero. We love our heroes, don't we? Brave souls. Courage of a lion. Those who fight for their country. Those who risk their own lives to protect others. Those who overcome tremendous odds and succeed. Those who give us all hope.
I wore that yellow bracelet for a couple of years because of Lance Armstrong. I believed. There are tons of pictures of me with that bracelet, believing Lance Armstrong was a man I'd really like to meet. In fact, he was THE man I wanted to meet. Heck, when he was engaged to Sheryl Crow, most guys just wanted to BE Lance Armstrong. But he was a cheater. He was a con man. He was a phony. And now the house of cards is falling down all around him. Nike, which gave A-Rod the benefit of the doubt after he ADMITTED he did steroids, did not want to be associated with Armstrong anymore. Had he come clean (pun intended), Nike might've given him a break too, the way they did when he developed testicular cancer in 1996 and stuck by him when other sponsors bailed. This time Nike couldn't do it. They knew he was dirty. They knew that any association with Armstrong was going to be a PR nightmare.
Armstrong has never failed a drug test, but that hasn't stopped dozens of former teammates and other first-hand observers from testifying that he did drugs and had the most sophisticated masking agents and such in the world. The suggestion that he was the mob boss of a worldwide doping ring does have some merit. After all, who else but the 7 time champion cheater would have the best drugs AND the best masking agents?
There are no comparisons here. Barry Bonds was a bad guy, a steroid user, a cheater and a liar. But I never admired him, and I doubt many others did. Same with Roger Clemens. Marion Jones, the U.S. track star who won 5 gold medals at the 2000 Olympics, admitted to taking performance enhancing drugs, and had to forfeit all her medals. Armstrong still believes he is the rightful owner of those 7 consecutive Tour De France titles, but he has been officially stripped of them and banned for life from the sport. Got that? Banned for life for what he did. Banned for life because he cheated us all.
His legacy will live on. "Livestrong", the bright yellow sportswear is worn around the world, along with the omnipresent bracelets, of which I own several. Make that owned. They're going into the garbage because I now see them for what they really are. Cheap and meaningless.
WAS THIS OUR MOST EMBARRASSING SPORTING MOMENT?
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again" Michael Corleone.
I had pretty much given up on soccer after Canada's heartbreaking defeat to the U.S. in the Olympics. That was the women's team, led by the amazing Christine Sinclair. The ref cost them a shot at gold. The ref was corrupt. FIFA was corrupt. Canadian soccer just wasn't worth my time.
But with all the hype surrounding our men's team, and the chance that Canada might actually be good enough to perhaps qualify for the World Cup, well I just couldn't stand it. They sucked me back in again. And for what? To be humiliated? To be defeated 8-1 by tiny Honduras, a country of 8 million? It's not worth it anymore. I'm ashamed, I'm embarrassed and I feel like I got taken.
It's the same feeling I had when Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal at Seoul. Oh, you're Canadian, eh? Too bad about Ben. Remember how we tried to pawn Ben off on Jamaica, claiming since he wasn't BORN in Canada, he wasn't really CANADIAN. What about Canada's hockey loss at the 1998 Olympics to the Czechs? Remember the humiliation when coach Marc Crawford elected to sit Gretzky and Yzerman for the shootout and used Ray Bourque instead? I mean, we finished 4th, losing to Finland in the bronze medal game. In Men's hockey! Today, I'm suffering through it again. The hell with Canadian (Men's) soccer.
I'm getting used to hearing about athletes who achieved greatness through cheating, and I don't like it. The aforementioned Ben Johnson started all this back in 1988, but since then it's been a long line of big-name athletes including Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, sprinter Marion Jones and now the perceived Mother Teresa of the sporting world, cyclist Lance Armstrong. It brings into question the achievements of ALL athletes, especially those exceptional ones. The question will always be there: Are you on drugs? Are you a cheater? Ask any baseball player that hits 50 homeruns (Jose Bautista) Ask MVPs (Ryan Braun) Ask gold medalists (Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps). Armstrong, however, is the saddest story because he used his 7 Tour De France victories to bring awareness to his "Live Strong" charity, which benefits cancer research. He was a cancer survivor. A leader. A mentor. Someone to be trusted.
And now we find out he was a cheater. And he got caught. Thanks a lot Lance. I used to like you. Now, you're a disgraced ex-athlete who needed performance enhancing drugs to chase your athletic dream. Pathetic.
I saw some of the Romney-Obama debate last night, and wondered what would happen if they actually put on the gloves, got into a boxing ring and actually HIT EACH OTHER. Tell me that wouldn't be a great Pay per View event. I see Romney as a plodding warhorse, maybe like George Chuvalo. He can take a punch and never go down, but he's somewhat clumsy. Mind you, if he ever landed a haymaker, it would be all over for Obama. The President, however, could be a young Cassius Clay. Sticking and jabbing and dancing around the issues (I mean the ring) Maybe getting in a combination here and there, but mostly trying to make Romney look foolish and awkward. The fight would end when Romney hits Obama with a low blow, forcing the President to go down clutching his "dangling chad", not unlike George W Bush's Florida victory over Al Gore. Talk about humiliating....
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again" Michael Corleone.
I had pretty much given up on soccer after Canada's heartbreaking defeat to the U.S. in the Olympics. That was the women's team, led by the amazing Christine Sinclair. The ref cost them a shot at gold. The ref was corrupt. FIFA was corrupt. Canadian soccer just wasn't worth my time.
But with all the hype surrounding our men's team, and the chance that Canada might actually be good enough to perhaps qualify for the World Cup, well I just couldn't stand it. They sucked me back in again. And for what? To be humiliated? To be defeated 8-1 by tiny Honduras, a country of 8 million? It's not worth it anymore. I'm ashamed, I'm embarrassed and I feel like I got taken.
It's the same feeling I had when Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal at Seoul. Oh, you're Canadian, eh? Too bad about Ben. Remember how we tried to pawn Ben off on Jamaica, claiming since he wasn't BORN in Canada, he wasn't really CANADIAN. What about Canada's hockey loss at the 1998 Olympics to the Czechs? Remember the humiliation when coach Marc Crawford elected to sit Gretzky and Yzerman for the shootout and used Ray Bourque instead? I mean, we finished 4th, losing to Finland in the bronze medal game. In Men's hockey! Today, I'm suffering through it again. The hell with Canadian (Men's) soccer.
I'm getting used to hearing about athletes who achieved greatness through cheating, and I don't like it. The aforementioned Ben Johnson started all this back in 1988, but since then it's been a long line of big-name athletes including Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, sprinter Marion Jones and now the perceived Mother Teresa of the sporting world, cyclist Lance Armstrong. It brings into question the achievements of ALL athletes, especially those exceptional ones. The question will always be there: Are you on drugs? Are you a cheater? Ask any baseball player that hits 50 homeruns (Jose Bautista) Ask MVPs (Ryan Braun) Ask gold medalists (Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps). Armstrong, however, is the saddest story because he used his 7 Tour De France victories to bring awareness to his "Live Strong" charity, which benefits cancer research. He was a cancer survivor. A leader. A mentor. Someone to be trusted.
And now we find out he was a cheater. And he got caught. Thanks a lot Lance. I used to like you. Now, you're a disgraced ex-athlete who needed performance enhancing drugs to chase your athletic dream. Pathetic.
I saw some of the Romney-Obama debate last night, and wondered what would happen if they actually put on the gloves, got into a boxing ring and actually HIT EACH OTHER. Tell me that wouldn't be a great Pay per View event. I see Romney as a plodding warhorse, maybe like George Chuvalo. He can take a punch and never go down, but he's somewhat clumsy. Mind you, if he ever landed a haymaker, it would be all over for Obama. The President, however, could be a young Cassius Clay. Sticking and jabbing and dancing around the issues (I mean the ring) Maybe getting in a combination here and there, but mostly trying to make Romney look foolish and awkward. The fight would end when Romney hits Obama with a low blow, forcing the President to go down clutching his "dangling chad", not unlike George W Bush's Florida victory over Al Gore. Talk about humiliating....
Tuesday 16 October 2012
NHL LOCKOUT IS OVER IF THE PLAYERS AGREE TO 50-50 SPLIT.
Gary Bettman is a genius. Some say he's a puppet for the NHL owners, but make no mistake, he is brilliant. Today's announcement by the NHL that they have offered a deal that sees the players receive 50% of league revenues puts the onus squarely on the players. Bettman says a full 82 game schedule can begin on November 2nd if the players agree to the deal. If Players Association boss Don Fehr rejects the proposal, then the players look like a bunch of greedy jerks and the owners are seen as reasonable, flexible and accommodating. Funny, it wasn't long ago that the locked-out players appeared reasonable, flexible and accommodating and the owners looked like a bunch of greedy jerks. Whose side are you on?
Whenever there's a blown call by the umpires in baseball, the word "replay" rears it's ugly head. Baseball got along without replay for nearly a century, but now it's threatening to take over the game. Why? Because when the New York Yankees get ripped off because of a blown call, MLB has to sit up and take notice. New York teams are followed by New York media, and they are pretty good cage-rattlers. Currently, fair/foul and homerun/non-homerun calls are the only one's that can be reviewed. Not safe or out on all the bases, or balls and strikes at home plate. But when ump Jeff Nelson clearly missed a call that would've saved two runs for the Yankees on Sunday, all hell broke loose. I think baseball will look very closely at replays involving plays at home plate, where a run is either scored or nullified. Any other call on the bases should NOT be reviewed, or games will take 4 hours to play.
Speaking of the Yankees, it was so sad to see 38 year old Derek Jeter go down in a heap on Sunday. He's out with a fractured ankle and his future as a ballplayer is uncertain. The same is true for Mariano Rivera, who's been out for the entire season. The last time the Yankees played a post season game WITHOUT Jeter or Rivera in their lineup? 1981. The Yankees are suddenly looking old and frail. Alex Rodriguez, who makes 29 million dollars this year, is 3 for 23 in the post-season, all singles. He's 37 years old, and looks completely lost at the plate. Just once I'd like to see him smash a water cooler after striking out instead of offering up that stupid grin. For the Yanks to come back and beat Detroit would take a minor miracle. Granderson, Swisher, Teixiera and Cano have been awful this post-season. I don't think I've ever seen such a great group of hitters go stone cold at the same time.
Peyton Manning is 36 years old and coming off 4 neck operations, but has a much better future than A-Rod. All Manning did was lead the Denver Broncos back from a 24-0 halftime deficit to beat the San Diego Chargers 35-24. Manning completed 13 of 14 passes in the second half, including 3 touchdown passes. Now the Broncos are 3-3 on the season, the same as 10 other NFL teams. You want parity? You've got it. Every team in the AFC East is 3-3. There's only one unbeaten team, Atlanta, and even the Cleveland Browns won a game on Sunday. Looks like everybody has a shot at the Super Bowl this year.
Finally, can someone please explain public urinal protocol when it comes to "handicapped urinals"? I know that in a parking lot, you can't take a handicapped spot even if it's the only one available. But if you're waiting to pee (guys, this is just for you), and the only urinal available is the shorter, wider one that has handles, are you allowed to use it, or is it strictly for a handicapped person? This recently happened to me, and while I used the "handicapped urinal", a gentleman in a wheelchair entered the restroom and told me that I wasn't allowed to use it. Is it against the law? Would a bylaw officer be called in to hand me a summons? Was I in the wrong, or was the gentleman in the wheelchair being unreasonable? After all, he only had to wait about 30 seconds. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. I am puzzled.
Monday 15 October 2012
You may think I live the glamorous life of a TV star. Not true. I'm just like you. If I don't get enough done on Saturday, then Sunday becomes the day of work, rather than the day of rest.
7 a.m. Forget about sleeping in. Must drive son to work because god forbid he has to take his bike and maybe get caught in the rain and then come down with pneumonia and then I'll never hear the end of it from my wife who suggested we get up early in the first place.
8 a.m. Witness the splendor of the Niagara Escarpment in full bloom and with the sun spotlighting Stoney Creek mountain. Breathe in. Breathe out. Life is good.
9 a.m. After a leisurely drive along the beach strip, we end up in Burlington, at the Williams Caf-ay (I know that's not how you spell it, but I don't have an accent egue on my keyboard) It is too early to go to Costco, as they don't open until 10 a.m. I want to be the first in line. In fact, next time I'm going to camp out the night before. Costco is better than a Neil Young concert. Cheaper too.
My coffee is bitter, and I tell the server so. He is back in 5 minutes with a fresh cup that is absolutely heaven. The breakfast wrap is terrific as well. My wife had one of those fancy teas with "Latt-ay" in the name.
9:45 a.m. We are the first ones through the doors at Costco. It's like being first in line at the CNE when you were a kid. Where do we go first? Waffle Ice Cream? Bumper Cars? Polar Express? The Midway?
There's something to be said about getting in early, grabbing everything on your list (and a few things that weren't, like sweat socks, orchids and wiper blades) and being checked out by 11 a.m. Costco isn't so bad after all.
11:01 a.m. After loading up the car, my wife suggests we go to Ikea because it's nearby and we need to look around. As a guy, I know we shop differently. We have a list. We go to the store and buy the items on that list and then we go home. Not so fast. At Ikea, you just can't buy what's on your list, you have to look at EVERYTHING. We recently bought new furniture for our living room. Why do I need to look at more living room furniture? Don't ask, just follow along.
12 Noon I am dying to watch some sports, but we have a shopping list to keep, and miles to go before I sleep. Now we are headed home to unpack from Costco and Ikea, and pack up stuff that has to go to Value Village. My wife wants the basement clutter eliminated, and that means putting lots of stuff in green garbage bags. Then it's off to VV to drop it off.
1:00 p.m. A bunch of NFL games are kicking off, but now we're heading to Wal-Mart in Waterdown to get stuff we couldn't find at Costco or Ikea. I didn't think that was possible. Walking through this gigantic store pushing a stroller, I realize I have now spent most of my Sunday in big box stores.
2:30 p.m. I'm headed out for a photo shoot because I need to upgrade the pictures on my website, www.sportlightproductions.com. Bailey and Dave have the lights all set up and I stand there with a grin on my face while Bailey shoots about a thousand pictures. I'm hoping there's a good one in the bunch (There is!) We're going to have an ad in the Dundas Real McCoys hockey programme and I've got to look my best. I'm going to be a season ticket holder this year. It'll cost me 200 bucks for the season, or about the same amount I paid for ONE TICKET at the last Leaf game I attended (They lost 2-0 to Anaheim and I left early in the third period. How's that for value?)
4:00 p.m. My wife and sons have gone for a nap, so I begin preparing the evening meal (Dirty Rice and Caesar Salad) while keeping a close eye on a bunch of football games and the Yankees-Tigers. The umpire blows an easy call that goes against the Yankees and pretty soon Detroit has scored 3 times to break open a scoreless tie. I love it because I'm sick of seeing the Yankees win all the time. Detroit is going to win the World Series.
5:30 p.m. I'm watching the Pattison Canadian International horse race from Woodbine. Joshua Tree wins the race. Last year, I bet on Joshua Tree. He ran second. Why wasn't I at the track today? Oh yeah, I was at Costco, Ikea, Wal-Mart and Value Village.
7:00 p.m. The Buffalo Bills just coughed up a lead and allowed Arizona's Jay (Touchy) Feely to kick a 61 yard field goal to tie the game. Yikes! A few minutes later, with no time left on the clock, Feely lines up for
what should be the game winning field goal from 38 yards out. No good! It hit the upright. In overtime, the Bills intercept a pass, kick the game winning field goal and escape with a win they didn't deserve.
9:00 p.m. Dinner dishes done, it's "Dexter" time. It's the one show I can't afford to miss. He's a serial killer and his sister is the commanding officer at the cop shop where he's a blood splatter expert. She just found it he's a serial killer. Great show.
11:00 p.m. Watching TSN or Sportsnet, I'm not sure which. All the football highlights. All the baseball. No hockey. No commercials for Costco, Wal-Mart, Value Village or Ikea. Why should they advertise? They've already got my money.
Friday 12 October 2012
IN SEARCH OF A-ROD AND A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.
I am bleary-eyed and sleep deprived today but that's OK, I'm not complaining. It's an occupational hazard when you cover sports, especially when the ultra-intense drama of the baseball playoffs keeps you up until the wee hours EVERY NIGHT. Besides, I'm launching a new business today, so that's taken up some of my time. More on that later.
In case you missed it, Baltimore beat the Yankees in 13 innings to set up a fifth and deciding game and Detroit eliminated Oakland in 5 games. Just when I thought nothing could top Raul Ibanez' sick performance the night before (pinch homer to tie in the 9th, game winning tater in the 12th) to bring the Yankees back from the brink, last night was just as good, but in a different way. They say good pitching beats good hitting and this series proves it. The Orioles starting pitching is fantastic, making most of the Yankee hitters look like rejects from your local Slo Pitch League. A-Rod is a 29 million-dollar-this-year-punchline. Not only can't he hit, he fails to move runners along by making simple contact. He was dropped from 3rd to 5th in the batting order and really should be benched. Curtis Granderson is a 40 homer guy and he can't even hit a loud foul. Nick Swisher? Well, his name says it all this October. Sorry, but these are NOT your grandfather's Yankees. If it wasn't for 37 year old banged-up-but-still-gutting-it-out Derek Jeter, the Yanks would be dead already. I hope Baltimore wins.
I also hope the Jays make a serious pitch for free agent Josh Hamilton, whose problems with alcohol, drugs and now chewing tobacco are just as well known as his penchant for hitting long bombs. I think he would do OK in Toronto, where we tend to be a little more forgiving than most American fans (although that can be construed as a negative by some). Hamilton would make the middle of the Jays order incredibly tough to pitch around. Can you imagine a Bautista, Hamilton, Encarnacion middle of the order? Now, I don't care how much this is going to cost. Overpay for the guy. Even if you only get a few good years out of him, take a shot. The fans deserve a winner. If they can find a way to win in Baltimore, why not Toronto?
I'm really disappointed in the NHL and it's players. People say the fans will come back, just like last time. But I don't know. I feel as if we're begging for scraps and morsels of information that might lend hope to such a bleak situation. It's really pathetic. Both sides should be in constant communication. Instead, the NHL is announcing another two weeks of cancellations. Man, for some people that would be like Ford or GM announcing massive layoffs. Yeah, maybe you can come back to work in a few months. Maybe not until the New Year. Hey, we might cancel the whole season. Talk to your union rep, see if you might have to go find another job. Oh, that's right. The only thing you know how to do is play hockey.
Today I'm launching a new company "Sportlight Productions". We make custom recordings for sports fans. As a kid, I always fantasized about calling play by play of great sporting events. Of course, I also fantasized about scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Maple Leafs and having Bill Hewitt announce my name ("Hebscher, coming down the left wing, over the blueline He shoots, he SCORES! Hebscher from Mahovlich and Keon") So I want to combine my love of play by play and creative writing with your love for a sports fan who would really dig a special gift. So, if you wouldn't mind, click on the icon and check it out. Thanks..
I am bleary-eyed and sleep deprived today but that's OK, I'm not complaining. It's an occupational hazard when you cover sports, especially when the ultra-intense drama of the baseball playoffs keeps you up until the wee hours EVERY NIGHT. Besides, I'm launching a new business today, so that's taken up some of my time. More on that later.
In case you missed it, Baltimore beat the Yankees in 13 innings to set up a fifth and deciding game and Detroit eliminated Oakland in 5 games. Just when I thought nothing could top Raul Ibanez' sick performance the night before (pinch homer to tie in the 9th, game winning tater in the 12th) to bring the Yankees back from the brink, last night was just as good, but in a different way. They say good pitching beats good hitting and this series proves it. The Orioles starting pitching is fantastic, making most of the Yankee hitters look like rejects from your local Slo Pitch League. A-Rod is a 29 million-dollar-this-year-punchline. Not only can't he hit, he fails to move runners along by making simple contact. He was dropped from 3rd to 5th in the batting order and really should be benched. Curtis Granderson is a 40 homer guy and he can't even hit a loud foul. Nick Swisher? Well, his name says it all this October. Sorry, but these are NOT your grandfather's Yankees. If it wasn't for 37 year old banged-up-but-still-gutting-it-out Derek Jeter, the Yanks would be dead already. I hope Baltimore wins.
I also hope the Jays make a serious pitch for free agent Josh Hamilton, whose problems with alcohol, drugs and now chewing tobacco are just as well known as his penchant for hitting long bombs. I think he would do OK in Toronto, where we tend to be a little more forgiving than most American fans (although that can be construed as a negative by some). Hamilton would make the middle of the Jays order incredibly tough to pitch around. Can you imagine a Bautista, Hamilton, Encarnacion middle of the order? Now, I don't care how much this is going to cost. Overpay for the guy. Even if you only get a few good years out of him, take a shot. The fans deserve a winner. If they can find a way to win in Baltimore, why not Toronto?
I'm really disappointed in the NHL and it's players. People say the fans will come back, just like last time. But I don't know. I feel as if we're begging for scraps and morsels of information that might lend hope to such a bleak situation. It's really pathetic. Both sides should be in constant communication. Instead, the NHL is announcing another two weeks of cancellations. Man, for some people that would be like Ford or GM announcing massive layoffs. Yeah, maybe you can come back to work in a few months. Maybe not until the New Year. Hey, we might cancel the whole season. Talk to your union rep, see if you might have to go find another job. Oh, that's right. The only thing you know how to do is play hockey.
Today I'm launching a new company "Sportlight Productions". We make custom recordings for sports fans. As a kid, I always fantasized about calling play by play of great sporting events. Of course, I also fantasized about scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Maple Leafs and having Bill Hewitt announce my name ("Hebscher, coming down the left wing, over the blueline He shoots, he SCORES! Hebscher from Mahovlich and Keon") So I want to combine my love of play by play and creative writing with your love for a sports fan who would really dig a special gift. So, if you wouldn't mind, click on the icon and check it out. Thanks..
Thursday 11 October 2012
THE FIVE CONCERTS I'LL NEVER FORGET.
When I was in my early twenties, I had a box filled with all my concert tickets and stuff. My plan was to make a huge collage on a wall in my new apartment. Photos, programs, ticket stubs, autographs, posters and CHUM charts. I was a music freak, had tons of records, knew the words to every song, and wanted to be a deejay on CHUM-FM. By the time I had moved into the new apartment, gotten settled, started a new job and bought furniture and stuff, it had been about a year when I started to think about that box again. That was in 1976. I still haven't found it. However, since I've been on a concert rant, I've been thinking about all the great shows I've attended. Perhaps you were at some of these. If not, you would've loved them. Trust me. I warned you about Neil Young, didn't I?
My Five Greatest Concerts
5. Led Zeppelin, Pontiac Silverdome, April 30,1977. On the drive down, we listened, of course, to every Zeppelin album on 8 track and wondered what they would play. 76 thousand others joined us to watch the Mysterious Gods of Rock. What a scene! Led Zep did not disappoint. The sound was so-so, but the stage show was spectacular so nobody really cared. I had never seen anybody hit the drums like Bonzo, and that includes Keith Moon. Both, of course, were dead within a few years. Sad.
4. Steely Dan, Massey Hall Toronto, 2009 The "Chinese Food of Music" said Steve Moore of CHUM-FM back in the 70s. "Listen to an album and an hour later you're hungry for more". I can't tell you how many times I've gone off to Dreamland with "the Dan" inside my head. This show was delicious, even though Fagen's voice needed the help of several back up singers. Hard to match their studio sound but this show was pretty close. They played the entire album "Aja" and much, much more. You had to be there.
3. Bruce Springsteen. Montreal Forum-Ottawa Civic Centre, January 1981. These were back-to-back shows during The River tour and I got to sit in the first row for both shows thanks to a very well connected friend (His Dad was a bigshot with the Montreal Canadiens). I'm pretty sure I never sat down either night. Springsteen was everything I had dreamed of an then some. I had missed out on seeing him several years earlier in Detroit when a blizzard prevented us from driving down. The night before, a bunch of us listened to his first five albums (that's all he had at the time) He was magic. 4 hours of bliss.
2. Los Lobos. Lafayette Tap Club, Buffalo NY, July 2009. LL was supposed to play a free concert in Lafayette Square downtown. Only problem was a wicked electrical storm cancelled the gig. With nothing else to do in Buffalo on a rainy night, they asked if there were any nearby clubs that would let them play, no charge. 45 minutes later, there's a 5 dollar cover at the place and Los Lobos are rockin' on a tiny stage in front of a few hundred lucky people. Great atmosphere, powerful sound, tons of fun and an up-close look at a band that just loves to play. Oh yeah, they invited women up on stage to sing along too. Do you think Neil Young would ever do that?
1. The Tragically Hip, House of Blues, Los Angeles 1995. On a day off from their tour opening for Page&Plant, the Hip absolutely rocked H.O.B. Since they had been playing dinky little 45 minute sets as an opening act for P&P, the Hip needed to cut loose for a couple of hours. Wow! Blew the roof off the joint. In attendance that night were many Canadians who had dragged their American friends to see what all the fuss was about. Gord Downie was at his absolute finest. Robbie and Paul were in perfect sync. Gord S and Johnny provided a tremendous rhythm section. I'm so glad I was there that night. Best concert I've ever seen.
Honourable mention to Tom Petty, Tower of Power, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, U2, Loggins and Messina, Johnny Winter, Pearl Jam, Bette Midler and Neil Diamond (not Young)
Maybe one day I'll find that box full of memories.
When I was in my early twenties, I had a box filled with all my concert tickets and stuff. My plan was to make a huge collage on a wall in my new apartment. Photos, programs, ticket stubs, autographs, posters and CHUM charts. I was a music freak, had tons of records, knew the words to every song, and wanted to be a deejay on CHUM-FM. By the time I had moved into the new apartment, gotten settled, started a new job and bought furniture and stuff, it had been about a year when I started to think about that box again. That was in 1976. I still haven't found it. However, since I've been on a concert rant, I've been thinking about all the great shows I've attended. Perhaps you were at some of these. If not, you would've loved them. Trust me. I warned you about Neil Young, didn't I?
My Five Greatest Concerts
5. Led Zeppelin, Pontiac Silverdome, April 30,1977. On the drive down, we listened, of course, to every Zeppelin album on 8 track and wondered what they would play. 76 thousand others joined us to watch the Mysterious Gods of Rock. What a scene! Led Zep did not disappoint. The sound was so-so, but the stage show was spectacular so nobody really cared. I had never seen anybody hit the drums like Bonzo, and that includes Keith Moon. Both, of course, were dead within a few years. Sad.
4. Steely Dan, Massey Hall Toronto, 2009 The "Chinese Food of Music" said Steve Moore of CHUM-FM back in the 70s. "Listen to an album and an hour later you're hungry for more". I can't tell you how many times I've gone off to Dreamland with "the Dan" inside my head. This show was delicious, even though Fagen's voice needed the help of several back up singers. Hard to match their studio sound but this show was pretty close. They played the entire album "Aja" and much, much more. You had to be there.
3. Bruce Springsteen. Montreal Forum-Ottawa Civic Centre, January 1981. These were back-to-back shows during The River tour and I got to sit in the first row for both shows thanks to a very well connected friend (His Dad was a bigshot with the Montreal Canadiens). I'm pretty sure I never sat down either night. Springsteen was everything I had dreamed of an then some. I had missed out on seeing him several years earlier in Detroit when a blizzard prevented us from driving down. The night before, a bunch of us listened to his first five albums (that's all he had at the time) He was magic. 4 hours of bliss.
2. Los Lobos. Lafayette Tap Club, Buffalo NY, July 2009. LL was supposed to play a free concert in Lafayette Square downtown. Only problem was a wicked electrical storm cancelled the gig. With nothing else to do in Buffalo on a rainy night, they asked if there were any nearby clubs that would let them play, no charge. 45 minutes later, there's a 5 dollar cover at the place and Los Lobos are rockin' on a tiny stage in front of a few hundred lucky people. Great atmosphere, powerful sound, tons of fun and an up-close look at a band that just loves to play. Oh yeah, they invited women up on stage to sing along too. Do you think Neil Young would ever do that?
1. The Tragically Hip, House of Blues, Los Angeles 1995. On a day off from their tour opening for Page&Plant, the Hip absolutely rocked H.O.B. Since they had been playing dinky little 45 minute sets as an opening act for P&P, the Hip needed to cut loose for a couple of hours. Wow! Blew the roof off the joint. In attendance that night were many Canadians who had dragged their American friends to see what all the fuss was about. Gord Downie was at his absolute finest. Robbie and Paul were in perfect sync. Gord S and Johnny provided a tremendous rhythm section. I'm so glad I was there that night. Best concert I've ever seen.
Honourable mention to Tom Petty, Tower of Power, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, U2, Loggins and Messina, Johnny Winter, Pearl Jam, Bette Midler and Neil Diamond (not Young)
Maybe one day I'll find that box full of memories.
Tuesday 9 October 2012
NY IS PISSING OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE.
And I don't mean the NY Yankees either. I'm still on the Neil Young kick.
Just to prove that I wasn't the only upset concert goer the other night, here are some recent reviews of NY shows.
"In typical fashion, Young, who wore old boots and jeans that made it look like he was dressed to work in the factory, didn’t cater to his fans."
"To all you burned out TRUE NY fans....your losers...that was the worst concert I've ever seen. NY is full of himself. The show was horrible. I was in the 13th row and almost everyone was sitting there bored out of their minds."
"Dudes, I have followed Young for many years and must now say this was one of the all time worst concerts ever seen by me. Self indulgent is he and will never respect those who know him or follow him."
"How about Ohio, Sugar Mountain, Razor love, something off of Harvest Moon. NY is a bitch. I want my money back!!!!! Talk about arrogant!!! There's 3 hours of my life I'll never get back."
So, keeping with the spirit of things, I now present the 5 WORST concerts I ever attended.
5. Jefferson Starship, J. Geils Band, Gentle Giant. Maple Leaf Gardens 1975. I wanted to hear GG's "The Power and the Glory" and all I got was a hoarse Grace Slick trying to muster up enough chutzpah to sing "White Rabbit". The sound was horrible and the guy behind me barfed on my coat. Disaster.
4. Spirit. The El Mocambo Toronto. 1977. Lead singer Randy California smacked his head on a low beam and knocked himself out 4 songs into the show. "I Got A Line On You" was fabulous. "Prelude-Nothing to Hide", "Nature's Way" and then boom.....down goes California. Show over. Never saw them again. Bummer.
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Troubador Los Angeles, 1984. Four guys wearing socks over their penises. Seriously. No tattoos, but plenty of 'tude. Noisy, out of tune, spitting on audience members and themselves. Left the show early due to a splitting headache. Never thought they had a chance. Little did I know.
2 Rolling Stones, Skydome, 1989. This was the Stones second trip to Toronto on the "Steel Wheels" tour. I missed them at the CNE a few months earlier. Wish I hadn't. The sound at the Skydome was brutal, the Stones appeared to be burned out. Mick's voice was awful and the strain of travelling the world seemed to have taken it's toll. Lacklustre at best. Everybody leaving that night was disappointed.
1. Metallica/Guns 'N Roses, Olympic Stadium Montreal 1992. James Hetfield of Metallica burned himself badly halfway through the show and they had to cancel. Long delay waiting for GNR. Crowd gets nasty, ugly and is looking for a fight. GNR comes on and sounds terrible. Axl claims his throat hurts and they can't hear themselves through the monitors. GNR leaves the stage after a few songs and the fans riot. Scary stuff. Cops can't control mob which turns over cars, smashes windows and acts like the Habs had just won the Stanley Cup (which they did less than a year later, and caused another riot)
Dishonourable mention. Teenage Head, 1980, Ontario Place. The Viletones, 1980, Larry's Hideaway. Sly and the Family Stone, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, 1975.
And I don't mean the NY Yankees either. I'm still on the Neil Young kick.
Just to prove that I wasn't the only upset concert goer the other night, here are some recent reviews of NY shows.
"In typical fashion, Young, who wore old boots and jeans that made it look like he was dressed to work in the factory, didn’t cater to his fans."
"To all you burned out TRUE NY fans....your losers...that was the worst concert I've ever seen. NY is full of himself. The show was horrible. I was in the 13th row and almost everyone was sitting there bored out of their minds."
"Dudes, I have followed Young for many years and must now say this was one of the all time worst concerts ever seen by me. Self indulgent is he and will never respect those who know him or follow him."
"How about Ohio, Sugar Mountain, Razor love, something off of Harvest Moon. NY is a bitch. I want my money back!!!!! Talk about arrogant!!! There's 3 hours of my life I'll never get back."
So, keeping with the spirit of things, I now present the 5 WORST concerts I ever attended.
5. Jefferson Starship, J. Geils Band, Gentle Giant. Maple Leaf Gardens 1975. I wanted to hear GG's "The Power and the Glory" and all I got was a hoarse Grace Slick trying to muster up enough chutzpah to sing "White Rabbit". The sound was horrible and the guy behind me barfed on my coat. Disaster.
4. Spirit. The El Mocambo Toronto. 1977. Lead singer Randy California smacked his head on a low beam and knocked himself out 4 songs into the show. "I Got A Line On You" was fabulous. "Prelude-Nothing to Hide", "Nature's Way" and then boom.....down goes California. Show over. Never saw them again. Bummer.
3. Red Hot Chili Peppers, Troubador Los Angeles, 1984. Four guys wearing socks over their penises. Seriously. No tattoos, but plenty of 'tude. Noisy, out of tune, spitting on audience members and themselves. Left the show early due to a splitting headache. Never thought they had a chance. Little did I know.
2 Rolling Stones, Skydome, 1989. This was the Stones second trip to Toronto on the "Steel Wheels" tour. I missed them at the CNE a few months earlier. Wish I hadn't. The sound at the Skydome was brutal, the Stones appeared to be burned out. Mick's voice was awful and the strain of travelling the world seemed to have taken it's toll. Lacklustre at best. Everybody leaving that night was disappointed.
1. Metallica/Guns 'N Roses, Olympic Stadium Montreal 1992. James Hetfield of Metallica burned himself badly halfway through the show and they had to cancel. Long delay waiting for GNR. Crowd gets nasty, ugly and is looking for a fight. GNR comes on and sounds terrible. Axl claims his throat hurts and they can't hear themselves through the monitors. GNR leaves the stage after a few songs and the fans riot. Scary stuff. Cops can't control mob which turns over cars, smashes windows and acts like the Habs had just won the Stanley Cup (which they did less than a year later, and caused another riot)
Dishonourable mention. Teenage Head, 1980, Ontario Place. The Viletones, 1980, Larry's Hideaway. Sly and the Family Stone, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, 1975.
Monday 8 October 2012
NEIL YOUNG. THANKS FOR NOTHING.
Instead of staying home to watch playoff baseball, I went to see Neil Young in London ON on Saturday night. Bad decision. While the opening act, Los Lobos, rocked and rolled their way through a lively, but shortened 40 minute set, Young was at his worst, toying with the audience and testing their resolve. I won't go into the whole show, because I didn't stay for it all, opting to bail after an hour in search of a bar with a big screen so I could drink, eat and watch sports. Young, who is 66 years old, reminded me of a stubborn old man who will do whatever he feels like. It just so happens that some people were paying 200 dollars a ticket to be a part of this. Now, I love Neil Young, but I'm not a blind loyalist. Some people think he can do no wrong because he's Neil Young. Let me tell you, when you turn your back to the audience for 15 minutes and play the same hard, crashing note over and over and over again, you're testing the patience of your fans. We couldn't take his self-indulgent crap any more, so we left.
Have you noticed how many fine players have folded under the pressure of the baseball playoffs so far? It's like an epidemic. Like the 162 game regular season has absolutely nothing to do with the post-season. It's where veteran players suddenly start playing like rookies again. 40 year old Chipper Jones throwing a ball away at 3rd, leading to a St. Louis victory over Atlanta, and a terrible swansong for a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Braves made three key errors in that game. Must be the incredible pressure. We've seen dropped fly balls (Josh Hamilton, Coco Crisp) awful pitching performances from "lights out" relievers (Jim Johnson, Baltimore and Joaquin Benoit, Detroit) and even screw ups by umpires (Sam Holbrook's infield fly rule)
Let's face it. Baseball is a pressure packed game, especially when it gets cold and the games really mean something and the baseball itself resembles a wet bar of soap, difficult to grip on and even tougher to throw accurately. Routine ground balls become an adventure. More wild pitches are uncorked, with balls ricocheting off the shin pads of catchers after kicking up dirt a few feet in front of the plate. A guy who was in complete control in June and July can't find the plate in October. A guy who was hitting line drives all summer now swings at the first pitch and pops out with the bases loaded. A guy who would catch a fly ball 100 times out of 100 (Crisp) can't make that 101st grab when his team really needs it.
I would love to see the Bluejays do something about their managerial situation, but they need to wait to see who becomes available. Jim Tracy resigned as the manager of Colorado. Ron Washington might get the boot in Texas. Sandy Alomar Jr. was in the running two years ago, but the Jays hired John Farrell instead. And how did that work out? Besides, Farrell will end up going to Boston and the Jays will try to get some decent compensation out of the Sox in return. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos has to look after the managerial situation first and foremost. Any attempt at signing free agents or trading for veteran players will be stonewalled unless the player knows who the manager is. Want to attract the big names? You'd better have a "name" manager.
Instead of staying home to watch playoff baseball, I went to see Neil Young in London ON on Saturday night. Bad decision. While the opening act, Los Lobos, rocked and rolled their way through a lively, but shortened 40 minute set, Young was at his worst, toying with the audience and testing their resolve. I won't go into the whole show, because I didn't stay for it all, opting to bail after an hour in search of a bar with a big screen so I could drink, eat and watch sports. Young, who is 66 years old, reminded me of a stubborn old man who will do whatever he feels like. It just so happens that some people were paying 200 dollars a ticket to be a part of this. Now, I love Neil Young, but I'm not a blind loyalist. Some people think he can do no wrong because he's Neil Young. Let me tell you, when you turn your back to the audience for 15 minutes and play the same hard, crashing note over and over and over again, you're testing the patience of your fans. We couldn't take his self-indulgent crap any more, so we left.
Have you noticed how many fine players have folded under the pressure of the baseball playoffs so far? It's like an epidemic. Like the 162 game regular season has absolutely nothing to do with the post-season. It's where veteran players suddenly start playing like rookies again. 40 year old Chipper Jones throwing a ball away at 3rd, leading to a St. Louis victory over Atlanta, and a terrible swansong for a first ballot Hall of Famer. The Braves made three key errors in that game. Must be the incredible pressure. We've seen dropped fly balls (Josh Hamilton, Coco Crisp) awful pitching performances from "lights out" relievers (Jim Johnson, Baltimore and Joaquin Benoit, Detroit) and even screw ups by umpires (Sam Holbrook's infield fly rule)
Let's face it. Baseball is a pressure packed game, especially when it gets cold and the games really mean something and the baseball itself resembles a wet bar of soap, difficult to grip on and even tougher to throw accurately. Routine ground balls become an adventure. More wild pitches are uncorked, with balls ricocheting off the shin pads of catchers after kicking up dirt a few feet in front of the plate. A guy who was in complete control in June and July can't find the plate in October. A guy who was hitting line drives all summer now swings at the first pitch and pops out with the bases loaded. A guy who would catch a fly ball 100 times out of 100 (Crisp) can't make that 101st grab when his team really needs it.
I would love to see the Bluejays do something about their managerial situation, but they need to wait to see who becomes available. Jim Tracy resigned as the manager of Colorado. Ron Washington might get the boot in Texas. Sandy Alomar Jr. was in the running two years ago, but the Jays hired John Farrell instead. And how did that work out? Besides, Farrell will end up going to Boston and the Jays will try to get some decent compensation out of the Sox in return. Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos has to look after the managerial situation first and foremost. Any attempt at signing free agents or trading for veteran players will be stonewalled unless the player knows who the manager is. Want to attract the big names? You'd better have a "name" manager.
Friday 5 October 2012
SUPERSTARS WANTED IN TORONTO
Even if we aren't going to see the Leafs at the ACC this fall, there will be plenty of firepower down on Bay Street. Rush, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Neil Young are coming, which will be nice for the old folks, but we need to have a young up-and-coming Canadian to cheer for, and I don't mean Justin Bieber (who's also coming to town). The real feature this fall will be the "Face Off" featuring the next great Canadian superstar athlete (we hope). Like it or not, 21 year old Milos Raonic is "that guy" and the "Face Off" is designed to showcase the kid to folks willing to pony up anywhere between 35 and 150 bucks. Since Raonic is from nearby Thornhill, why shouldn't GTA folks get a glimpse at the future (we hope) Grand Slam champion? And if Raonic isn't enough to draw you to the ACC next month, there's the recently retired Andy Roddick, who beat him in Memphis in 2011 and was inconsiderate enough to retire this year without giving Raonic a chance to beat him in a re-match. Why did he retire? Have you seen Roddick's wife, actress Brooklyn Decker? She would be the only reason I would show up. Also on the bill, Serena Williams and Aggie Radwanska, who played each other in this years Wimbledon final. I wouldn't want to be the linesman in that one.
Exhibition tennis matches are, by and large, a joke. Many years ago, a young and exciting Andre Agassi (when he wore a hairpiece) was supposed to play an exhibition at Maple Leaf Gardens in February. Why he signed up for it, I'll never know, but the day before the match was scheduled, Agassi pulled out. The next day the newspapers had a picture of him lounging by the pool in Florida. Nice. Tennis players are famous for pulling out of matches, but when it comes to these exhibitions, they're legendary. Agassi was supposed to play this past summer at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, but begged off a few days before the match, claiming back spasms, and sent Michael Chang in his place. That's the beauty of these exhibitions. If one over-the-hill former star can't make it, there's always somebody else. Can you imagine paying good money to see Neil Young in concert, only to find out he had back spasms and would be replaced by 54-40? Can you say refund? I knew you could.
I can't wait for the baseball playoffs to begin. I'm going with the Atlanta Braves over St. Louis and Baltimore to beat the poor, poor Texas Rangers in the two "play in" Wild card games.
I hope the Bluejays make a decision on manager John Farrell soon. There are a lot of talented managers who would look good in a Jays uniform, including Texas' Ron Washington, who might get the boot if the Rangers are eliminated early from post-season. After two straight World Series defeats, Washington's job is on the line. Personally, I would love to see Terry Francona manage the Jays next year, but I think he'll go to Cleveland. If that's the case, let's get Sandy Alomar Jr. over here. He was interviewed two years ago before Farrell got the job and if the Indians don't hire him, Alex Anthopoulos would be well served to get him to Toronto.
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend, and don't forget to watch Sportsline every day at 5 pm on CHCH TV. That's followed by Square Off at 5:30. Enjoy!
Even if we aren't going to see the Leafs at the ACC this fall, there will be plenty of firepower down on Bay Street. Rush, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Neil Young are coming, which will be nice for the old folks, but we need to have a young up-and-coming Canadian to cheer for, and I don't mean Justin Bieber (who's also coming to town). The real feature this fall will be the "Face Off" featuring the next great Canadian superstar athlete (we hope). Like it or not, 21 year old Milos Raonic is "that guy" and the "Face Off" is designed to showcase the kid to folks willing to pony up anywhere between 35 and 150 bucks. Since Raonic is from nearby Thornhill, why shouldn't GTA folks get a glimpse at the future (we hope) Grand Slam champion? And if Raonic isn't enough to draw you to the ACC next month, there's the recently retired Andy Roddick, who beat him in Memphis in 2011 and was inconsiderate enough to retire this year without giving Raonic a chance to beat him in a re-match. Why did he retire? Have you seen Roddick's wife, actress Brooklyn Decker? She would be the only reason I would show up. Also on the bill, Serena Williams and Aggie Radwanska, who played each other in this years Wimbledon final. I wouldn't want to be the linesman in that one.
Exhibition tennis matches are, by and large, a joke. Many years ago, a young and exciting Andre Agassi (when he wore a hairpiece) was supposed to play an exhibition at Maple Leaf Gardens in February. Why he signed up for it, I'll never know, but the day before the match was scheduled, Agassi pulled out. The next day the newspapers had a picture of him lounging by the pool in Florida. Nice. Tennis players are famous for pulling out of matches, but when it comes to these exhibitions, they're legendary. Agassi was supposed to play this past summer at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, but begged off a few days before the match, claiming back spasms, and sent Michael Chang in his place. That's the beauty of these exhibitions. If one over-the-hill former star can't make it, there's always somebody else. Can you imagine paying good money to see Neil Young in concert, only to find out he had back spasms and would be replaced by 54-40? Can you say refund? I knew you could.
I can't wait for the baseball playoffs to begin. I'm going with the Atlanta Braves over St. Louis and Baltimore to beat the poor, poor Texas Rangers in the two "play in" Wild card games.
I hope the Bluejays make a decision on manager John Farrell soon. There are a lot of talented managers who would look good in a Jays uniform, including Texas' Ron Washington, who might get the boot if the Rangers are eliminated early from post-season. After two straight World Series defeats, Washington's job is on the line. Personally, I would love to see Terry Francona manage the Jays next year, but I think he'll go to Cleveland. If that's the case, let's get Sandy Alomar Jr. over here. He was interviewed two years ago before Farrell got the job and if the Indians don't hire him, Alex Anthopoulos would be well served to get him to Toronto.
Have a great Thanksgiving weekend, and don't forget to watch Sportsline every day at 5 pm on CHCH TV. That's followed by Square Off at 5:30. Enjoy!
Wednesday 3 October 2012
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?
Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Billy Loes once said he didn't want to be a 20 game winner "because then I'd be
expected to do it every year". Ah, expectations. They certainly can be sky-high for athletes, especially if they have a big year. Case in point, Mike Trout, rookie centrefielder for the Angels. He is having one of the greatest seasons EVER by a rookie, and has Mickey Mantle-like numbers. .325 batting average, 30 homers, 49 steals (out of 53 attempts), 2nd in the league in OPS, first in WAR (wins above replacement) and a terrific defensive outfielder. Oh yes, he just turned 21, and is the fourth youngest player in the major leagues. So, what's he going to do for an encore next year? Who knows, but we can't expect him to do this every year, can we? Did we not expect Dexy's Midnight Runners to come up with a huge hit after the success of "Come on Eileen"? Was it wrong to think that actor Adrien Brody would follow up his Oscar winning role in "The Pianist" with another great performance, rather than being in a razor commercial with Andre 3000? I'll be interested to see if Trout can come close to duplicating his numbers from 2012 next year. I "expect" he will, but I won't be disappointed if he comes back down to earth. Can you imagine hitting .300 with 25 homers and 40 steals and NOT meeting expectations?
Kudos to the NBA for two things. One, having a complete season this year after that 66 game mess that they tortured us with last year after their work stoppage. Two, the implementation of a new rule which, hopefully, will cut down on "flopping". In the past few years, NBA players have started to look like soccer stars by going down at the slightest contact in order to try and draw an offensive foul. I find this to be offensive, and the NBA has agreed. Now, if a player hits the deck and the refs think he's faking it, he gets a warning. The second time it happens, it's a 5 thousand dollar fine. Next time, it's 10 g's. A fourth time offender gets hit for 15 thousand and then the fifth offense results in a 30 thousand dollar fine. Luckily, this rule wasn't in place when I was in high school. I was a champion flopper at Newtonbrook S.S., able to hit the deck with the slightest of contact and make it appear as if the offensive player had committed a reckless foul, and done bodily injury to yours truly. Of course, when your coach sends you out there and tells you to "take one for the team", he doesn't mean take a jump shot.
People have been asking me how long I think the NHL lockout will go on for. Let's put it this way, when 100 or so players have already signed up to play overseas, that's a pretty good indicator that this will last at least a couple of months, and probably into mid-December. I'm sure the union has told the players that it's going to be a long haul, so go and make the best deal you can. I say the NHL will come back just before the Christmas holidays begin. Ho Ho Ho.
It's fun to see a little battle of words going on between Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins and hockey commentator Don Cherry. When Eakins questioned the eating habits of young forward Nazem Kadri, Cherry came to the kid's defense, saying Eakins should lay off. Today, Eakins responded by saying that Cherry is pretty good at reading what somebody writes down for him. Ouch!
Have you noticed how much drama there is in the NFL this year. We're only 4 weeks in, and already we've had the replacement refs fiasco, the 0-4 New Orleans Saints, the Mark Sanchez-Tim Tebow hubbub, the Dallas Cowboys soap opera featuring Tony Romo, the dour Jay Cutler and the way he treats teammates and coaches, the comeback of Peyton Manning and the wonderful performances of the Cardinals, the Falcons and the Houston Texans.
In other news, the Hamilton Tiger Cats still haven't found a place to play their home games in 2013. London? Moncton? Toronto? Anywhere but Hamilton, although there is still talk that before they put a shovel in the ground, they might want to look at the old West Harbour site for the new stadium. Right now, they're planning on building a new stadium on the current Ivor Wynne site, but more than a few city councillors would love to see the West Harbour project re-visited. A while back, the TiCats said they would "never" play at that site. Maybe it's time to reconsider.
Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Billy Loes once said he didn't want to be a 20 game winner "because then I'd be
expected to do it every year". Ah, expectations. They certainly can be sky-high for athletes, especially if they have a big year. Case in point, Mike Trout, rookie centrefielder for the Angels. He is having one of the greatest seasons EVER by a rookie, and has Mickey Mantle-like numbers. .325 batting average, 30 homers, 49 steals (out of 53 attempts), 2nd in the league in OPS, first in WAR (wins above replacement) and a terrific defensive outfielder. Oh yes, he just turned 21, and is the fourth youngest player in the major leagues. So, what's he going to do for an encore next year? Who knows, but we can't expect him to do this every year, can we? Did we not expect Dexy's Midnight Runners to come up with a huge hit after the success of "Come on Eileen"? Was it wrong to think that actor Adrien Brody would follow up his Oscar winning role in "The Pianist" with another great performance, rather than being in a razor commercial with Andre 3000? I'll be interested to see if Trout can come close to duplicating his numbers from 2012 next year. I "expect" he will, but I won't be disappointed if he comes back down to earth. Can you imagine hitting .300 with 25 homers and 40 steals and NOT meeting expectations?
Kudos to the NBA for two things. One, having a complete season this year after that 66 game mess that they tortured us with last year after their work stoppage. Two, the implementation of a new rule which, hopefully, will cut down on "flopping". In the past few years, NBA players have started to look like soccer stars by going down at the slightest contact in order to try and draw an offensive foul. I find this to be offensive, and the NBA has agreed. Now, if a player hits the deck and the refs think he's faking it, he gets a warning. The second time it happens, it's a 5 thousand dollar fine. Next time, it's 10 g's. A fourth time offender gets hit for 15 thousand and then the fifth offense results in a 30 thousand dollar fine. Luckily, this rule wasn't in place when I was in high school. I was a champion flopper at Newtonbrook S.S., able to hit the deck with the slightest of contact and make it appear as if the offensive player had committed a reckless foul, and done bodily injury to yours truly. Of course, when your coach sends you out there and tells you to "take one for the team", he doesn't mean take a jump shot.
People have been asking me how long I think the NHL lockout will go on for. Let's put it this way, when 100 or so players have already signed up to play overseas, that's a pretty good indicator that this will last at least a couple of months, and probably into mid-December. I'm sure the union has told the players that it's going to be a long haul, so go and make the best deal you can. I say the NHL will come back just before the Christmas holidays begin. Ho Ho Ho.
It's fun to see a little battle of words going on between Toronto Marlies coach Dallas Eakins and hockey commentator Don Cherry. When Eakins questioned the eating habits of young forward Nazem Kadri, Cherry came to the kid's defense, saying Eakins should lay off. Today, Eakins responded by saying that Cherry is pretty good at reading what somebody writes down for him. Ouch!
Have you noticed how much drama there is in the NFL this year. We're only 4 weeks in, and already we've had the replacement refs fiasco, the 0-4 New Orleans Saints, the Mark Sanchez-Tim Tebow hubbub, the Dallas Cowboys soap opera featuring Tony Romo, the dour Jay Cutler and the way he treats teammates and coaches, the comeback of Peyton Manning and the wonderful performances of the Cardinals, the Falcons and the Houston Texans.
In other news, the Hamilton Tiger Cats still haven't found a place to play their home games in 2013. London? Moncton? Toronto? Anywhere but Hamilton, although there is still talk that before they put a shovel in the ground, they might want to look at the old West Harbour site for the new stadium. Right now, they're planning on building a new stadium on the current Ivor Wynne site, but more than a few city councillors would love to see the West Harbour project re-visited. A while back, the TiCats said they would "never" play at that site. Maybe it's time to reconsider.
Monday 1 October 2012
NIFTY, THE HAMMER, P.K., LIZ AND JEAN VAL JEAN.
I had a great time on Saturday at "Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer", where over 1500 players and tons of "celebrities" took part in a day long tournament in the parking lot of Ontario Place. My wife came along with me, and remarked that it was "like a school reunion" with men and women who hadn't seen each other in a while commenting on things like hair, expanding waistlines and swapping stories from the good old days.
I knew I was in trouble when one guy asked me "Who's the celebrity on YOUR team?" Luckily, I pointed to the great Canadian tenor Michael Burgess, who played Jean Val Jean in "Les Miz" and has a voice which makes angels in heaven green with envy. Michael is what I would consider a "celebrity". Me? I'm just a TV guy. The real stars, in my mind were people like Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, Rick (Nifty) Middleton, current Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K.Subban (although he's out of a job right now) Elizabeth Manley, Tie Domi, Tony McKegney, Todd Warriner, Marty McSorley and several Olympic athletes. All of them donated their time and energies to this fabulous cause, and helped raise 2.2 million dollars for the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society. Oh, and by the way, my team "The Hammers", came back to tie our final game 3-3 after falling behind 3-0. I'd like to think my stalwart defensive play helped inspire the troops. I hope they want me back next year.
On the "real" hockey front, it's amazing how bitter some of these former players are. Many played back when Gary Bettman was the comish, and they have nothing but nasty things to say about Bettman and his regime. Their suggestion to the current players: You've only got so many good earning years in this game, so you'd better make hay while the sun shines. Translation: Get a deal done soon or there might be some cracks in the union's foundation.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse are playing 3 shows in Ontario this week, and I'm looking forward to Saturday's show at the John Labatt Centre in London. Neil, 66, is a longtime San Jose Sharks fan, who frequents many games along with his son, Ben, 33, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is a quadraplegic and unable to speak. Actually, it's Ben who's the Sharks fan. Neil recently pledged allegiance to the Winnipeg Jets in a TV commercial, and that had Sharks fans all riled up. Neil, of course, spent his teenage years in the 'Peg living with his mother, while his famous father, Scott Young, wrote a newspaper column in Toronto, authored several books, and ended up in the Hockey Hall of Fame. When someone mistakenly pointed out that Neil's favourite growing up was Punch Imlach, the former Leaf coach, Young replied "Maybe my father's favourite, but certainly not mine". By the way, Neil is in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame twice. Once as a solo artist, and once as a member of Buffalo Springfield. I get the feeling he hated the Leafs, the team his father covered, but I'll try to confirm that when I attempt to get an interview on Saturday. Stay tuned.
Best moment of the weekend: Watching the U.S. golfers choke and gag down the stretch as they blew the Ryder Cup to the European team. It wasn't so much the players, but rather the American fans. Every time they shout "USA USA", it makes me dislike them even more. This chest-beating borders on jingoism and reminds me of the Atlanta Braves fans and their stupid "Tomahawk Chop" back in 1992 when the Bluejays defeated them in the World Series despite the upside down Canadian flag and incessant chopping. You would never hear Canadians act that way. I like the fact that we're just as patriotic, but certainly more "reserved" than our American friends.
I had a great time on Saturday at "Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer", where over 1500 players and tons of "celebrities" took part in a day long tournament in the parking lot of Ontario Place. My wife came along with me, and remarked that it was "like a school reunion" with men and women who hadn't seen each other in a while commenting on things like hair, expanding waistlines and swapping stories from the good old days.
I knew I was in trouble when one guy asked me "Who's the celebrity on YOUR team?" Luckily, I pointed to the great Canadian tenor Michael Burgess, who played Jean Val Jean in "Les Miz" and has a voice which makes angels in heaven green with envy. Michael is what I would consider a "celebrity". Me? I'm just a TV guy. The real stars, in my mind were people like Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, Rick (Nifty) Middleton, current Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K.Subban (although he's out of a job right now) Elizabeth Manley, Tie Domi, Tony McKegney, Todd Warriner, Marty McSorley and several Olympic athletes. All of them donated their time and energies to this fabulous cause, and helped raise 2.2 million dollars for the Princess Margaret Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society. Oh, and by the way, my team "The Hammers", came back to tie our final game 3-3 after falling behind 3-0. I'd like to think my stalwart defensive play helped inspire the troops. I hope they want me back next year.
On the "real" hockey front, it's amazing how bitter some of these former players are. Many played back when Gary Bettman was the comish, and they have nothing but nasty things to say about Bettman and his regime. Their suggestion to the current players: You've only got so many good earning years in this game, so you'd better make hay while the sun shines. Translation: Get a deal done soon or there might be some cracks in the union's foundation.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse are playing 3 shows in Ontario this week, and I'm looking forward to Saturday's show at the John Labatt Centre in London. Neil, 66, is a longtime San Jose Sharks fan, who frequents many games along with his son, Ben, 33, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is a quadraplegic and unable to speak. Actually, it's Ben who's the Sharks fan. Neil recently pledged allegiance to the Winnipeg Jets in a TV commercial, and that had Sharks fans all riled up. Neil, of course, spent his teenage years in the 'Peg living with his mother, while his famous father, Scott Young, wrote a newspaper column in Toronto, authored several books, and ended up in the Hockey Hall of Fame. When someone mistakenly pointed out that Neil's favourite growing up was Punch Imlach, the former Leaf coach, Young replied "Maybe my father's favourite, but certainly not mine". By the way, Neil is in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame twice. Once as a solo artist, and once as a member of Buffalo Springfield. I get the feeling he hated the Leafs, the team his father covered, but I'll try to confirm that when I attempt to get an interview on Saturday. Stay tuned.
Best moment of the weekend: Watching the U.S. golfers choke and gag down the stretch as they blew the Ryder Cup to the European team. It wasn't so much the players, but rather the American fans. Every time they shout "USA USA", it makes me dislike them even more. This chest-beating borders on jingoism and reminds me of the Atlanta Braves fans and their stupid "Tomahawk Chop" back in 1992 when the Bluejays defeated them in the World Series despite the upside down Canadian flag and incessant chopping. You would never hear Canadians act that way. I like the fact that we're just as patriotic, but certainly more "reserved" than our American friends.
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