THERE WAS A TIME WHEN FANS SET THEIR SPRING SCHEDULE AROUND MEMORIAL DAY AND WHAT USED TO BE CALLED THE "GREATEST SINGLE-DAY SPORTING EVENT IN NORTH AMERICA". THE INDIANPOLIS 500 WAS A MONSTER. EVERYONE KNEW THE NAMES.
A.J. AND MARIO. THE UNSERS, JOHNNY RUTHERFORD. RICK MEARS. I WAS PART OF THE CTV TELECASTS OF THE 500 FOR 7 YEARS AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY IT WAS THE "GREATEST SINGLE DAY SPORTING EVENT IN NORTH AMERICA". BUT THEN WAS THEN. 11 YEARS AGO, THE OWNER OF THE INDIANAPOLIS SPEEDWAY TRIED TO IMPOSE HIS OWN SET OF RULES ON "CART" SERIES CAUSING THE CHAMP CARS TO BREAK AWAY FROM INDY. TONY GEORGE THEN FORMED THE INDY RACING LEAGUE AND OVER 11 YEARS BOTH SERIES HAVE SUFFERED. BOTH CART AND THE IRL HAVE TELEVISION RATINGS WORSE THAN THE NHL IN THE U.S. THE CHAMP CAR RACE IN MONTREAL IS NOW HISTORY---REPLACED BY A DEVELOPMENT RACE FOR NASCAR. NASCAR HAS BECOME NORTH AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE RACING SERIES.
SO OUTSIDE OF THE THREE WOMEN WHO WILL BE PART OF THE FIELD FOR TOMORROW'S RACE, WHY WOULD YOU WATCH THE INDY 500. I'VE HARDLY BEEN CHEWING MY FINGERNAILS DOWN WORRYING ABOUT HOW SAM HORNISH JUNIOR IS GOING TO DO.
AND I'M SORRY ALL YOU DAN WHELDON FANS...BUT I JUST CAN'T WORK UP ANY EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. SO GO DANICA....GO SARAH FISCHER AND MILKA DUNO. WHATEVER SALVATION THERE IS FOR A ONCE-GREAT EVENT...YOU'RE IT.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
may 19
THE SELECTION OF COACHES FOR OUR NATIONAL TEAMS HAS LONG BEEN A SOURCE OF PERSONAL FRUSTRATION. IT ALL CAME TO A HEAD AGAIN THIS WEEK WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE CANADIAN SOCCER ASSOCIATION HAD NAMED VANCOUVER'S DALE MITCHELL COACH OF OUR NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM. RIGHT NOW CANADA IS IN A LOSING BATTLE FOR 94TH PLACE IN THE WORLD RANKINGS WITH SUCH SOCCER POWERS AS MOLDOVA, KUWAIT AND ICELAND. NOT ONLY THAT...CANADA'S SOCCER RANKING IS IN FREE FALL..DROPPING NEARLY 10 PLACES IN THE LAST YEAR. WITH THIS KIND OF RECORD YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE AN ATTEMPT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION WHEN IT COMES TO COACHING TEAM CANADA. INSTEAD WE AGAIN TURN TO HOMEBREW TALENT THAT HAS NEVER TASTED SUCCESS ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
FOR YEARS OUR NATIONAL SKI TEAM FLOUNDERED UNTIL FNALLY UNDER KEN READ'S DIRECTION A NUMBER OF COACHES FROM ITALY, FRANCE AND SWEDEN BOLSTERED THE STAFF. THE TURNAROUND HAS BEEN STARTLING.
THE BEST EXAMPLE I CAN PRODUCE IS IRISH BOXING. DESPITE THEIR IMAGE AS GREAT FIGHTERS IRELAND HAD NEVER WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. IN 1992 THEY FINALLY DECIDED THEY WOULD GET FIRST CLASS COACHING. THEY HIRED ONE OF THE BEST TRAINERS IN CUBA. THE RESULT IN BARCELONA WAS NOT ONLY A GOLD BUT A SILVER MEDAL. IRONICALLY THE IRISH BOXER BEAT A CUBAN FOR THE GOLD.
THE LESSON IS, IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED YOU NEED TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT. HOWEVER WORLD CLASS COACHES DON'T COME CHEAP. AND THERE'S THE OTHER PROBLEM --- IT'S CALLED "PENNY WISE AND DOLLAR FOOLISH."
FOR YEARS OUR NATIONAL SKI TEAM FLOUNDERED UNTIL FNALLY UNDER KEN READ'S DIRECTION A NUMBER OF COACHES FROM ITALY, FRANCE AND SWEDEN BOLSTERED THE STAFF. THE TURNAROUND HAS BEEN STARTLING.
THE BEST EXAMPLE I CAN PRODUCE IS IRISH BOXING. DESPITE THEIR IMAGE AS GREAT FIGHTERS IRELAND HAD NEVER WON AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. IN 1992 THEY FINALLY DECIDED THEY WOULD GET FIRST CLASS COACHING. THEY HIRED ONE OF THE BEST TRAINERS IN CUBA. THE RESULT IN BARCELONA WAS NOT ONLY A GOLD BUT A SILVER MEDAL. IRONICALLY THE IRISH BOXER BEAT A CUBAN FOR THE GOLD.
THE LESSON IS, IF YOU WANT TO SUCCEED YOU NEED TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT. HOWEVER WORLD CLASS COACHES DON'T COME CHEAP. AND THERE'S THE OTHER PROBLEM --- IT'S CALLED "PENNY WISE AND DOLLAR FOOLISH."
May 18
This week a group called the "giving-back fund" announced the most charitable individuals in the United States. Oprah Winfrey gave away 58 million dollars in 2006 to lead the way. There were a couple of bequests listed 2 and three and then Barbra Streisand at 11 million dollars. And then came the most generous of our superstar athletes. It probably is no surprise that Tiger Woods is the most generous among them. Tiger gave away
9.5 million dollars to various causes. The second most generous of the athletes was third year NBA star Carmelo Anthony who took 4.3 million out of his annual paycheck. This is truly "giving back". Too often we hear of players who are in it for "the money"...or "the glory"...or "the power".
Not enough is heard of those who often contribute without any interest in publicity. Did you know that retired tennis star Andre Agassi; the NFLs Ronde and Tiki Barber and NASCAR's Tony Stewart all passed a million dollars each on to charities. This is cash money. Not tied to foundations which sometimes can been drained by inflated operating costs. There is only one thing that is better than a cash donation and that's the giving of time.
Tiger Woods does that. Here in Montreal Saku Koivu did that in raising money for the Mcgill Health Centre. And then there is of course the undisputed world champion in that regard, Jean Beliveau. Being a star athlete doesn't have to mean being avaricious, greedy, rude and impatient-for-freeagency and the next big contract. It only seems that way in our daily life.
9.5 million dollars to various causes. The second most generous of the athletes was third year NBA star Carmelo Anthony who took 4.3 million out of his annual paycheck. This is truly "giving back". Too often we hear of players who are in it for "the money"...or "the glory"...or "the power".
Not enough is heard of those who often contribute without any interest in publicity. Did you know that retired tennis star Andre Agassi; the NFLs Ronde and Tiki Barber and NASCAR's Tony Stewart all passed a million dollars each on to charities. This is cash money. Not tied to foundations which sometimes can been drained by inflated operating costs. There is only one thing that is better than a cash donation and that's the giving of time.
Tiger Woods does that. Here in Montreal Saku Koivu did that in raising money for the Mcgill Health Centre. And then there is of course the undisputed world champion in that regard, Jean Beliveau. Being a star athlete doesn't have to mean being avaricious, greedy, rude and impatient-for-freeagency and the next big contract. It only seems that way in our daily life.
Monday, May 14, 2007
MAY 12
THE DETROIT RED WINGS PLAYED THE ANAHEIM DUCKS LAST NIGHT AT THE JOE LOUIS ARENA . THE WINGS WON BUT THE STORY ONCE AGAIN WAS EMPTY SEATS. GOING INTO THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFFS THE RED WINGS HAD A RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE SELLOUTS THAT DWARFED EVEN THE CANADIENS MARK . 11 YEARS WITHOUT AN EMPTY SEAT UNTIL GAME ONE OF THIS YEAR'S PLAYOFFS. GAME ONE OF THE PLAYOFFS FIRST ROUND AND 2500 REGULAR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS OPTED OUT.... 18 PERCENT OF THE WINGS SEASON TICKET BASE.
I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHEN THE PAYING PUBLIC WOULD SAY "ENOUGH-IS-ENOUGH".
WHEN THEY DECIDE THE PAYBACK FROM AN ENTERTAINMENT STANDPOINT DOESN'T MATCH THE PRICE TAG. WELL, "HOCKEY-TOWN" IS HOCKEY-TOWN NO LONGER. THE WINGS REALLY DID IT TO THEIR FANS THIS TIME. A 54-DOLLAR REGULAR SEASON TICKET BECAME A 99 DOLLAR TICKET IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS AND 108-DOLLARS IN THE SECOND ROUND. THOSE ARE SEATS IN NOSE-BLEED UPPER BOWL SECTION OF "THE JOE". STANDING ROOM IS RUNNING 108 DOLLARS.
33 YEARS AGO, HAROLD BALLARD OF THE LEAFS DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO GOUGE HIS PUBLIC BY INSTALLING WHAT HE CALLED "THE GOLD SEATS" IN MAPLE LEAF GARDENS. WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS BLATANT CASH-GRAB HE SAID "I'LL KNOW I'VE GONE TOO FAR WHEN THEY STOP BUYING TICKETS." IN TORONTO YOU APPARENTLY CAN BEAT THE FANS UP ALL YOU WANT AND THEY'LL ALWAYS COME BACK.
THE GOLD SEATS HAVE TURNED TO PLATINUM SEATS AT THE AIR CANADA CENTRE AND EVEN WITH THE 40 YEAR STANLEY CUP DROUGHT THEY KEEP COMING BACK. NOT SO IN DETROIT WHERE ONLY BASKETBALL'S PISTONS ARE SELLING OUT CHARGING 18-DOLLARS FOR TICKETS THE REDWINGS CHARGE 100 DOLLARS. I WONDER IF ANYONE AT THE BELL CENTRE IS TRACKING THIS STORY.
I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHEN THE PAYING PUBLIC WOULD SAY "ENOUGH-IS-ENOUGH".
WHEN THEY DECIDE THE PAYBACK FROM AN ENTERTAINMENT STANDPOINT DOESN'T MATCH THE PRICE TAG. WELL, "HOCKEY-TOWN" IS HOCKEY-TOWN NO LONGER. THE WINGS REALLY DID IT TO THEIR FANS THIS TIME. A 54-DOLLAR REGULAR SEASON TICKET BECAME A 99 DOLLAR TICKET IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS AND 108-DOLLARS IN THE SECOND ROUND. THOSE ARE SEATS IN NOSE-BLEED UPPER BOWL SECTION OF "THE JOE". STANDING ROOM IS RUNNING 108 DOLLARS.
33 YEARS AGO, HAROLD BALLARD OF THE LEAFS DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO GOUGE HIS PUBLIC BY INSTALLING WHAT HE CALLED "THE GOLD SEATS" IN MAPLE LEAF GARDENS. WHEN HE WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT HIS BLATANT CASH-GRAB HE SAID "I'LL KNOW I'VE GONE TOO FAR WHEN THEY STOP BUYING TICKETS." IN TORONTO YOU APPARENTLY CAN BEAT THE FANS UP ALL YOU WANT AND THEY'LL ALWAYS COME BACK.
THE GOLD SEATS HAVE TURNED TO PLATINUM SEATS AT THE AIR CANADA CENTRE AND EVEN WITH THE 40 YEAR STANLEY CUP DROUGHT THEY KEEP COMING BACK. NOT SO IN DETROIT WHERE ONLY BASKETBALL'S PISTONS ARE SELLING OUT CHARGING 18-DOLLARS FOR TICKETS THE REDWINGS CHARGE 100 DOLLARS. I WONDER IF ANYONE AT THE BELL CENTRE IS TRACKING THIS STORY.
MAY 5
THIS WEEK WE WERE NOT ONLY SUBJECTED TO FAT-CAT POLITICIANS CALLING DOWN A HOCKEY PLAYER WITH AN EXEMPLARY REPUTATION FOR THEIR OWN SELF GLORIFICATION...WE ALSO HAD AN ACADEMIC FROM THE WHARTON SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PUBLISHING ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES A PAPER THAT STATES THAT BLACK PLAYERS IN THE NBA ARE CALLED FOR FOULS AT A GREATER RATE THAN WHITE. PROFESSOR JUSTIN WOLFERS BASED THIS ON SOME 600 THOUSAND CALLS MADE OVER A 13 YEAR PERIOD USING BOX SCORES. WHILE NO-ONE CAN ARGUE THAT OUR SOCIETY IS FILLED WITH RACIAL OR ETHNIC BIAS....(JUST ASK SHANE DOAN) NEVER HAVE I HEARD ANYONE CRY RACISM WHEN IT COMES TO REFEREEING IN THE NBA. THIS IS A CASE OF AN EGGHEAD, WHO ADMITEDLY DOESN'T EVEN LIKE BASKETBALL, MAKING STATISTICS FIT A PRECONCEIVED NOTION.
AS MARK TWAIN SAID, "THERE ARE LIES, DAMED LIES AND THEN THERE ARE STATISTICS." THE STUDY IS BEING GIVEN ABSOLUTELY NO CREDENCE BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN PLAYERS IN THE NBA WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT THE REFEREES ARE BLIND AND STUPID AND HAVE NO JUDGEMENT..BUT DEFINITELY ARE NOT RACIST. WE HAVEN'T HEARD WHETHER PROFESSOR WOLFERS IS GOING TO SWITCH HIS OBVIOUSLY PLENTIFUL FREE TIME TO RACISM IN HOCKEY. PERHAPS HE CAN MAKE A STATISTICAL CASE FOR PETER WORRELL, GEORGE LARACQUE AND DONALD BRASHEAR BEING AN OFFICIATING VICTIM FOR ALL OF THOSE FIGHTING MAJORS.
AS MARK TWAIN SAID, "THERE ARE LIES, DAMED LIES AND THEN THERE ARE STATISTICS." THE STUDY IS BEING GIVEN ABSOLUTELY NO CREDENCE BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN PLAYERS IN THE NBA WHO WILL TELL YOU THAT THE REFEREES ARE BLIND AND STUPID AND HAVE NO JUDGEMENT..BUT DEFINITELY ARE NOT RACIST. WE HAVEN'T HEARD WHETHER PROFESSOR WOLFERS IS GOING TO SWITCH HIS OBVIOUSLY PLENTIFUL FREE TIME TO RACISM IN HOCKEY. PERHAPS HE CAN MAKE A STATISTICAL CASE FOR PETER WORRELL, GEORGE LARACQUE AND DONALD BRASHEAR BEING AN OFFICIATING VICTIM FOR ALL OF THOSE FIGHTING MAJORS.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
April 28 2007
DID YOU KNOW TORII HUNTER OF THE MINNESOTA TWINS RISKED A THREE YEAR BAN FROM BASEBALL FOR SENDING 4 BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE TO THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS CLUBHOUSE AS A REWARD FOR THEIR SWEEP OF DETROIT THAT GUARANTEED THE TWINS WOULD FINISH FIRST IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL. THE CHAMPAGNE WAS RETURNED UNOPENED AND A ROYALS PITCHER REWARDED HUNTER'S GENEROSITY BY HITTING HIM IN THE MOUTH WITH A 93 MILE AN HOUR FASTBALL ON THURSDAY NIGHT.
-----------------------------
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THAT TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER FLOYD LANDIS WOULD LOOK LIKE A VICTIM IN THE FRENCH STEROIDS INVESTIGATION. THE PARISIAN TESTING LAB AGAIN LEAKED RESULTS OF SUPPLEMENTARY TESTS TO THE FRENCH NEWSPAPER L'EQUIPE. SO FAR WE'VE HAD MISLABELED, MISPLACED AND MISHANDLED TEST RESULTS FROM THE LAB BLURRING WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE.
-----------------------------
IN THE MIDWEST THE FBI HAS BEEN CALLED IN AFTER TV NETWORKS RECEIVED DOZENS OF THREATENING LETTERS CRITICIZING TV CREWS FOR CONTANTLY TRAINING THEIR CAMERAS SALACIOUSLY ON CHEERLEADERS DURING COMMERCIAL BREAKS. THE MAIN COMPLAINT SEEMS TO BE THAT THOSE SHOTS NEVER MAKE THE TELECAST WHICH HAS APPARENTLY INFURIATED A SEGMENT OF THE FEMALE POPULATION. IN PART THE LETTERS SAY "WE HAVE ASKED NICELY FOR YOU TO RESPECT U AND ALL WOMEN. YET YOU REFUSE." A FIVE-THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR INFORMATION. SOUNDS LIKE A JOB FOR THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO ME.
-------------------------
HOW ABOUT THE INTOXICATED BURGLAR IN STATESBORO GEORGIA. HE BROKE IN TO A HOUSE IN STATESBORO GEORGIA EARLIER THIS WEEK AND THREATENED THE RESIDENTS. A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CALLED POLICE. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT THE WOULD BE BURGLAR KEPT REPEATING "BARRY BONDS DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE HOME RUN KING."
----------------------------
ONE TEAM IN THE CROATIAN 3RD SOCCER DIVISION YOU'LL BE FASCINATED TO KNOW, HAS A "SHEEP BONUS". IF A "DEFENDER" SCORES A GOAL THE SPONSOR WILL GIVE THAT PLAYER A SHEEP. TEAM DEFENDER IVICA SUPE HAS AN INCREDIBLE 16 GOALS. NO INDICATION WHAT USE THE SHEEP ARE BEING PUT TO BUT I'M SURE IVICA WILL THINK OF SOMETHING.
AND SO IT GOES IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS.
-----------------------------
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY THAT TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER FLOYD LANDIS WOULD LOOK LIKE A VICTIM IN THE FRENCH STEROIDS INVESTIGATION. THE PARISIAN TESTING LAB AGAIN LEAKED RESULTS OF SUPPLEMENTARY TESTS TO THE FRENCH NEWSPAPER L'EQUIPE. SO FAR WE'VE HAD MISLABELED, MISPLACED AND MISHANDLED TEST RESULTS FROM THE LAB BLURRING WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE.
-----------------------------
IN THE MIDWEST THE FBI HAS BEEN CALLED IN AFTER TV NETWORKS RECEIVED DOZENS OF THREATENING LETTERS CRITICIZING TV CREWS FOR CONTANTLY TRAINING THEIR CAMERAS SALACIOUSLY ON CHEERLEADERS DURING COMMERCIAL BREAKS. THE MAIN COMPLAINT SEEMS TO BE THAT THOSE SHOTS NEVER MAKE THE TELECAST WHICH HAS APPARENTLY INFURIATED A SEGMENT OF THE FEMALE POPULATION. IN PART THE LETTERS SAY "WE HAVE ASKED NICELY FOR YOU TO RESPECT U AND ALL WOMEN. YET YOU REFUSE." A FIVE-THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR INFORMATION. SOUNDS LIKE A JOB FOR THE OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO ME.
-------------------------
HOW ABOUT THE INTOXICATED BURGLAR IN STATESBORO GEORGIA. HE BROKE IN TO A HOUSE IN STATESBORO GEORGIA EARLIER THIS WEEK AND THREATENED THE RESIDENTS. A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR CALLED POLICE. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT THE WOULD BE BURGLAR KEPT REPEATING "BARRY BONDS DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE HOME RUN KING."
----------------------------
ONE TEAM IN THE CROATIAN 3RD SOCCER DIVISION YOU'LL BE FASCINATED TO KNOW, HAS A "SHEEP BONUS". IF A "DEFENDER" SCORES A GOAL THE SPONSOR WILL GIVE THAT PLAYER A SHEEP. TEAM DEFENDER IVICA SUPE HAS AN INCREDIBLE 16 GOALS. NO INDICATION WHAT USE THE SHEEP ARE BEING PUT TO BUT I'M SURE IVICA WILL THINK OF SOMETHING.
AND SO IT GOES IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS.
April 21 2007
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE STORIES THAT SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACKS THIS PAST WEEK IN THE HEAT OF A HEATED TAMPA BAY-NEW JERSEY STANLEY CUP SERIES. TAMPA RIGHT WINGER ROB DIMAIO REVEALED TO HIS TEAMMATES THAT DOCTORS HAVE WARNED THAT HE WOULD BE JEOPARDIZING HIS LIFE IF HE WERE TO RETURN TO THE ACTIVE NHL. DIMAIO NOW BECOMES THE POSTER CHILD FOR THE DANGERS OF "POST CONCUSSION SYNDROME".
THE DIMAIO AFFAIR BEGAN HERE IN MONTREAL DURING AN EXHIBITION GAME LAST SEPTEMBER 26 . GUILLAUME LATENDRESSE BLIND-SIDED DIMAIO SLAMMING HIM UP AGAINST THE GLASS. LATENDRESSE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE GAME AND SUSPENDED AND DIMAIO, WHO SUFFERED THE 4TH CONCUSSION OF HIS CAREER HASN'T PLAYED OR PRACTICED SINCE AND NEVER WILL. YES IT'S THE SAME SAD CONTINUING SONG. WE HAD ANOTHER STRETCHER CASE THIS WEEK AND FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR COLBY ARMSTRONG OF THE PENGUINS WAS THE CULPRIT. ARMSTRONG CAUGHT PATRICK EAVES OF THE SENATORS COMING FROM BEHIND HIS OWN NET.
ANOTHER OF THOSE CONCUSSION-INDUCING SHOULDER-PADS-TO-THE-HEAD CHECKS. THE NHL IS THE ONLY SPORT OUTSIDE OF BOXING THAT DOES NOT PROTECT IT'S ASSETS FROM BLOWS TO THE HEAD. EVEN THE NFL WITH THE EVER-INCREASING SIZE AND WEIGHT OF IT'S PLAYERS HAS SEEN FIT TO IMPLEMENT BLOWS-TO-THE-HEAD RULES. JUNIOR HOCKEY IN ONTARIO NOW HAS TAKEN STEPS TO STOP WHAT CLEARLY IS A TOTAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR AN OPPONENT BY PLACING A PENALTY IN THE RULEBOOK TO COVER BLOWS TO THE HEAD ACCIDENTAL OR NOT.
THE MAJORITY OF PLAYERS, AT LEAST PUBLICALLY, SAY INJURIES OF THIS SORT ARE JUST PART OF THE GAME. SAY THAT TO ROB DIMAIO OR PATRICK EAVES OR FOR THAT MATTER CHRIS DRURY, FRANTISEK KABERLE, TREVOR LETOWSKI, JASON WILLIAMS OR AARON DOWNEY ALL OF WHOM HAD DATES WITH AN ARENA STRETCHER OVER THE LAST
3 MONTHS.
THE DIMAIO AFFAIR BEGAN HERE IN MONTREAL DURING AN EXHIBITION GAME LAST SEPTEMBER 26 . GUILLAUME LATENDRESSE BLIND-SIDED DIMAIO SLAMMING HIM UP AGAINST THE GLASS. LATENDRESSE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE GAME AND SUSPENDED AND DIMAIO, WHO SUFFERED THE 4TH CONCUSSION OF HIS CAREER HASN'T PLAYED OR PRACTICED SINCE AND NEVER WILL. YES IT'S THE SAME SAD CONTINUING SONG. WE HAD ANOTHER STRETCHER CASE THIS WEEK AND FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR COLBY ARMSTRONG OF THE PENGUINS WAS THE CULPRIT. ARMSTRONG CAUGHT PATRICK EAVES OF THE SENATORS COMING FROM BEHIND HIS OWN NET.
ANOTHER OF THOSE CONCUSSION-INDUCING SHOULDER-PADS-TO-THE-HEAD CHECKS. THE NHL IS THE ONLY SPORT OUTSIDE OF BOXING THAT DOES NOT PROTECT IT'S ASSETS FROM BLOWS TO THE HEAD. EVEN THE NFL WITH THE EVER-INCREASING SIZE AND WEIGHT OF IT'S PLAYERS HAS SEEN FIT TO IMPLEMENT BLOWS-TO-THE-HEAD RULES. JUNIOR HOCKEY IN ONTARIO NOW HAS TAKEN STEPS TO STOP WHAT CLEARLY IS A TOTAL LACK OF RESPECT FOR AN OPPONENT BY PLACING A PENALTY IN THE RULEBOOK TO COVER BLOWS TO THE HEAD ACCIDENTAL OR NOT.
THE MAJORITY OF PLAYERS, AT LEAST PUBLICALLY, SAY INJURIES OF THIS SORT ARE JUST PART OF THE GAME. SAY THAT TO ROB DIMAIO OR PATRICK EAVES OR FOR THAT MATTER CHRIS DRURY, FRANTISEK KABERLE, TREVOR LETOWSKI, JASON WILLIAMS OR AARON DOWNEY ALL OF WHOM HAD DATES WITH AN ARENA STRETCHER OVER THE LAST
3 MONTHS.
April 7 2007
SO YOU THINK THE FINISH OF THIS SEASON IS CHAOTIC. LET ME TAKE YOU BACK TO 1970. THE CANADIENS WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STRING THAT WOULD SEE THEM WIN 10 STANLEY CUPS IN 14 YEARS. BUT GOING INTO THE FINAL WEEKEND OF THE 1970 SEASON 5 POINTS SEPARATED THE 6 TEAMS IN THE EAST DIVISION. ON THE SECOND LAST NIGHT OF THE SEASON THE 5TH PLACE RANGERS LOST IN DETROIT AND THE CANADIENS LOST TO CHICAGO AT THE FORUM. .
SO THE RANGERS WERE STILL 2 POINTS BEHIND THE HABS AND IN 5TH PLACE. THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON THE RANGERS HOSTED THE WINGS AND THE CANADIENS FINISHED THE HOME AND HOME IN CHICAGO. THE RANGERS NEEDED TO SCORE 7 OR MORE GOALS AGAINST DETROIT AND HOPE THE CANADIENS WOULD LOSE THAT NIGHT. THE RAN GER GAME WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAME TELEVISED NATIONALLY ON CBS. WITH THE RANGERS OWNING A BIG LEAD DETROIT FORWARD GARY UNGER ADMITTED TO THE CBS AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. THAT THE WINGS HAD PARTIED THROUGH THE NIGHT AFTER CLINCHING THEIR OWN PLAYOFF BERTH THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE RANGERS TOOK 62 SHOTS ON ROGER CROZIER AND WON 9-5.
THEY WERE TIED WITH THE CANADIENS FOR 4TH IN WINS AND UP 4 GOALS IN THE 2ND TIE BREAKER - TOTAL GOALS-FOR.
THE CANADIENS GAME IN CHICAGO THAT NIGHT WAS A NIGHTMARE. WITH 10:42
LEFT IN THE GAME AND DOWN 5-2..CANADIENS COACH CLAUDE RUEL PULLED HIS GOALTENDER. THE HAWKS SCORED 5 EMPTY NET GOALS FOR A 10-2 VICTORY. THE CANADIENS LOST THEIR PLAYOFF BERTH ON GOALS-FOR 246-244. THE NEXT YEAR SAM POLLOCK GOT THE TIEBREAKING SYSTEM CHANGED SO THE RECORD BETWEEN TEAMS WAS THE SECOND TIE BREAKER. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL PLAYOFF BERTH IS DECIDED ON A SHOOTOUT.
SO THE RANGERS WERE STILL 2 POINTS BEHIND THE HABS AND IN 5TH PLACE. THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON THE RANGERS HOSTED THE WINGS AND THE CANADIENS FINISHED THE HOME AND HOME IN CHICAGO. THE RANGERS NEEDED TO SCORE 7 OR MORE GOALS AGAINST DETROIT AND HOPE THE CANADIENS WOULD LOSE THAT NIGHT. THE RAN GER GAME WAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON GAME TELEVISED NATIONALLY ON CBS. WITH THE RANGERS OWNING A BIG LEAD DETROIT FORWARD GARY UNGER ADMITTED TO THE CBS AUDIENCE IN THE U.S. THAT THE WINGS HAD PARTIED THROUGH THE NIGHT AFTER CLINCHING THEIR OWN PLAYOFF BERTH THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE RANGERS TOOK 62 SHOTS ON ROGER CROZIER AND WON 9-5.
THEY WERE TIED WITH THE CANADIENS FOR 4TH IN WINS AND UP 4 GOALS IN THE 2ND TIE BREAKER - TOTAL GOALS-FOR.
THE CANADIENS GAME IN CHICAGO THAT NIGHT WAS A NIGHTMARE. WITH 10:42
LEFT IN THE GAME AND DOWN 5-2..CANADIENS COACH CLAUDE RUEL PULLED HIS GOALTENDER. THE HAWKS SCORED 5 EMPTY NET GOALS FOR A 10-2 VICTORY. THE CANADIENS LOST THEIR PLAYOFF BERTH ON GOALS-FOR 246-244. THE NEXT YEAR SAM POLLOCK GOT THE TIEBREAKING SYSTEM CHANGED SO THE RECORD BETWEEN TEAMS WAS THE SECOND TIE BREAKER. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL PLAYOFF BERTH IS DECIDED ON A SHOOTOUT.
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